Airstream Reversing Tutorial

Backing up a travel trailer feels backwards at first, because the trailer turns the opposite way from your steering wheel. The good news: it clicks quickly with a little practice, and you do not have to learn it alone. Ask us about a practice session at our Lathrop lot before your trip, and watch the video below to get the basics.

Which way do you turn the wheel when backing a trailer?

Put one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move that hand in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go. Hand moves left, trailer goes left. That single trick takes care of most of the confusion.

How do you back an Airstream into a campsite?

1. Walk the site first. Look for posts, low branches, picnic tables and the hookups, and decide where the trailer should end up.
2. Set up for a driver’s side back. Backing in toward your side of the vehicle lets you see the trailer in your own window and mirror, which is far easier than backing toward the passenger side.
3. Go slow. Idle speed, foot over the brake. Nothing good happens fast when backing a trailer.
4. Make small corrections. A little steering goes a long way, and the trailer reacts a moment after you turn.
5. Get out and look. Stop and walk around as often as you need. Every experienced RVer does it.
6. Use a spotter. Agree on hand signals before you start, and keep the spotter where you can see them in a mirror.

What should you do if the trailer starts to jackknife?

Stop, then pull forward until the trailer straightens out behind the vehicle, and start the back again. Trying to steer out of a sharp angle while still reversing usually makes it worse, and a tight angle can bring the trailer and the vehicle into contact.

Where is the best place to practice?

An empty parking lot, early in the morning. Set out a couple of cones or empty boxes as a pretend campsite and back into it from both sides a few times. Twenty minutes of practice before the trip makes the first campground far less stressful.

Would you rather not back it in at all?

You do not have to. We can deliver the trailer, back it into your site, level it and hook it up before you arrive, then collect it when you are done. Here is how delivery works, and if you are towing, our hitching guide covers the other half of the job.

Book your Airstream

Browse our Airstream fleet and check dates here. Every rental comes stocked and trip-ready, and if you would rather skip the towing altogether, ask us about delivery and setup. Here is exactly how the rental process works.