Jarlaxle
New England
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Joined: 11/18/2006
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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").
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body...sold!
1992 International Genesis...purchased
Traveling with my wife Liz, 3 nutty cats, one lazy dog
I am so sick of winter it isn't funny...
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OlderThanSand
Tollhouse, Ca
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Joined: 12/09/2007
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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.
2002 4x4 Super Duty PSD
2006 22' Carson Titan
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1995 model dune crazed granddaughter
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mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Joined: 10/04/2009
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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!
'01 F350SD 7.3L PSD
'03 35' Dutchmen Victory Lane TH
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My Blog: Mynetdude's Thoughts - The Life Adventures of The Internet Dude
Only been RVing in OR/WA, drove to Tijuana & BC and flew everywhere else.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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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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Joined: 10/29/2008
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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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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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OlderThanSand wrote: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.
Easier said than done.
About two months ago the GPS got us off at the exit about 5 miles before our stop rather than getting off a mile past and backtracking. At first things looked fine, it was a nice paved 2 lane 2 way road. About 2.5 miles out it turned to dirt but still plenty wide. About a mile later, it then proceeded to get ever so gradually narrowed. It wasn't like we turned the corner and suddenly it was narrow. By the time we started to become concerned we were looking at about a mile backing up in steep hills.
Then we came to the bridge (if you can call it that). It was a concrete culvert with lots of cracks in the surface and no sides. Just past the bridge the road widened out and was nice and wide (and about 1/4 mile to the campground). My wife got out to guide us and we slowly worked across. When the 5er was on the bridge, there was only about 3 inches from the wheels to the edge on either side. It wouldn't have beeen a big deal, but the bridge was set at about a 45 deg angle to the road so you had to negotiate a turn while staying on the bridge. After a few tense minutes we cleared it with no mishaps.
You aint having fun if you don't get in a jam once in a while.
Tammy Mike & the Bilge Rat (AKA: Diego)
Ford F250 7.2L
1997 Sunnybrook 27' 5er
1995 Gemini Sail Catamaran 34'
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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Gale Hawkins wrote:I remember a few years ago where a German couple put a new BWM in a river using a GPS. Instead of a bridge it was a ferry crossing but the ferry was on the other side at the time.
Since the rockslide blocked I-40 here, we've had folks ignore all the many lighted detour signs, and even drive around the flippin' barricades "....because the GPS said to go this way." One woman interviewed by the local s'newz was quite indignant that her GPS hadn't told her about the detour; guess she couldn't read?
So now the NCDOT now has flashing lighted signs warning that "GPS UNRELIABLE USE POSTED DETOUR". D'uh!
Jim, "5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
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tjar66
Portland OR
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Joined: 03/09/2004
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We pulled in late to a beach campground, actually we turned one turn to early and ended up on an ATV beach access road. As the sand got softer and we realized where we were heading we were in trouble. I had to back up blind about a half mile with my wife behind the trailer using a two way radio it all worked out in the end ahhhhh great times
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins
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Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
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Joined: 06/08/2001
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I'm not THAT way anymore.
These days, I simply disconnect the 4x4 toad PRIOR to leaving the safe-haven tarmac. I do my exploring in the little red S-10 Blazer.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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