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Having returned to camping after many years we have bitten the bullet and bought a TT - thought we'd have a bit of comfort in our old age!

The problem we have at the moment is that we have a very narrow steep driveway up to the garage and for space reasons the trailer needs to go into the garage hitch first. No chance of towing up or reversing up.

We are a pair of fairly spritely 61year olds and at the moment, and with a lot of huffing and puffing and a  rope for back up we can get it to the top of the slope but I'm a bit worried about the safety angle. The TT has no break and there's many a slip........etc.

I had thought of mounting a hand operated trailer winch on the back wall of the garage to just haul it up and in but of course the lateral strain would be inline with any wall fixings I used which makes it a bit dodgey.

Anyone had a similar problem and solved it or are there any boffins out there with any bright ideas? - any advice would be much appreciated

If you lived near enough, I'd just come round and give you a lift each time!

Is it possible that you could get a brake fitted to the trailer?

I would have thought that a winch is a good idea, and that somehow it could be secured safely. As a precaution it should be possible to rig some chocks that follow a couple of inches behind the wheels ( or a fencepost on a rope that goes to the hitch might do, so long as its weight doesn't make the drag harder).

Or just sell up and live in the tent; I'm tempted.

Good luck.

what about putting a metal plate outside back wall and bolting right through wall and plate to winch

Thanks for the offerTekkie and for the advice! - the  fencepost sounds a good idea - if I trailed it just behind the wheels it should stop the trailer when we ran out of puff !

I will give the winch idea a bit more thought I think - I should imagine expanding rawlplugs should hold it on to the wall ok or failing that I might even bolt it to the concrete garage floor.

I think you're right about selling up and living in the tent...... if only!

It sounds pretty much like these guys have it sorted for you with some good ideas, I like the one trailing the post behind never thought of that one.

As regards the winch, there could be various options to secure it and anchor it either to the floor or wall, using as mentioned a steel plate the other side or even get a steel (RSJ) to go right across the back of the garage, shouldn't take up too much room, think you could also get an electric hoist which might make things a little easier for you.

I have also read of several posts on this subject in the past, might be worthwhile doing a search on the forums.

Andy