Advice for backing up with small trailer

[acdc96]

When I launch and retrieve my Jon boat I have a hard time backing up because it's so short and light. The slightest turn of the steering wheel dramatically affects the trailer. I thick i over correct. I got a tip from a local boater to put my tailgate down when backing up so i can see the boat and trailer easier. It helped but still having difficulties.
I have no problem backing my 21ft cuddy down the ramp cause of the size and and length. About 25 to 30 feet long including the trailer and drive 7.5 feet wide. Double axle trailer. The thing is so easy to move around. I had to back it down a dirt ramp that was all mud and gravel with no problem pulling it up was a little hard but luckily I have a 4X4 truck so I just plowed through the mud.
Backing down that same ramp with dry conditions the small one would constantly jack knife.
Any helpful ideas out their?
I heard of having a tow hitch on the front for easier times backing the trailer down but don't want to go through the hassle of installing one and paying $$$$.

I pull my boats with a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport 4X4 automatic with a 3.9L V6. Good truck. Love that it has the manual floor shift for the 4X4 instead of the crappy electronic ones.

Any advise?
Thanks in advance.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I went through this last weekend. I have no problem backing up my 25 foot cruiser and all of its 34 feet of trailer but last weekend I was making a fool out of myself trying to back a 8 foot utility trailer in our rental houses driveway. The smallest twitch of the wheel makes the trailer jack-knife. I just went slow and at the smallest indication of the trailer jack-knifing I pulled forward a few feet to straighten things out.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Drove tractor trailers for 20 years and when it comes to backing the jet ski and lawn cart i have the same problem. If you did it everyday with that short trailer it would be automatic. It's what it is.Just go slower and learn not to try and correct as quick.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

here is what I do with small trailers

if you cant see it, put a broom, or fishing pole across the trailer so you can see something to indicate trailer movement
go half as fast as you think you can
correct early, correct often
dont over-correct

 

[acdc96]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

here is what I do with small trailers

if you cant see it, put a broom, or fishing pole across the trailer so you can see something to indicate trailer movement
go half as fast as you think you can
correct early, correct often
dont over-correct

I just put the tailgate down on my truck works wonders.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Like anything else PRACTICE

go hook up in a field or empty parking lot and spent a few hours backing figure eights

you will then learn to recognize the trailer movement early and correct as needed

 

[BigDfromTN]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Short trailers are a pain.

For all the reasons you and others state.

Slow and easy is the order of the day. Not any good way around it.

Go practice will help.

 

[gm280]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Obvious it is the physics of the beast. The longer a trailer is the less your corrections are applied, and conversely the shorter the more those corrections are amplified. One idea is to install a long extension on your receiver hitch (if you have a receiver hitch type setup). That will lengthen the total length of the trailer and make those corrections less prominent... But then you need an extension for the trailer light plug in as well... No easy simple answer, but like others stated, very little correction and you have to be able to see the trailer too...

 

[OK Toon]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I used to use my dad's golf cart trailer for an old Jetski. I learned that as long as I didn't see the trailer in either side mirror, all was good. If I started to see the trailer, I knew I was about to have a problem. As others have said, make very slight corrections.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

When I launch and retrieve my Jon boat I have a hard time backing up because it's so short and light. The slightest turn of the steering wheel dramatically affects the trailer. I thick i over correct. I got a tip from a local boater to put my tailgate down when backing up so i can see the boat and trailer easier. It helped but still having difficulties.
I have no problem backing my 21ft cuddy down the ramp cause of the size and and length. About 25 to 30 feet long including the trailer and drive 7.5 feet wide. Double axle trailer. The thing is so easy to move around. I had to back it down a dirt ramp that was all mud and gravel with no problem pulling it up was a little hard but luckily I have a 4X4 truck so I just plowed through the mud.
Backing down that same ramp with dry conditions the small one would constantly jack knife.
Any helpful ideas out their?
I heard of having a tow hitch on the front for easier times backing the trailer down but don't want to go through the hassle of installing one and paying $$$$.

I pull my boats with a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport 4X4 automatic with a 3.9L V6. Good truck. Love that it has the manual floor shift for the 4X4 instead of the crappy electronic ones.

Any advise?
Thanks in advance.

Ayuh,.... Add an extra 8' to the tongue, 'n you'll be able to back it up,.....

It'll also tow Nicer, down the road,...

 

[JimS123]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Nothing shorter than a jetski trailer and yet mine backs up perfectly.

Go slower and make very small changes to the steering wheel. Its all about overcorrecting.

 

[dubldown]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

My father could not back up anything. So he put a clamp on hitch on the frt. bumper. Would drop the trailer ,hook up to the frt. hitch and drove the little boat trailer down the ramp.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Drop the tailgate or open the hatch, and then turn around and look at what you are doing without the mirrors.
It will speed up your decision making processes and you can see both sides at the same time.
You will make the corrections sooner than looking in the mirrors.
It is the same effect as using a front hitch, you are looking directly at it.
Yes, I can back down a 1000 foot curving driveway by using the mirrors.
But, I can drive backwards down the same driveway at 20mph by looking at it directly.

Also keep moving the steering wheel continuously left and right about one inch every second, whether you think it needs it or not.
The little micro fishtailing helps in keeping it straight. Try it before you knock it!

 

[ZacUSNYR]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I have a waverunner (FX Cruiser, big jet ski) that took some getting use to for the same reasons. It comes around quick. My father is a truck driver and I was able to get a lot of good advice from him. It basically comes down to experience and knowing how that vehicle/trailer react to one another. Going slow helps.

Putting tailgate down/tonneau cover rolled up helps out for seeing the trailer (I can't even see my trailer in my mirrors until it's no longer straight) helps out huge for retrieving. So as mentioned above I have to go over the shoulder. My truck is a manual so once I get to the down slope of a ramp I put it in first, depress the clutch and let gravity get me down the ramp. Use the brake - I usually back down slower then walking speed. It's not a race

 

[Vintin]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Don't be too proud to get out of the vehicle and take a look around!

 

[Maclin]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I saw this 3-man "crew" for the same jetski a couple of times at one of the ramps I used in the 1980's. One dude backed in and the other two told him to stop when it got out of line and they picked up the trailer and moved it back in line, then said Ok contuinue. Obviously a practiced maneuver, kind of funny to watch but they did not take much time or space at the ramp.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Go slow. I'd rather back down the ramp at a turtle's pace and do it right than faster and fishtailing. I'll also second the slight back and forth. It's really a rhythm thing where you are staying one step ahead of the trailer, correcting slightly more if needed but usually not. Find your groove. Use the force. Use the brakes.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I get so frustrated with my parents jetski trailer that I just un hitch it and walk it in. Only gets put in and taken out once a year so that works well enough

 

[JimS123]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Drop the tailgate or open the hatch, and then turn around and look at what you are doing without the mirrors.
It will speed up your decision making processes and you can see both sides at the same time.
You will make the corrections sooner than looking in the mirrors.
!

If you're backing up, whether you have a trailer or not, you should be looking out the back window. Mirrors should never be used - heck, I learned that when I was 16 in Driver's Ed.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

If you're backing up, whether you have a trailer or not, you should be looking out the back window. Mirrors should never be used - heck, I learned that when I was 16 in Driver's Ed.

Kind of tough to do with a real truck. You have 3 mirrors that work in most vehicles and only 2 that work in a big truck - use them all, you can't see much of your field of view peeking over one shoulder.