Setting up trailer alone

to hook up.... buy a pvc pipe to fit over the crank.... glue an elbow on it and then glue another pipe at length to just touch the middle of your back window....  it will help you line up.. they sell metal ones that stay on the hitch with magnets....... google hitch alignments..... https://www.bing.com/search?q=hitch%20alinements&pc=cosp&ptag=C1AE89FD93123&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

Originally posted by techntrek If you don't need to drive anywhere you can leave it hitched up, which saves some aggravation.  You may find you can deal with it being somewhat out-of-level, so there will be times you can just back it in and put it in park.  This is often the case for us at truck stops.  I might crank up the tongue jack some to level it front-to-back a bit.

+1
I do this most anytime that I don't need to use the truck to run around and the campsite is close to level.

It sounds like you'll have a nice setup. I'll add, if you are not familiar with backing a trailer, you might want to find an empty parking lot to practice backing up. Again, this is something that gets easier with time/practice.

It's fine to connect water and shore power while connected to the BMW. I would add only one caution. Tow vehicles are generally wired to charge the trailer battery while traveling, but electrically disconnect when the engine is off. I say generally, but stuff happens and mistakes are made. The consequences are possible discharge of the BMW battery if shore power is not used. This can really ruin your morning. It's worth checking out. There are ways to check using a voltmeter, and even a way to check without a meter if you don't mind disconnecting the trailer battery. Let me know and I can talk you through it. Have fun and enjoy your camper and dogs .

  

As was mentioned earlier, backing up might be the toughest when on your own.  In cases like this, I've adopted a method which is tedious but works.... back up the trailer a few feet, get out of truck walk to back to study progress, get back in truck, and repeat process over and over until your good.  I actually learned this the hard way.... backed up into a tree once... embarassing!  ;-)   And, if you have to unhitch and still need to move your trailer, another item which has been super helpful is the Trailer Valet.  I absolutely love this product.  https://www.trailervalet.com/5x

To help line up the trailer to the tow vehicle I purchased this $10.00 solution from Harbor Freight.




http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=trailer+alignment

The 1st time I tried it I still had to get out and check it was aligned a couple of times. However, I am sure after some practice I will be able to get it aligned correctly the 1st time.