Backing A Trailer

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Oct 15, 2004 | 06:03 PM

#16

tkd

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 644

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Try this 10 step fail-safe trailer backing method.

Since you already mentioned that you know where the area of "paint exchange" is my advice is as follows

1. Purchase 8-10 rolls of duct tape
2. purchase 1 pint of rubbing alcohol
3. purchase your favorite car cleaning supplies & a shovel

4. have the wife sit on the bumper where the paint exchange occured**
5. Duct tape her firmly in place. Note--don't skimp here use all the rolls and try not to cover her mouth
6. Proceed to back the trailer

7. When you hear the screams, you've turned to far.
8. After acheiving the desired results, cut the wife remains free and clean the adhesive from the paint with the rubbing alcohol
9. Clean the truck with care to remove any other foreign substances
10. Bury the remains of the wife.

** MOTHER IN LAW MAY BE USED IN PLACE OF WIFE

Just a suggestion in fun.

As others have said, practice is the only answer.

Oct 18, 2004 | 10:13 AM

#17

teepee542

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 113

Likes: 0

THanks for all of the replies. We are going camping again this week-end so I will be getting more practice.

Oct 24, 2004 | 08:20 PM

#18

f350xlt460

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 673

Likes: 0

From: Virginia

when backing up, if you are confused or are in a bind where you have to do it right the first time, put your had at the bottom of the weel and if you want the trailer to go to the left, push your hand to the left, or right vice versa.
I have a wheel spinner on my steering wheel and it makes the job much easier for me. I just use my mirrors and go.
Keep in mind, the hardest things to back up are long wheelbase vehicles with short tounge to axle trailers. THe longer the trailer, the easier it is to back up.

Oct 25, 2004 | 10:01 AM

#19

alfama351

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 379

Likes: 0

From: hillsborough NJ

i agree with all of the above

one thing that i like to do and it seems to really help, is to point the trailer in the direction you want to back up, while you still rolling foward, it's probaly hard to understand the way i wrote it, I had a great teacher when i worked for a mom and pop trucking company, the owner of the company taught me how to maneuver trailers and that was one of the first pointers that he gave me.

Nov 8, 2004 | 06:40 PM

#20

tkd

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 644

Likes: 0

you know it's funny, I learned to back a trailer using a lawn tracter and a 6ft utility cart. I've become pretty competent at it, but one thing I've never been able to do is to put my hand at the bottom of the wheel. Everytime I try that, the trailer gets all helter-skelter.

Just practice, it's the only way.

Nov 13, 2004 | 06:44 PM

#21

Rocky J

Elder User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 538

Likes: 2

From: Florida

Once the trailer starts going cockeyed, it's sometimes best to stop and pull forward to straighten it out. The further you back up and jackknife the trailer, the further out you will have to maneuver the truck in order to follow it and continue backing. It's easier to back the trailer straight than around a corner.

Nov 15, 2004 | 06:06 PM

#22

mrc59

Tuned

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 465

Likes: 1

From: Metro DC

My motto: I can back up anywhere if I go slowly enough. Others mentioned practice. That's true. But also work slowly at first and think about the angle between the trailer and truck, the direction the trailer is pointing, the location of the back end of the trailer, etc. If you go slowly and can compensate when things get just a little off, you'll get a feel for it and then gain speed.

Nov 16, 2004 | 10:09 PM

#23

DOGINIT

New User

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 15

Likes: 0

The best way to back a trailer is with a hitch on the front of the truck. There are receiver hitches made to mount under the front bumper. This makes backing in real easy (and a lot safer)