First Time Using Pro Trailer Backup Assist Today - Advice?

[Oakstone]

Hey there!

Today I'll be using the PTBA for the first time. I am picking up my trailer from a repair facility and will be able to place my sticker and do the calibration at their lot before bringing it home. Up to now, I've been parking my TT (21ft bumper pull) with my 04 GMC Sierra just with mirrors and a helper person, so I am very excited to see how PTBA can help me get into what is a painful spot for a relatively inexperienced tower.

I've only parked it in this spot about 8 times so far and each time I've been able to do it, but have often taken several tries. The struggle is that the driveway I put it in is only about 2-3ft wider than the trailer itself and has some hazards on both sides of the street and driveway that I have to contend with.

So, I've attached a drawing showing the various entry points I've tried over time and would love some feedback on where the PTBA would likely have the most success.

On the image, the green circle is a shrub that's at the end of the driveway, right next to a wood wall, so consider anything in black a concrete wall for the purposes of hitting stuff So, that said, I always approach the parking setup coming from the left side of the image with the truck and trailer where the orange line is.

There might be cars parked in any of the gray boxes that I won't have much control over. So the one entry from the other side of the road will be hit or miss for opportunity. Same goes for the car in the parking area on the same side of the driveway as it's my tenant's and might or might not be there.

I've tried the "swoop" method a few times, but haven't quite nailed it yet.

I'm inclined to do the "light red line" version that puts me on the "wrong" side of the road facing oncoming traffic, but gives me a decent amount of room for the truck to swing on the road.

Anywhoo, if I can get the trailer lined up in a way that the TPBA can help it head straight back into the driveway on the first go, that'd be a big win.

I've looked through the manual and it seems like there's a few modes for cameras, using the knob, "straight backup mode" etc. that I will need to figure out.

Sponsored

 

[powerboatr]

i have a very hard 90 off the street, which is barley 18 feet wide and the driveway is 16 wide
assist has a hard time .
the swoop does help to get the rear where it needs to be, but i to end up fwd back fwd back a few extras that is why i put on a front hitch

it does how ever work great if i park in my driveway that is 26 feet wide, its an easy knob turning event
i found practicing in an empty lot to be the best training routine that does nto block road or get you frustrated

 

[Oakstone]

Thanks for the reply! I have had to jack the whole thing over almost 90 degrees to get it in sometimes, which I thought might be outside of the capabilities of PTBA. I will practice some at the RV lot and then maybe try to detour to another space before I get home. Otherwise I'll use my more typical approach today and then find some time to go out with some cones and try to replicate my approach/driveway and just do it over and over.

 

[Gutshot]

I know this feature works for some, but it’s gimmicky to me. It came in the package I ordered, so I’m not that bummed about it, it’s not at all helpful, if you already know how to back a trailer, do what you know.

 

[Oakstone]

I went to a large parking lot and it was still too small to execute fully the turns and straight runs that the calibration requested. I had a couple hundred feet. There are light poles and other obstacles that make it difficult to do what the calibration asks. I also couldn’t figure out how to start the calibration again when it “succeeded” but then didn’t back in a straight line because I kept having to make turns as I ran out of lot space.

I ended up redoing the whole trailer with a new name, calibrating again and then deleting the original trailer and setting the new trailer name to the original.
I feel like doing the calibration over again should be a menu option.

All that said, after calibration I practiced trying to put my trailer in various spots using the knob and it was hit or miss. The biggest challenge is the same as it is with manual backing, estimating how far past the final location to pull so when you hard cut towards the spot you’re in the right place.

I also underestimated the response time for releasing the knob and the trailer straightening out. I had to release much earlier than anticipated or it would continue to drift in an undesired direction.

Overall, I did get into my driveway more easily than manually and I’ve learned some of the nuances of the knob, but it’s going to take a few more times at a big parking lot to really figure it out accurately.

 

[Coyote Gamecock]

The assist doesn't do anything you can't do with your hands and looking over your shoulder. It just makes it easier to sit calmly in the seat while looking at the mirrors and using that one hand on the small knob instead of twisting the big wheel around.

The key is very small bumps of the knob.... then let go! So it springs back to the neutral position. Do this with your foot on the brake and going very very slowly. If you hold the knob over left or right you'll jackknife in about 3 seconds.

That's really all there is to it. It's not magic. Go slow.

I just got mine set up a couple of weeks ago too. Kind of like someone said above it's gimmicky for the most part. I'm sure it'll be good for novice trailer backers but I've been doing this since I was a kid. I'll probably forget I have it most days.

Now the hitch assist on the other hand I'll definitely use!

 

[Samson16]

Has anyone tried a trailer dolly? I've widened my driveway and even added a PVC sewer cleanout for a 26' TT I'm planning to purchase, but there may be times when being able to maneuver it around without hooking up the truck could be useful.

 

[Davexxxx]

Has anyone tried a trailer dolly?

A friend had a hand crank version for his Airstream a long time ago. It was fine, even in the grass, for his super flat lot but I'd be afraid of hardly any slope. It wouldn't take much, to overcome what friction was on the dolly wheels and have it get away from you.

There are radio controlled track versions but when I was looking, they were several thousand $$$

 

[Samson16]

That's good advice and my driveway does slope towards the street. The disaster played out in my mind as I read your post lol.

I know!

I'll use an electric winch for the rear and a motorized dolly for the front. That way by the time I'm done spending money I could have just bought an acre somewhere close by and built a pole barn on it!

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Practice, practice, practice.... Just learn to not rely on the grannies. Most oversteer (leaving in reverse lock too long) when backing and get themselves into a jackknife. Learn the width of the trailer so that all you need to concern yourself is with the placement of the trailer tire you can see. And try to not blindside back. On the original diagram, I'd likely start backing somewhere between the red and orange. You need enough room for the front of the truck to swing.

 

[Samson16]

Practice, practice, practice.... Just learn to not rely on the grannies. Most oversteer (leaving in reverse lock too long) when backing and get themselves into a jackknife. Learn the width of the trailer so that all you need to concern yourself is with the placement of the trailer tire you can see. And try to not blindside back. On the original diagram, I'd likely start backing somewhere between the red and orange. You need enough room for the front of the truck to swing.

I drove my old H3 with a super tight turning radius for so long I could barely back my new truck into a parking spot by itself. The Hummer would just whip in head first with room to spare. I'm still better at parking head first even with the longer wheelbase than backing, but I force myself to back in every time I park. I must get comfortable backing the truck if I plan on pulling a trailer around the country. It's embarrassing to admit, but just like going to the gym if you want to improve you have to leave your ego at the door.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

I drove my old H3 with a super tight turning radius for so long I could barely back my new truck into a parking spot by itself. The Hummer would just whip in head first with room to spare. I'm still better at parking head first even with the longer wheelbase than backing, but I force myself to back in every time I park. I must get comfortable backing the truck if I plan on pulling a trailer around the country. It's embarrassing to admit, but just like going to the gym if you want to improve you have to leave your ego at the door.

There's something with both the 13th and 14th gens that never fit my eyes backing into spaces, which I always do unless prohibited. I'd swear I was straight and more times than not I'd be crooked. I finally gave in and started using the camera to use the side lines with the lot lines. Now, I'm back to just backing with the mirrors on the GMC. Weird, I know.

 

[Ziggy73]

Thanks for the reply! I have had to jack the whole thing over almost 90 degrees to get it in sometimes, which I thought might be outside of the capabilities of PTBA. I will practice some at the RV lot and then maybe try to detour to another space before I get home. Otherwise I'll use my more typical approach today and then find some time to go out with some cones and try to replicate my approach/driveway and just do it over and over.

I can back really good traditionally, however I tried using my pro backup several times, it seems to work better for my 12 ft then for my 32 ft RV. What I do find that it is pretty good at is long straights, it will keep the trailer straight as long as you don't touch the steering, it would be great for boat ramps I would imagine. That being said, if you practice with it it seems to work fairly well, but for me I've done the old way so much that I may only use it for my small 12 ft which darts on you really quick.

 

[Bugzuki]

Is there any way to get the update that allows you to use the stickers instead of the plug in module? I have one module on one trailer, but the local dealer has no idea how to order any more of the modules and I think the price is like 600 bucks.

My 2021 truck came with a booklet talking about eventually getting the update and it has stickers, but in the PTBA setup it still says to plug in the sensor instead of placing the sticker.

 

[Oakstone]

Something interesting I've noticed since installing and calibrating the plug-in yaw sensor is that it sometimes doesn't want to turn in one direction. During the calibration the Sync display says to "turn" and shows arrows pointing in both directions like this <--> So I just pulled tight circles in one direction (and then straight again when it told me to) until it said "calibration complete".

But based on my experience, I almost feel like I should have done circles in both directions. Is this just my mind playing tricks on me or should I recalibrate and go in both directions when I get the <--> instruction?

Sponsored