Indiana hello from a fifth wheel newbie

[julieh1]

Hi ladies ! I was thrilled to come across a site for women about rv's ! My husband and I just bought a 2004 Keystone Cougar fifth wheel. Neither one of us knew a thing about them, other than our daughter (9) had camped with friends and wanted to go badly.
Everything I have learned is from youtube, or talking with a local dealer. I have gone camping twice with the family, and it's comical because I am the only female talking "shop" with the guys. I cant' drive it, or back it... but once we are parked it's on ! I'm even the one who dumps the tanks (want to keep the stench away, use NUGEN stuff is fantastic in the black tank).
Anyway, HI and I can't wait to get to know you gals !

[avalen]

welcome

[MelissaD]

Fellow Hoosier hello's If you don't mind what part of Indiana?

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome to the forum. That is right, if you are close enough to MelissaD she may offer you some mentoring in the area of driving....and then you could do it all!

Have fun and let us know how your adventures go....

[retiredhappy]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have it under control, now to learning how to drive and back it.

[carolb]

Welcome Yep, this is a great place to find "real experience" info--& great friends. I just went through Indiana a week ago! Hope to meet you someday--happy travels!

[julieh1]

You are all so kind ! Thank you for the lovely welcome ! I am in Washington Indiana (Southern part bout an hour from Evansville) .... Oh I am so amazed by you ladies who can drive and back rigs up, I tend to get any trailer in a perfect v when I back.....so I never do lol. I keep telling my husband I should learn in case of emergency, but he says "just abandon the trailer"...... um no way after all the work I have put into this this thing ! lol Hope to learn much and maybe give back as well. thanks all !

[mitch5252]

...and it's comical because I am the only female talking "shop" with the guys.

..
Julie, welcome to a great Forum, chock-full of wonderful, smart, and experienced women. You really should learn how to drive and back up...it'll give you a real sense of accomplishment (especially when you don't take out a pole or your next door neighbor!)

I had to laugh about your statement that I quoted above...I have always, for years and years, referred to myself as "a guy with boobs" for exactly the same reasons!!

Welcome and we will look forward to following along on your adventures! As for questions, ask away...you'll get plenty of answers and tons of good advice!

..

[MelissaD]

Oh I am so amazed by you ladies who can drive and back rigs up, I tend to get any trailer in a perfect v when I back.....so I never do lol.

Going forward is easy just swing a little wider around the corners. Many 5th wheel trailers will almost track with the truck swing. In a open parking lot run through a puddle (you can just pour a gallon of water in front of each steer tire on the truck and run through it) and make a turn once all the tires are through the puddle. The wet lines will tell you how the trailer tracked to the truck. Going back just takes practice. If you keep ending up in a "V" you are waiting to long before straitening out the wheel. When I use to train students in the semi we would stop at a truck stop around 2pm when it was fairly empty (any large lot will do). We'd go into the back lot and since the spaces are lined, it aloud the student to practice without hitting anything. Most people overthink it and have to learn to picture it in their head. You have to straighten out the wheels a lot quicker than most people realize. Also, most people over work the wheel. Little does it. Make small movements and give the trailer a chance to react. If you try to back in a straight line and the truck is swinging all over the place you are using way too much wheel to control the trailer.

Hang in there and have some fun. Really enjoy the looks on guys faces when I slip it right into the space like there was nothing to it.
If your smoking a nice cigar as you get out they really look shocked

Also enjoy the looks on little girls faces when they see a woman driving a semi. They just light up from ear to ear.

Most important is to just have some fun

[cpatinjones]

Hello and welcome to the forum.