how to back up a boat trailer ?

[ctsj]

HelloooOO All I am new here , also new with towing a boat , My question is how to learn a easy way to backup a big boat on any Trailer . Thanks so muchhHH

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

Not difficult, with some practice it'll become a breeze <br /><br />ps: just don't wait until you're about to launch to start practicing your maneuvers.

 

[travism]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

Go to a big empty parking lot and practice backing up before trying it at the ramp. Set up some cones or use the parking stripes as targets to go between.<br /><br />A helpful hint: when backing up, hold onto the bottom of the steering wheel. Then turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go.

 

[JB]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

What travism said.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

yeah and before you gets good don't use the mirror, turn your head around and look back. If you can't see the empty trailer, drop the tail gate if it's a pickup or open the rear door if it's an SUV.

 

[reddog349]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

What travism said is eaxctly the easiest way to learn. Its how I learn to back a semi.<br />Just remember dont oversteer and take your time!Youll get it right.

 

[ctsj]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU ,,, I'LL TRY ALL THIS .......BUTTTT.... ANY MORE IDEAL

 

[jaxsun]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

"chase the boat"

 

[jstillw]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

I agree with jaxsun, however I call it following the boat. Learn to get the "feel" of where the boat is going and just follow it around. Go real slow and pull up far enough to give yourself room to follow it down the ramp.<br /><br />Launch on an uncrowded weekday. I found this helped me.<br /><br />Most important don't panic. Everyone has to have a first time and that goes for all those around you.

 

[Triton II]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

I recently taught my son to back the boat... when you're looking in the mirrors turn the steering wheel towards the direction the trailer turns, i.e if you're going straight back and the trailer starts to "grow" in the right-hand mirror (this means the trailer is moving to the right), turn the steering wheel to the right. Once it starts to turn back then turn the wheel a little past neutral to the left. Take it slowly and enjoy... it becomes second nature after a while! (Ohhhh, tried to do this by visualising it.. now my head hurts... I hope I got this right!)

 

[QC]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

Another trick for your head is to try and remember that the truck's rear wheels are the trailer's front wheels. What you are doing with the steering is positioning the trailer's front wheels.<br /><br />Go REALLY sloooowwwww at first.<br /><br />BTW, Welcome!!!

 

[all thumbs]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

I drive a truck trailer combo every day. It has no back window so using mirrors are a must. Any time I can have the option I prefer using the left mirror, cause I can also see the trailer out the driver door window when it starts to turn. Not always an option though. Best thing is the empty parking lot practice. The way I keep it in my mind is. Sitting in the vehicle looking forward, if I want to back the trailer to the left I turn my wheel to the right. Want it to go right , turn wheel to left. Opposite direction you want trailer to go. Good luck

 

[Mark42]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

First time you launch if there is a line, take the time to tell the guy behind you that this is your first time. Chances are he will give you some pointers, and even spot for you as you back into the ramp. That's what I did the first few times I launched and got help every time. Plus they are not getting annoyed at you for fudging everything up and tying up the ramp. <br /><br />People love to show you what they know so don't be embarrassed to tell people you're a "newbe" to launching. <br /><br />Be sure to thank everyone for their help and patience.<br /><br />Have fun!

 

[KM2]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

Practice in the empty parking lot a few times, this will help alot. <br /><br />I think backing up straight is harder than coming in at a angle. I prefer to pull up to the left of ramp, get trailer in my left mirror and pick a spot to back up too. This way I keep the boat & trailer visible the whole time and not going back and forth. At my ramp I aim for 2 feet from the dock at the waterline.

 

[jtexas]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

i agree, straight is harder.<br /><br />I always stop & tell myself, "I want the trailer to go right, turn the wheel left" or vice versa.<br /><br />Your first inclination is to over-steer; re-center the wheel sooner than you think you should, and small movements of the wheel are usually sufficient.<br /><br />Here's a trick I heard but doesn't seem to work for me: grasp the wheel at the six o'clock position; now move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go.

 

[rg33]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

as jtexas said about the 6 o'clock position. Slight movement of the wheel and go slow so you can keep up with the trailer direction.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

A couple of key elements in backing involve 1) trailer length. A short trailer is harder to back than a longer one because direction changes occur faster. Therefore you need to be a little quicker with steering input to correct direction. 2) Some folks new to trailering wait far too long before making a steering correction. This means the rig must be straightened out and the process restarted. 3) Some people steer way too much and as a result the path resembles one made by a snake. If it eventually gets the trailer where you want it that's fine, but only slight steering corrections are needed to back straight. Then there are those who never really learn how to back a trailer.

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

I was told the bottom of the wheel, six o clock position is the best way to learn. I had already been backing up the old fashioned way but I thought what the heck, have my son try it. He was learning to drive so had no pre conceived notion of what to do. It works great for him. I still have difficulty.

 

[harrisg]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

Hey my head hurts. One says turn the wheel the way you want the trailer to go. The other says turn the wheel in the opposite direction of the way you want to go. Actually, it all depends on whether your hands are at the bottom or top of the steering wheel. <br /><br />If your hand is at the bottom, the trailer will go the direction you turn the steering wheel. Turn the bottom of the steering wheel to the right, the trailer will go to the right. The opposite if you want to go left and your hand is at the bottom of the steering wheel.<br /><br />However, if your hands are at the top of the steering wheel, turn the steering wheel the opposite direction of the way you want the trailer to go. Turn the wheel left, the trailer will go right. Turn the steering wheel right and the trailer will go left.<br /><br />I prefer to have my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel so I know that turning the wheel right means the trailer goes right and left, the trailer goes left.<br /><br />I hope I haven't confused you further.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: how to back up a boat trailer ?

ctsj, I'm in the same boat as you (no pun intended). For many years, I backed a boat by looking out the rear window. I could thread a needle at 30 MPH with it. Now I'm forced to back using the mirrors. Having to learn all over again. Everything is just the opposite (the image I'm looking at, that is).