Backing Your Casita Into A Campsite

Backing a tow vehicle and trailer into a campsite can sometimes be a stressful experience. However, backing (reversing) a trailer is relatively simple, especially with a little practice and teamwork.

First, Use The Scoop to Line Up With Your Back-In Site — Sean Michael produced a short animation on YouTube to illustrate it.

Sean has a great website of his own called
Long Long Honeymoon. Check it out.
To back your trailer into a campsite, you turn the steering wheel left to make the trailer backend go right and to make the trailer back to the right, turn the wheel to the left. Confusing?

More simply: Place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel (6 O’Clock position). That way when you're ready to back your trailer into a campsite, you can simply move your hand in the direction that you want the rear of the trailer to go!

If possible, set yourself up so you’re backing angle is towards the driver's side of your vehicle. You will be able to see the full rig and backing angle into the site much better in your driver's side mirrors. If you need to drive a loop around the campground to be able to approach the spot on your left side, then do so!

Back up and pull forward as often as necessary to properly angle your trailer to back it into place. Do not shy away from getting out of the car and looking at your progress. Sometimes the hardest part of the process is having many people watch you. Try not to stress out if there are a lot of people checking out your progress. They aren’t invested in the outcome, and you are. Keep your focus.

It’s helpful to have a helper stand at the rear of the trailer — in full view of the driver looking in the right or left side mirror depending on the angle of reverse travel — to signal with hand gestures directions for backing the trailer. (If the helper can’t see the driver looking at him/her in the rear side mirror, the driver can’t see the helper.)  The driver and helper should first discuss the language of hand gestures; what gestures guide backing right, left, and stop. For example, arms crossed mean stop immediately.  And it’s usually good for the driver and helper to discuss how to position into tight or oddly angled campsites, before starting the maneuver.  Happy camping!