Backing up trailer tips

Wind dog

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 13, 2012
Messages
304
Re: Backing up trailer tips

So, sitting in your truck, hand on bottom of steering wheel, as you back move your hand that is on the wheel the direction you would like the trailer to go, remember to "follow" your trailer has it turns. That is once you have the trailer going were you want it to, you need to follow it with the truck.( not sure how to explain that?? ) No big movements, just small corrections. Find an empty parking lot & practice practice practice.
Good luck and enjoy your new Fix Or Repair Daily. ;-)
 

JASinIL2006

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
5,680
Re: Backing up trailer tips

Maybe I need to spend a couple hundred more hours on practice to back up my empty trailer using only my mirrors. For some reason, my brain just doesn't seem to decipher the reversed image I get in the mirrors and allow me to back the empty trailer very well. I know I've take more time than necessary to get my empty trailer down the ramp when I couldn't drop the tailgate to watch the trailer out the back window. Frustrating to me (I never seem to get any better at it), frustrating to my boating passengers, frustrating to those I share the ramp with.

Or, I could pop on those magnetic alignment thingies, have no troubles, and spend that time enjoying my boat.

I think I'll take the little yellow alignment thingies. :eyebrows:
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: Backing up trailer tips

That might work if he could see the trailer. Here's a quote from his original post.



I have the same problem on some ramps with my F250. Luckily my winch post is back far enough I can drop the tailgate.

You don't need to see the trailer. You know it's back there. When it starts out of alignment you will see the rear end of it.
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: Backing up trailer tips

So, sitting in your truck, hand on bottom of steering wheel, as you back move your hand that is on the wheel the direction you would like the trailer to go, remember to "follow" your trailer has it turns. That is once you have the trailer going were you want it to, you need to follow it with the truck.( not sure how to explain that?? ) No big movements, just small corrections. Find an empty parking lot & practice practice practice.
Good luck and enjoy your new Fix Or Repair Daily. ;-)

Good advice.
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: Backing up trailer tips

Maybe I need to spend a couple hundred more hours on practice to back up my empty trailer using only my mirrors. For some reason, my brain just doesn't seem to decipher the reversed image I get in the mirrors and allow me to back the empty trailer very well. I know I've take more time than necessary to get my empty trailer down the ramp when I couldn't drop the tailgate to watch the trailer out the back window. Frustrating to me (I never seem to get any better at it), frustrating to my boating passengers, frustrating to those I share the ramp with.

Or, I could pop on those magnetic alignment thingies, have no troubles, and spend that time enjoying my boat.

I think I'll take the little yellow alignment thingies. :eyebrows:

The image will still be the same in the mirror. The only things the tennis ball things do is show you where the trailer is. You won't need a couple hundred hours practicing. Like said above take it to a empty parking lot and within a few hours you should have a pretty good handle on it. Maybe put the boat on and it will give you a idea of where your backing in relation to your steering. This will help a lot.
 

smokeonthewater

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Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Backing up trailer tips

back real slow and MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL SLOWLY watching what the trailer does and reacting with the wheel... 20 minutes in an empty lot and you'll be doing figure eights around light poles
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,744
Re: Backing up trailer tips

The trailblazer was 74" wide.
THe f250 is 80" wide.
The 2008 Larson Sport is 88" wide, so it is on an "over 80" trailer.

How is it not possible to see the trailer fenders or clearance lights, using the trucks side view mirrors ?
 

smokeonthewater

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Re: Backing up trailer tips

the OP stated that he get's confused using the mirrors... he CAN see it in the mirrors but he wants to be able to see it by turning his head
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
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Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,151
Re: Backing up trailer tips

Quit trying to think thru the process it will confuse you everytime. With practice you will not think about what you are doing it will come naturally. Been backing trailers for 50 yrs, if I just look in the mirrors and not think about it, it goes great, but if I stop and try to think or if someone asks me which way to turn the wheel I am totally lost. On days when very few others are around the ramp I usually just back my trailer thru the parking lot to the ramp rather than drive all the way around forward. Of course I can't do that when they are busy but try not thinking about what you are doing just practice until it becomes natural.
 

smokeonthewater

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Re: Backing up trailer tips

yep I have backed everything from cars n jetski's to 16' wide 200,000 lb equipment on 9 axle semi lowboy combinations... If I try to think about which way to turn the wheel I just might go the wrong way but just look in the mirror and go and it's no prob... like I said above practice going really slow where you have no pressure to get anything right.

tho in a pinch as mentioned above... bottom of the wheel left = trailer left
 

Vintin

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Messages
223
Re: Backing up trailer tips

Try to position the vehicle and trailer so you are backing in a slight arc on the drivers side. 30+ years of backing trailers, stump grinders and chippers in the tree biz. Don't be in a hurry. If you get disoriented get out and take a look at where you are. If possible have a spotter.
 

WIMUSKY

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Staff member
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Sep 26, 2009
Messages
19,957
Re: Backing up trailer tips

I think you should put those flags lower so you can sink them!!!!!

They should have stayed in the garage and used as rags........ :) All in good fun......

As others, I just drop the tailgate, quick, easy and it costs nothing...... I can drive around the parking lot with it down. But be careful, depending on the winch post, it may hit the tailgate while going around a corner. Just drop it when your lined up and ready to back down the ramp if that's the case....
 
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smokeonthewater

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Re: Backing up trailer tips

at my local ramp I often drive right down to the water's edge and do a u turn... then I back a whopping 50 feet into the water... gets a LOT of looks with a crew cab dually and a 30' 10k lb boat LOL
 

Pony

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 27, 2004
Messages
4,355
Re: Backing up trailer tips

You don't need to see the trailer. You know it's back there. When it starts out of alignment you will see the rear end of it.

By then its too late to correct it most of the time depending on how much room you have. Plus the attachments I posted have the added benefit of giving me two markers to put the boat between when driving on the trailer. Depending on the ramp, the fenders and side rails may be all the way under the water.....but those Packer flags won't be. That is the real reason I added them. Giving me better sight when backing up is just a bonus.
 

roscoe

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Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,744
Re: Backing up trailer tips

the OP stated that he get's confused using the mirrors... he CAN see it in the mirrors but he wants to be able to see it by turning his head

Nowhere did he say he gets confused using the mirrors, and he never said he wants to see it by turning his head.


He said, and I quote, "..its pretty tough because I cant see the trailer... Any tips for backing up the trailer without seeing it? "



Doesn't matter I guess, because he has gone to buy the yellow bobble heads.
 

smokeonthewater

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Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Backing up trailer tips

WHOOPS! it WAS said but it wasn't the O/P who said it...... hate it when that happens......

Nowhere did he say he gets confused using the mirrors, and he never said he wants to see it by turning his head.


He said, and I quote, "..its pretty tough because I cant see the trailer... Any tips for backing up the trailer without seeing it? "



Doesn't matter I guess, because he has gone to buy the yellow bobble heads.

Maybe I need to spend a couple hundred more hours on practice to back up my empty trailer using only my mirrors. For some reason, my brain just doesn't seem to decipher the reversed image I get in the mirrors and allow me to back the empty trailer very well. I know I've take more time than necessary to get my empty trailer down the ramp when I couldn't drop the tailgate to watch the trailer out the back window. Frustrating to me (I never seem to get any better at it), frustrating to my boating passengers, frustrating to those I share the ramp with.

Or, I could pop on those magnetic alignment thingies, have no troubles, and spend that time enjoying my boat.

I think I'll take the little yellow alignment thingies. :eyebrows:
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,744
Re: Backing up trailer tips

Yeah, too many posts to keep track of.

I find myself re-reading these threads from the beginning, every time I check in, just to keep it all straight in my head.


Wouldn't it be better if the trailers would just be part of the boat ?
They could just retract into the hull after launch.
 

chriscraft254

Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
2,445
Re: Backing up trailer tips

Yeah, too many posts to keep track of.

I find myself re-reading these threads from the beginning, every time I check in, just to keep it all straight in my head.


Wouldn't it be better if the trailers would just be part of the boat ?
They could just retract into the hull after launch.

Its been done. :)
 

sea wolf

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
1,219
Re: Backing up trailer tips

If u have a tonneau cover drop it inside the truck bed & open the tailgate.
 
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