The objective for parking your travel trailer with the "Get Out and Look" (GOAL) method is to ensure safety, accuracy, and efficiency when maneuvering into tight or unfamiliar spaces. This technique emphasizes the importance of stepping out of the vehicle and visually inspecting your surroundings before and during the parking process.
Purpose of GOAL
1. Ensuring Clear Pathways and Obstructions:
Before backing up or maneuvering the trailer, stepping out of the vehicle helps you identify any obstacles in the way, such as trees, rocks, other vehicles, fences, or uneven terrain. This reduces the risk of hitting something that you might not see from inside the cab.
2. Improving Accuracy and Alignment:
By getting out of the vehicle and viewing the space from different angles, you can ensure the trailer is aligned correctly with the parking spot, avoiding the need for multiple adjustments. This is especially helpful in tight spots or when parking on a slope. If you are traveling solo, consider setting up collapsible traffic cones so that you know exactly where you want your trailer positioned on the site.
3. Assessing the Site and Conditions:
Each parking location may have unique features, such as uneven ground, narrow spaces, or sloped areas Stepping out to inspect allows you to inspect whether the surface is suitable for parking and helps you decide the best angle or approach. Also, assess the site for all your hook-ups: water, sewer, electrical and/or cable, to insure proper trailer placement.
4. Preventing Damage to Your Trailer or Surroundings:
The GOAL method helps prevent unintentional damage to the trailer or surrounding areas. By stepping out to inspect, you can avoid hitting walls, curbs, or other objects that may be in your blind spots when reversing or turning.
5. Improving Communication and Coordination (with a Spotter):
If you’re parking with the assistance of a spotter, the GOAL method allows you to communicate more effectively with them. You can guide your spotter to direct you properly, and if you're unsure about the alignment, you can verify it by walking around the trailer yourself.
6. Promoting Safety and Reducing Stress:
By ensuring that the area is clear and that you're aware of the space around you, the process becomes safer and less stressful. It helps you feel more confident in your maneuvering, reducing the chances of accidents or mistakes during parking.
Remember to back-up slowly and double-check the trailer’s position after parking.
In short, the GOAL method is a proactive approach that makes parking your travel trailer safer and more efficient by emphasizing the importance of visual checks to avoid obstacles, ensure proper alignment, and minimize the risk of accidents.
Smooth Parking!