Question for you Travel Trailer folks

So my kids are getting to the ages where I think they'd enjoy camping and I'm looking at purchasing a travel trailer. I grew up camping in a tent trailer and loved it, but I haven't been in many years.

Anyway, it's a long story, but the "RV pad" on the side of our house is extremely narrow with about 8 feet to work with. When the houses in our cul-de-sac were built, the next-door neighbor's house required an easement for the city to access something in their backyard. This required the builders to shrink the RV pad on our side so the city could have a million feet on our neighbor's side to access the backyard. This, of course, severely limits our options for travel trailers due to the limited size of our pad.

All that said, even if we get a 7' wide TT, should I even mess with trying to back it into such a tight space, or am I asking for trouble? I'm not a super-pro at trailering, but I grew up towing the tent trailer when I got older, as well as boats, PWC, and other trailers, so I do have some skills. Just not sure if it's worth squeezing it in to such a tight space...

 

Some travel trailers come with back up cameras or you could add your own. With a camera and some assistance I think you could do it. It’s a lot better than paying monthly to store it somewhere else and would be there when you are ready to load it up for a trip.

 

Is the "tight space" just referring to the width of the concrete? You could put down some of those 12x12 patio blocks or something like that to widen it a little more.

 

Go for it. It may take a while to get used to parking it you’ll manage. Where I park mine I have 6” on either side. Get them camping young.

 

The more you practice the better you will get so I would not let the narrow pad stop you as long as the rig will fit.
It is amazing how good it feels once you master the backing up dance too!

Remember though that the shorter the trailer the more squirilly it can be to back up too!

 

Thank you all for instilling some confidence! I worked for a Sea Doo rental shop in college, so I know all about backing up "squirly" trailers.

Unfortunately the tight space is between my house and the fence, so there's no option to widen it.

 

I bought a ParkIt360 mover when I had enclosed storage for my TT. I liked it for the three or four times I used it because it helped me guide the trailer into a spot where my truck and trailer wouldn't fit. The alley/driveway was too narrow for the 18ft trailer and my Tundra to maneuver, although when I had a Ford Ranger, I could back the trailer in without issue. There was an incline into the garage but the ParkIt moved it right in. I also liked that it had an integrated brake controller. If you don't have a 5th wheel, I highly recommend them. (Even if you do, they claim you can move one with it, but I'd be more nervous).

 

I youtubed it and watched a guy use it on a 5th wheel camper. That thing is bad ass and can definitely be handy if you move trailers alot.

 

You can also put a Hitch Receiver tube and ball on the front of your truck which makes it a lot easier to push in from the front but honestly just get over the anxiety,practice and then mock others who can not back a trailer up!

I was at a Campground in Sebring Fl one year when a guy comes in with a shiny new trailer and you could just tell he had no business or idea about parking the thing at all when he swiped the entire side trying to just get into a straight drive in spot parallel to the road.
He somehow turned the whole thing around and tried from the other direction and I bet you know what happened then?!
So the CG Host yanked him from the truck and parked that thing in under a minute while the whole gathered CG watched and made a party of it pretty much.
If I remember correctly everyone tried to make the guy feel welcome and all was fine but the point is that you will need to know how to stick it in tight places anyway so you might as well practice in parking lots and then at home so you are ready when you need it!

And yes thats what she said too!

 

How straight can you get your truck to back it in?

 

I'll have to check those out, thanks!

I have a pretty straight shot, so I'm not too worried about that. The trailer we're getting isn't huge, so I think it'll be pretty manageable.

 

If it fits, and you can line up straight. Its do able

 

It’s not a TT, but our RV literally has inches on either side. It sounds silly, but take some time and practice..... even if it’s just backing your truck all the way back until you are on the pad. Good luck!

 

Consider a dedicated RV storage area, close to home.

Out of site, usually guarantee mice free.

We store ours at the side of our house, but if we didn't have room, we would gladly pay for storage. It sits the majority of the year, soni wouldn't mind having that extra driveway space.

You need access to he trailer door for winterizing and anything you store in there, that you may need throughout the year (chairs, bbq stuff, sleeping bags, flashlights etc).

 

Well, we ended up getting a travel trailer about a month ago and just got back from our maiden voyage. The best part is I'm able to squeeze it into the RV parking on the side of our house AND can open the door all the way! It's a tight fit, but I just took it slow and got it back there . Wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

 

It fits! Nice work

 

You sir just solved my TT dilema with getting a bigger trailer. I have the backyard space but an awkward gate that limits me beyond what I have now (23' trailer ball to bumper). Wife wants a trailer that's 34' which clears the gates but not with the truck. After the city paved our alleyway a few weeks ago, I can easily do one of these (https://traxpowerdolly.com/products/tx6000) and get whatever i want in and out of the backyard without stressing about the truck and the gate and the neighbors stuff. Thx my dude!

 

Awesome! Of course after I purchased mine I stopped paying for the space I needed the mover and have a wide open space now
however, mine is still useful for all sorts of lightweight trailers.

 

Now that is a TIGHT fit!!

 

I notice that ppl have suggested a trailer dolly and that you are in Oregon. I just last week saw a used trailer dolly in the Portland Craigslist listings. Tried to get my father in law to buy it but nope! Maybe still there

 

Here’s the page and there are actually 2! One is that ParkIt mentioned above for 1900 and another one, looks older, but only 1000. Too rich for my blood cuz that would just mean new Tundra toys
https://portland.craigslist.org/d/for-sale/search/sss?query=trailer dolly&sort=rel

 

Exactly this. If you have the space, go ahead and use it. most utility easements just require no permanent structures. If they have to get to it, you may need to move your trailer. I bet you'll get asked maybe once every 20 years.

 

My parents have a firewater easement next to their house. I don't think anyone's ever had to come into their yard to do anything with it.

 

I was in a similar situation. Was about to get a trailer dolly....then decided to try a front hitch ($150, 15 min to install). Wow.....love the front hitch and the maneuverability of the trailer(s) now when parking in tight spaces.

 

I did find a used Trailer Valet XL that worked really well in the beginning. However, after using it a couple times, I decided to try just backing it up in there and was able to do it without too much trouble. I sold the Trailer Valet (and even made a few $) and just back it in now. I would recommend one of those if you have a really tight space at an awkward angle—it worked really well.