mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Joined: 10/04/2009
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Here'n'There wrote:"My backup ability just ain't that great!"
Boy I hear that! A few weeks ago I had to back up just 1/3 of a mile at the end of a regular residential street - and that took a few years off my life!
I have a Garmin Nuvi GPS - it got me in the predicament... but thinking about it, if I had expanded the view, I would of seen that the road was a dead end with no intersecting streets. DUHHHHH
So lesson learned... Navigation systems CAN get you in trouble, but if you use it wisely, it can also prevent that sort of trouble.
We'll see ya........
Indeed, although there are navigation systems designed for truck drivers that will avoid certain streets like the ones you mentioned. I am not sure how well that works.
Once my niece said to go a certain way to get to her house, but my GPS wes telling me to go another way etc etc. Well the end result was that I could not fit on this narrow street where only one car could pass at a time especially if there were parked cars! I had to back all the way out and block the intersection that had two stop signs and two that did not (a 2 way stop) lucky for me no traffic and no sherrif. (I was pulling my 26' 5ver) I learned my lesson there! I now have a 35' 5ver I will be going to see them in a few weeks, I KNOW I will NOT be attempting that street!
I have had a parking lot experience, I was truly embarrassed, I wouldn't tell that to anybody whom I pissed off that day! LOL I had LOTS of people pissed off because they couldn't get out. I had to back out of the entire length of the lot 
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Jarlaxle
New England
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My old Garmin--set to truck directions--tried to send me under a 12' railroad overpass on John Fitch Hwy. in Massachusetts. Another one (A Magellan, IIRC) tried to send one of the guys I work with through a 13' tunnel in a semi (13'6").
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OlderThanSand
Tollhouse, Ca
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The simplest solution is don't put yourself in a situation you can't get out of. It's not that hard. If you're on an unfamiliar road/trail when you reach the point where you think you can't back up if you go any further THAT is the time to back up. If you think you're "not that good of a backer" then you need to practice. Driving a vehicle that you can't competently operate is asking for trouble.
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mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Backing up without being able to see behind you is the problem, backing up itself shouldn't be a problem if you don't have funny-engineered roads that do silly curves or bends.
But backing up without a spotter is REALLY difficult if you can expect traffic? Granted, it is sometimes HARD NOT to get yourself into those situations FWIW.
Yeah see, even GPS don't always tell the truth!
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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mynetdude wrote:Backing up without being able to see behind you is the problem, backing up itself shouldn't be a problem if you don't have funny-engineered roads that do silly curves or bends.
But backing up without a spotter is REALLY difficult if you can expect traffic? Granted, it is sometimes HARD NOT to get yourself into those situations FWIW.
Yeah see, even GPS don't always tell the truth!
We have a rear windown and two spotters. Spotters are key to keep you out of trouble. 
I have to say a GPS to tell you where you are climbing or going down is great in the mountains.
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roamerr
NC
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In November 2007 I purchased a used Chateau 28' TT to take to WV for an ATV Camp. I had been up there one time before but that was following some friends. I towed the TT up there with just my 9 yr old daughter and myself. My first time pulling a TT.
We had a great ride up Hwy 77 through Fancy Gap and into WV. Things went great until I realized I had somehow missed a turn aprox 10 miles from camp. So I pull into a gas station and ask directions. They put me on a one lane gravel road and said it's fine the road is plenty clear. I was leary since there was snow on each side of the road but went ahead. The road was steep but OK until approx 6 miles in I had to make a very tight steep switchback turn. Anyway after 1 hour on that turn I will never trust direction or intentionally take an unknown narrow gravel road. That switchback took basically hanging the TT off the mountain (wheel were backed to edge) and locking my truck in 4wd Low while pulling the TT frame over a rock in the curve.
I was stupid by trying that road. I did learn alot and still laugh with my daughter about it. Never again...
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mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Actually there IS a solution to having no spotter, a backup cam  though more available on MHs, I heard you can put a wireless one on a TT or 5ver possibly, now that would save some bacons!
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