Camping Journal #3
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (112717)
United States
October 2, 2022 9:57am CST
We wanted to get the new camper onto the driveway, which was an interesting feat for me to say the least—having family over today to celebrate my mom's 72nd birthday which was officially the 28th of September, and of course we wanted to "pretend camp" and let everyone finally see our new toy.
I will make some barbecue pork steaks on the grill, and the fam are all going to bring some sides. We will have a campfire in the fire pit and just have a good time.
So far, even though we got the camper all set up last night, the wife and I have not yet slept in it. Maybe tonight? Not sure.
I almost gave up on trying to get it into the driveway since the first try was a no go. It worked when I came in from the other direction and after some practice backing in a vacant parking lot and in the work parking lot a bit.
Figured out where my pivot points were and got some of the turning and unwinding down for the moment. Still a bit to learn. A LOT to learn.
Unhitching was challenging and at one point when I raised the camper I must have still been firmly attached to the ball because I looked at my truck and then looked at my wife and said, "Do you see what I am seeing?"
The back wheels of the truck were lifted up off the ground. 
I finally got it and unhitched and got all the stabilizers down and have the camper fairly level, so all is good and now we just get to have a good time.
I finally got it and unhitched and got all the stabilizers down and have the camper fairly level, so all is good and now we just get to have a good time.13 people like this
13 responses
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
3 Oct 22
Any kind of trailer is always fun to pull, let alone attempt to back up. I'm glad you got in some practice on it now.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
6 Oct 22
@porwest Oh, yeah... I hope you didn't put any dings into the trailer or your truck while practicing.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
4 Oct 22
Using the company parking lot proved to be really helpful since we have a loading dock and my aim was to get the camper directly on the slab and determine the pivot point etcetera. So far I think I have determined a hard opposite turn on the truck at the pivot point, and once we have reached the turn winding it back all the way and then making slight adjustments. It's a process. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
7 Oct 22
@DaddyEvil Not yet. But there are still lots of opportunities to do it. lol
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
3 Oct 22
Oh happy birthday to your Mother.
So did you sleep in it yet?
Its a beauty.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
4 Oct 22
@porwest Yes you will fix that..well glad you tried it out
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Oct 22
A year from now you will look back on all this and laugh, and then admire how far you have come in your RV/camper knowledge. It won't be long before you're a pro at this.
Enjoy the family gathering and the laughs and joys that you'll experience around the fire pit.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
9 Nov 22
Have you gone out for camping already? What's the update.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
16 Nov 22
@Nakitakona So far it has been fun, kinda sad we bought it so late in the season and won't be able to use it again now until next year.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
15 Nov 22
@porwest That's wonderful. Enjoy it.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86568)
• United States
3 Oct 22
I mentioned in one of my discussions that I was watching people load their boats onto their trailers from the lake today. It takes practice, I’m sure, but these guys had it down pat. You’ll be that way, soon, too.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Oct 22
I hope your mom had a very happy birthday. It is an impressive-looking camper and glad you got it in the driveway, I hope the party was a success, Have a good beginning to the new week,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Oct 22
We have been through just about everything you're saying although I don't think we've ever lifted the back wheels off the ground. Unless Vince backs in exactly right, we can't hitch up but we've got that down to a pretty fine art. We've also tried to hitch up with the legs/stabilisers still down. That doesn't work either.
Unless Vince backs in exactly right, we can't hitch up but we've got that down to a pretty fine art. We've also tried to hitch up with the legs/stabilisers still down. That doesn't work either. 
@lovebuglena (52140)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Oct 22
I wouldn’t be able to back that thing up into a driveway. Kudos to you for getting it in there. How was the celebration? What did the people think of the camper?
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (17029)
• United States
3 Oct 22
That looks like a great camper. Glad you were able to maneuver it into your driveway. I am sure in time you'll be a camping pro. 
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
3 Oct 22
I'm glad you're getting in a lot of practice before you go out on the road. I could never maneuver one of those things. I hate driving a car, let alone a behemoth.
