solo hook up

[ADM47]

Fellow campers:

Have had our Viking for approx 4 mos now and have been out 3 times in it and plan to camp alone this week end without my spouse.  My question to you all is a very basic and naive one.  Short of asking for help from another camper in the campgrounds (that I do not know) how can I back up my TV alone to hook up with our camper?

Any input is appreciated.

ADM47

[wgee]

I'm fairly new at this stuff too.  They sell gadgets to help you line up your ball on your TV with the PU.  I don't have any of these toys though.  I just do it the old fashion way and end up backing up and getting out of my TV until i get it lined up.  It's really not too bad.  Of course, if you get to know some of your neighbors, you can always ask for help.  Have fun!

[dee106]

Fellow campers:
   
 Have had our Viking for approx 4 mos now and have been out 3 times in it and plan to camp alone this week end without my spouse. My question to you all is a very basic and naive one. Short of asking for help from another camper in the campgrounds (that I do not know) how can I back up my TV alone to hook up with our camper?
   
    Any input is appreciated.
   
    ADM47

bring a couple of bike cones / safety cones, and before to back up, get out mark your area, lower your mirrors to see them and back up! also move the table, its always in the way :eyecrazy: :yikes:and watch out for the fire ring!:yikes:
 
  if you go to the popup times store, they have the answer! they have the back up guide poles and the markers
 http://www.popuptimes.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=RV

[Dee4j]

the back up guides help but I mostly Hookup w/o help... anything you can use to give you an idea where to stop works I end up getting close and inch back..get out and look ...inch bacK get out and look...not a big deal I guess I'mm used to it

[vjm1639]

I actually think DH can do it better alone than with me guiding him.   I seem to have a hard time figuring out how far back (or forward) he needs to come for the ball to seat in the hitch.

[GeneF]

To center the ball under the hitch, I generally find a reference point on the tv and the camper.  With the Sienna, I used the rear window washer and lined that up with a mark on the camper.

How close am I?  I used the old get out and look to see how close I was.

Some days it is smooth as silk, other days, it takes a few tries.

It really is easy once you get used to it and sometimes a lot easier than doing it with the spouse.

[Dave Krahl]

To center the ball under the hitch, I generally find a reference point on the tv and the camper.  With the Sienna, I used the rear window washer and lined that up with a mark on the camper.

How close am I?  I used the old get out and look to see how close I was.

Some days it is smooth as silk, other days, it takes a few tries.

It really is easy once you get used to it and sometimes a lot easier than doing it with the spouse.

When I have to back up alone, or even with my DW (who isnt that great at directions for backing), I open the back hatch on my Subaru and then back up to the trailer. I can then turn around and see the trailer much better. Of course, if you don't have a hatchback, this will not help, but it works great for me.

Dave

[zamboni]

Another idea is to find a mirror on an adjustable swing arm (similar to ones used in malls and salons for putting on makeup).  They usually have a clamp on them.

Clamp it to your propane tank, etc, and angle the mirror so that when you're backing up, you can look out the rear window and see the TT's hitch...

I've seen a few campers in parks where the owners have permanently mounted a mirror in such a fashion.

Another way is to clip the mirror onto your TV's bumper/hitch/rear window/tailgate, etc...

Some examples below, but I'm sure you can find similar locally at Target/Wallmart, etc.

$10.69 (etrailer.com): http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=30136&Category_Code=M

$60 men's grooming mirror (small clamp, would clamp to TV's rear window, etc):
http://store.grovergear.com/cladmi.html

Or, $20 for a totally flexible makeup mirror (wrap flex wire around pole, tank, bumper, etc)
http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/handy-hook-mirror.html?gid=

[hoppy]

If you have the opportunity to camp on a site with a concrete pad or other hard surface, just back up the TV "close enough"  to swing the PU over to the ball using the tongue dolly.  You should be able to get it with in a few inches. I use this method all the time.

[ADM47]

Fellow Campers:
Thank you all for your responses to my question earlier about hooking your TV up to your camper solo.  Many helpful suggestions.

Appreciatively,

ADM47

[fintastic5]

Place A small piece of duct tape on the camper, in the center where you can see it can be a good aid.

[tlhdoc]

PUT has Align-Quick Hitch Guides for sale.  Here is the link
 
 http://www.popuptimes.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=hitchguide&Category_Code=RV
 
I have used them and they work pretty good.