Backing up a trailer?
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Backing up a trailer?
Are there any easy tips (other than praticing) to make learning how to back a trailer up easier? I rented a trailer recently and was amazed at how easy some people make it look.
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Right Behind You
Practice, practice, practice...Also a longer tandem axle trailer will back easier that a short single axle trailer...I hate backing those little 8 or 10 foot single axle trailers, you've got less room for error with them.
Tim
Tim
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Simpsonville, KY
Practice :P If you have a small garden tractor and a tiny little garden trailer, use that. If you can master backing a 4' trailer, you can back ANYTHING 
The person that said shorter is harder is DEFINATELY correct; mistakes happen faster and things turn quicker than you expect, making it difficult. Master that, and you are good From then on, the shorter the vehicle and the longer the trailer, the easier it is. Get a long vehicle (F350 Crew cab long bed) and a short trailer (10' motercycle trailer) and you'll have the worst of all worlds. Longer trailers take more time to turn but are more predictable and more forgiving; short trailers turn fast and sharp.
The person that said shorter is harder is DEFINATELY correct; mistakes happen faster and things turn quicker than you expect, making it difficult. Master that, and you are good From then on, the shorter the vehicle and the longer the trailer, the easier it is. Get a long vehicle (F350 Crew cab long bed) and a short trailer (10' motercycle trailer) and you'll have the worst of all worlds. Longer trailers take more time to turn but are more predictable and more forgiving; short trailers turn fast and sharp.
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While it's true that shorter is harder because it turns so quick - nothing is easier than a longer single axle trailer. With dual axles you don't have as clean a pivot point; the wheels push a bit before they start turning - so it can be less predictable for a beginner. Grafekie's dead on about the worst combinations; for an even more extreme example, think of a big bucket truck towing a short, narrow wood chipper - that can jacknife before you even see it in the mirrors.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
Along with all the rest...
Big mirrors and maybe a COMPETENT helper on the outside. My wife is usless here so I do it solo and get out and size things up several times as I back up.
Slow and steady, no sudden moves and watch out for really tight turns, don't want to have the trailer kiss the truck, seen it happen and done it once or twice.
The wheels are the pivot. So when backing up, especially around something, like say gas pumps, backup until the wheels are about even with the "obstacle" and then make your turn. If you start the turn, before the wheels are in the right place, you will turn into the "obstacle". Also pay attention to the other corners of the trialer. When you are backing up you usually are watching the corner in the direction of your travel. Sometimes the front opposite corner and the rear opposite corner are headed for something. So watch all corners. Also watch for overhead obstacles, most of us don't watch for those until we scrape our roof a time or two.
Good Luck, practice,
Jim Henderson
Big mirrors and maybe a COMPETENT helper on the outside. My wife is usless here so I do it solo and get out and size things up several times as I back up.
Slow and steady, no sudden moves and watch out for really tight turns, don't want to have the trailer kiss the truck, seen it happen and done it once or twice.
The wheels are the pivot. So when backing up, especially around something, like say gas pumps, backup until the wheels are about even with the "obstacle" and then make your turn. If you start the turn, before the wheels are in the right place, you will turn into the "obstacle". Also pay attention to the other corners of the trialer. When you are backing up you usually are watching the corner in the direction of your travel. Sometimes the front opposite corner and the rear opposite corner are headed for something. So watch all corners. Also watch for overhead obstacles, most of us don't watch for those until we scrape our roof a time or two.
Good Luck, practice,
Jim Henderson
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Thanks for the responses.
I see a lot of landscapers and contractors who back these work trailers up a steep, narrow and curvy driveway like it was nothing! It's a lot harder than it looks and I need more pratice to get the feel for it. It seems like as you turn the wheel the trailer tends to go in the opposite direction than I was thinking. It also helps to try and keep the truck in front of the trailer and make slower movements.
I see a lot of landscapers and contractors who back these work trailers up a steep, narrow and curvy driveway like it was nothing! It's a lot harder than it looks and I need more pratice to get the feel for it. It seems like as you turn the wheel the trailer tends to go in the opposite direction than I was thinking. It also helps to try and keep the truck in front of the trailer and make slower movements.
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
and then there are the idiots like me that have a receiver mounted under the front bumper, and use it every chance i get, just to show off how easy it is to spot a trailer in a tight place where people say it can't be put. 
if you want hard, try a cement mixer, or air compressor.
if you want hard, try a cement mixer, or air compressor.
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"Mifflin Clay"
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From: Mifflin, PA
Originally Posted by tjc transport
and then there are the idiots like me that have a receiver mounted under the front bumper, and use it every chance i get, just to show off how easy it is to spot a trailer in a tight place where people say it can't be put.
if you want hard, try a cement mixer, or air compressor.
if you want hard, try a cement mixer, or air compressor.
HE) 
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,446
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by alchymist
Try as I might, I couldn't get my 5th wheel hitch on the front bumper.....(HE- HE)
HE) ya just gots to build a bigger bumper, ya silly rabbit!!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Simpsonville, KY
So Tom, you unhitch your trailer, flip the truck, and rehitch, just to park the trailer? Geeze, its easier to jacknife three times and take four tries! I don't bother with that, I just back up, use mirrors (NOT look over the shoulder) and act on instinct without thinking too hard. The harder you think, the more often you turn the wrong way!
I don't bother with that, I just back up, use mirrors (NOT look over the shoulder) and act on instinct without thinking too hard. The harder you think, the more often you turn the wrong way!
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,703
Likes: 6
From: Right Behind You
Hell, if I get in a spot that tight I just run over/into/through whatever is in the way...If I can't get my trailers in then it needs to be widened anyway...
If you saw my truck/trailers you would see that I have done that several times...
Tim
If you saw my truck/trailers you would see that I have done that several times...
Tim
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,446
Likes: 5,517
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by grafekie
So Tom, you unhitch your trailer, flip the truck, and rehitch, just to park the trailer? Geeze, its easier to jacknife three times and take four tries! I don't bother with that, I just back up, use mirrors (NOT look over the shoulder) and act on instinct without thinking too hard. The harder you think, the more often you turn the wrong way!
I don't bother with that, I just back up, use mirrors (NOT look over the shoulder) and act on instinct without thinking too hard. The harder you think, the more often you turn the wrong way! it is there for the people that buy a 32 ft hitch draw trailer, then try to put it in a spot between trees on a turn.
i used to drive a 11wide X 30long drop deck low boy, so i know how to back them up without even looking almost.
