It is official, I haven't got a clue about how to back my T@B. I spent at least an hour this morning trying to even come close to may storage unit. If I turn to the left (even just a little) it jackknifes to the right, if I turn to the right it jackknifes to the right, if I try to back straight it jackknifes to the right. I ended up pushing it in by hand and the front wheel kept bogging down in the gravel until I would have to hook it back up to the TV and push it a little farther and start the whole thing over again. I'm to old for this, this was suppose to be easy and fun not frustrating and annoying. That front wheel is to stall to push it over anything but concrete. I haven't even camped in it yet and I'm ready to get rid of darn thing.
1 ·
Comments
You never really travel alone. The world is full of friends waiting to get to know you!
2011 Subaru Outback
Rockford, Illinois
I've been backing trailers of one kind or another for (OMG) nigh over 40 years now, and I still have to stop and re-start and try try again.
It's tough when you can't see beyond the Tab to where you're aiming at.
But, if you can, find an empty-ish plaza parking lot, on a quiet Sunday morning, and work on it for a couple of hours. The lines in the parking spaces are good to work with.
Good-sized side mirrors help too.
Remember the hand goes on the bottom of the steering wheel and move the hand in the direction you need the Tab to go. Use your side mirrors (I find that looking over my shoulder screws me up), go slow, and try again.
There's a handy video with a good backing system, "The Scoop", highlighted here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RLtfrBWzNCw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLtfrBWzNCw
2014 S Maxx
2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah!
A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
A few things that may help you:
States the T@Bpole has camped, so far
Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
Sterling, VA
https://youtu.be/CDTvoA_uEik
States the T@Bpole has camped, so far
Nathan & Becky... 2013 Ford F150 FX4 TAB HLR... 2012 LG T@B T@Bpole.
Sterling, VA
What I recommend is finding a nice big empty parking lot and just practicing backing up straight. Pull forward if it gets too kitty-waukus and start again. This will give you a feel for how little it takes to turn it. Watch in the rear view mirrors and the minute you see the tail end off the T@B peaking out, make a small adjustment. Takes practice but you'll get it. Once you can keep it relatively straight, then try backing it into somewhere nice, slow and easy.
Now, I don't necessarily recommend this for others but it works better for me. I use the top of the steering wheel and watch in the mirrors for the T@B tail end on one side or the other to peek out and I move my hand in that direction - point to the tail you see. Small movements. My Jeep is almost the exact same width as the T@B so I can see any deviation almost immediately. With a narrower TV, you'd already be turning more so would have to make a "slightly" larger correction.
I think the tipping point that made me get a grip was the man who Yelled at me (!) "You have no business pulling a trailer if you don't know how". That did it! Nothing like a good insult to make me more determined than ever!
2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014
on the sunny side of the street
2007 Dutchman T@B, C@te's Cr@te
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i
2021 T@B 320S Boondock “The T@B”
Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014
When in doubt, move forward and use the forward movement to reorient the T@B in preparation for backing up again.
I go slowly, readjusting by going forward when and doubt and taking as many forward/backward movements until I get where I want.
So if you made the cement, move forward and center T@B and you will be ready for backward movement to aim it closer to exactly where you want.
If someone is watching, who cares. Take your time, readjust yourself and you'll be fine.
2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014
The last two weekends I backed into narrow spots in the dark. That was really exciting!
2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014