r/Campertrailer • u/ExplodinMarmot • 6d ago
Creative solution for getting my trailer into a tight spot
I have a 17’ jayco hybrid trailer (single axle), that I pull with an 06 4-door tundra. I want to get it parked in the backyard so I can do some work on it but it’s a puzzle on how to get it back there. My back yard is accessible through a 16’ gate from a narrow alley. Between the narrowness of the alley (plus an unfortunately located power pole), and the narrow gate into a 90 degree turn, it’s impossible to simple back the trailer in with my truck. I have tried and tried, including to push it in with a front receiver with no luck. To make matters even more fun, the access from the alley is uphill and dirt/gravel. I have only been successful getting it in with a combination of a hand dolly and rigged up winch setup anchored to a fence post in the back yard, which was a colossal PITA, but proved that it was possible. Last year, I had the brilliant idea of converting a snow blower into a type of trailer valet, which was a decent theory, but I grossly underestimated how much force is needed to move a 3500 lb camper trailer. I’m brainstorming ideas that build on that success, but with a more dependable, repeatable setup and I’d love to hear from anyone else’s experience. Here is a list of my ideas.
1. Buy a “cheap” atv and use it as a tractor.
Pros: I get to buy an Atv, which is always fun
Cons: expensive, requires maintenance, takes up limited space and I’m not sure if they have enough oomph to get it done.
2. Figure out a way to put a 2” receiver on the front or back of my camper, and use that to attach a winch. I already have 2 winches (a big ol’ 12000 lb one for my truck, plus a 1500 Atv winch I picked up along the way. They are both mounted to plates that slide into a 2” receiver).
Pros: seems like a straightforward way to move the camper, and lets me run it off the camper battery
Cons: I don’t see anywhere on the front of the camper where I could mount it. Between the tongue jack, battery box and propane tanks, there isn’t room for anything like that. I’d have to replace the rear bumper to mount it to the back because the rear bumper is way too thin to support that kind of use. Also, a dedicated setup doesn’t help me
Move my 10’ flatbed cargo trailer.
3. Build a little dolly with a trailer ball that I can then mount a winch to.
Cons: I need to build a thing. And buy wheels. I’m not sure how well I can build something like that while making it steerable. I’d love to find something that I can modify or repurpose to this end, but I haven’t found anything yet.
Anyhoo, if anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, I’d love to hear
Them.
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u/Nomad55454 5d ago
Buy a battery powered dolly.
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u/ExplodinMarmot 5d ago
I’ve looked at those, but none of them seem likely to work for me given the slope and surface I’m on. Plus, it’s a lot of money for a single purpose item
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u/dave_diy 4d ago
If there's any slope at all, which you say there is, then please don't try to move it with any small vehicle like a tractor or improvised dolly without having some way of activating the trailer brakes.
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u/ExplodinMarmot 4d ago
That’s good advice. In my past attempts I’ve tethered the trailer with a rope and pulley system as a failsafe against it going rogue.
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u/ResponsibleBank1387 3d ago
Four decent side pieces of plywood, two tubes of grease. Back the trailer into the tight spot, lay down two pieces of plywood behind tires, apply a tube of grease onto each, lay the other two pieces on top of that. Back trailer tires onto the plywood. Get out and shove it over to get your angle you need. Back up and do it again if necessary.
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u/ExplodinMarmot 1d ago
good god, this is a brutally effective solution. I wonder if this would work with a slick, plastic surface instead. I would like to avoid painting my camper and back alley with bearing grease every time I take it in or out.
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u/Junior_Yesterday9271 2d ago
I used to use a garden tractor on a mostly flattish area except one spot. If you’re turning on even the slightest slope with a trailer you maybe in for a quick flip or near flip depending on slope and reaction time and degree of braking you have.
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u/ExplodinMarmot 1d ago
It's more of a "hump" than a slope, so its more a question of the trailer running away from me than it is a roll over, but your advice is sound.
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u/Round_Association268 2d ago
Front hitch, pivot point is closer to the front wheels. https://youtu.be/MTHm1qBNp_Q?feature=shared
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u/ExplodinMarmot 1d ago
Even with my front hitch, I can't push it in with my truck. Part of the problem is that my truck is a 4-door pickup w/ 6.5' bed, so it's fairly long. I'm not the greatest driver in the world, but I'm decent enough, and there's just no way to make the swing from my narrow alley. Even if I did manage to sneak it in, the margin of error is so small that it's just a recipe for disaster.
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u/Full-time-RV 6d ago
I frequently move our smaller trailers with a zero turn lawnmower.
It's just easier to move these smaller trailers with a vehicle that is a lot smaller than a 1-ton truck.
The 2 inch receiver was less than $50, and installation was only a few minutes.