Trailer Positioning Service Needed - San Diego

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by tevake

On RV forums, folks mention often that using a front mounted hitch on their truck really makes those tight spots reachable.

I haven't tried this myself cause I have a motor home, Might be another option to consider.

Cheers Richard

My dad's last tow vehicle was a 3/4 ton Suburban . He had a local welder make a custom front hitch that was offset to the passenger side . So he could see down one side of the trailer when hitched up . Only needed one spotter for passenger side . Our last trailer was a 27 footer and he could park it on a dime ! Very maneuverable for a long wheel base vehicle .

[craigster59]

Front mount hitch on your Jeep. I went to a reunion at Campland On The Bay in San Diego and they had a trailer rental company dropping trailers into the sites. They pack trailers in there 'A-hole to elbow" and those guys would pull up, drop the trailer and hitch to the front and squeeze them into some tight spaces, I was impressed.

[wayner]

A ball on the front of a pickup truck is magic compared to a rear ball and swinging the entire truck bed just to get a few inches of correction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl0T-UPFTt8

[Evans, Marv]

When I recommended maybe using a tractor, I wasn't referring to tongue weight as the main factor. I was thinking of the total trailer weight and having to make the turn and push it up the incline. If the trailer weighs a ton for instance, you wouldn't want to use a skid steer or bob cat of a ton or less to push it up an incline. I say this from experience with my little Kubota that weighs half a ton and pulling a small tow behind back hoe and coming down an incline (of dirt however). I learned to sort of half skid coming down as the back hoe weight matched or nearly matched the tractor weight and pushed against the tractor. I think the front ball hitch is also a good idea.

[cabmandone]

The stand on MT85 and the Toro TX1000 both go over 3600 pounds in weight. I don't think weight would be the limiting factor but rather the horsepower of either machine (25-30 hp) would be the limiting factor. A T590, Deere 323D, CAT 259D, Case TR270, Kubota SVL75 all have between 66 and 74 hp and would all do the job from a power and lift standpoint.

[JavaBrewer]

This community is Awesome! Thanks to everyone for weighing in with suggestions. Here a couple more pictures of the dreaded entry.





With the plastic bags of gravel I can certainly avoid clearance issues with the trailer when transiting the elevation changes. I am going to pull out one panel of the entry fence to gain an extra 2' of clearance. I can pull the trailer with the Jeep to the bottom of the turn and that's where the skid steer/bobcat/trailer will come in to pull it through. This is a different approach then what we attempted yesterday by backing the trailer in. Might work out better. I can then transition back to the Jeep and move up the driveway to final resting spot. So far a couple calls to Craig's list folks offering bobcat service have gone unreturned. I will head over to local equipment rental place in town to see if they have anything that will work. I have zero time with that sort of equipment - hopefully they can recommend someone to help out.

[JavaBrewer]

Oh and yeah the driveway is total trailer park material. All the rain we had this year took a toll. A few years ago I had the upper part of the driveway and garage entry replaced with concrete pavers which looks great. Spendy though...hence we didn't go all the way

[dad911]

I'm not sure loose gravel will help much, it's going to push around the curve.

Try a tow company.

I don't see wires or a height issue. Looking at the pics, I would think they can load it on a rolloff, back in and drop it.

[tevake]

Your pics show a couple of challenges to deal with. The tight quarters for negotiating the sharp turn. And that complicated by the quick changes of elevation, dropping from the road to the turn, then quick transition to the upward climbing section just after the turn.
If you were setting this up for occasional ins and outs with the trailer, I'd suggest a lot of fill at the bottom of the dip and repave, to ease the elevation changes.
Then a strong tow vehicle with front hitch would probably get the maneuvering done ok.

For just a one off getting it up there to use it in place, I can see not wanting to do all of that.
I see the big dip as the biggest challenge, probably requiring some equipment that can lower the hitch ball very near the ground to squeak the trailer thru there, with out dragging the rear end of the trailer on the pavement as it is pushed up out of the dip.

A tractor with a ball mounted on pallet forks might do the job.

Cheers Richard

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by dad911

I'm not sure loose gravel will help much, it's going to push around the curve.

Try a tow company.

I don't see wires or a height issue. Looking at the pics, I would think they can load it on a rolloff, back in and drop it.

I was planning to keep the gravel in the plastic bags they come in, 50 lbs each. Just for clearance at the end of the trailer. I put down left over pavers last time but they were a pain. A tow company rolloff ... fascinating! That might be the ticket.

[porsche4life]

Drop a PM to lowyder, I haven’t seen him in recently but he’s still around on Fb. He might have the equipment, if he doesn’t I bet he knows someone who does.

[cabmandone]

From your description I was picturing something more daunting. The grip doesn't appear to be an issue that would require a track machine. Bobcat S590, Case SR220, CAT 236, Deere 320D all capable as long as it's dry when you do it. Honestly as long as the tongue weight isn't too much and that incline in the picture is the worst of it, a stand on unit should handle that job.

[Baz]

I wonder if a call to a local RV park would provide some resource help.

They deal with trailers 24/7.

[otto_kretschmer]

Java,

your wrangler should be able to do the job, just put it in 4wd low and back it in

piece of cake

if you run out of traction, just air down

[Scott Douglas]

This bad boy could push that trailer all the way up, but, it might not fit through the gate.
It's W-I-D-E.

[wayner]

I’d put a front hitch on that Jeep! ( like craigster said)

[93nav]

Is there a good point to hook a chain or cable to the back of the travel trailer?

Have the Jeep or similar already up the driveway. Back in the travel trailer with whatever. Chain or cable the back of the travel trailer to the Jeep in the driveway. Unhook the tow vehicle. Push the tongue of the travel trailer over, pull the travel trailer up the driveway backwards with the Jeep, at least far enough to be able to reconnect the original tow vehicle.

Two things to worry about that I can see. When doing the switch over, how much is the travel trailer going to want to move; up, down, sideways? And, how hard will it be to push the travel trailer over to get it going straight up the driveway prior to being pulled back by the Jeep?

The front hitch on the Jeep is also a good idea.

Whatever you do, video, for Youtube, you know.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wayner

I’d put a front hitch on that Jeep! ( like craigster said)

Yep...since he evidently ain't gonna buy a full size John Deere tractor and just ignores my awesome suggestion

[rfuerst911sc]

What ever you end up doing make sure you make comments on the Youtube video like " watch this ' or " hold my beer " it will add to the enjoyment of the video

[JavaBrewer]

Some humorous responses above Yeah I think my Wrangler could manage but I'm a novice with trailers and terrified I will get pinned in and stuck - 30 ft overall length and 6K lbs is one hell of a road block haha. I spent an hour with my neighbors full size truck practicing turns, reversing, and reverse turning in a large parking lot. He let me use his yard - straight shot in (the big space in the aerial picture) to park it while I figure this out. Leaving Vons yesterday - got beer for the YouTube video , I saw a guy with a bobcat and trailer and asked if could move a trailer. Got his number and will call next week to setup a consult. I'll update later once the dust has settled. Thanks again to all who responded here!

Edit- I can see the benefit of a front bumper mount for my Jeep but at 800 lb hitch weight I'm worried it will be too much. Stuck trailer & broken front suspension...Winning!