• It helps to use rear-view mirrors when backing a travel trailer.view of the rearview image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
  
  Backing a travel trailer requires care and caution. Getting comfortable with the process and realizing that it can be a different experience each time are important factors. It does take a fair amount of skill, knowledge and care to back a travel trailer successfully. However, if you take your time and approach the task with these thoughts and concerns in mind, it can be an exhilarating experience.
  
  

Practice

• If you've never backed a travel trailer into a space, it's best to start in a large empty parking lot away from any other cars, objects or trailers. Use the lines that designate the parking space as your guidelines. Use traffic cones if you have them so that you can actually see the space from your rear-view mirror. If you can, get a volunteer or a spouse to stand behind the trailer and guide you in. To start, pull to the opposite side of the roadway of where you're backing. Line the back of the trailer up with the beginning of the space. In other words, if you get out of the tow vehicle at this point and walked to the back of the trailer, the line of the parking space would be directly lined up with the back of your trailer.
  
  

Steering the Trailer

• According to the AAA website, place your hands at the bottom of the steering wheel and then move your hand in the same direction you want the trailer to go. If you move the steering wheel left, the trailer will go left. If you move the steering wheel right, the trailer will go right. To maneuver the trailer easier, take your foot off of the brake and get some motion before you start to steer. There's a chance that the trailer can jackknife if you steer too sharply; avoid this by making small movements rather than making large movements. If the trailer jackknifes, pull forward and straighten out and then try again.
  
  

Slow and Easy

• The biggest trick to backing is to take it slow and easy--never hurry. Always watch your mirrors. If possible, have someone behind the trailer to guide you. Use walkie-talkies. Use small movements to adjust the direction of the trailer. Greater movement will move the trailer more. If the trailer isn't going into the site straight, pull forward and straighten it out, then try backing in again. Watch for trees in your rear-view mirror as well as water faucets and electrical panels on the ground.
  
  

Preparation

• If you can, check out the route you're taking beforehand in your car. Go to the campground where you're going to back the trailer in. Get familiar with the area. Map out every move in your mind that you will be make before actually making it.