Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

[ooootis]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

mirrors but, i do cheat everynow and then. learned towing a wood chipped behind a N700 ford truck. Chipper was narrower than truck. So as chipper was jack knifed before you knew it added extension that flipped out to about 3 inches wider than truck.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Always mirrors.<br />22 years over the road TT driver and that's the only way to back up.<br />Whether it's a boat, my Travel Trailer, or car trailer.

 

[cotterman]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

both mirrors, rearview mirror, look over both shoulders, look around to see who's watching/laughing....still practicing

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

mirrors. neumanns i think people use the right sh for 'centering everything'... <br />i owe my backing skills to my mother, who made me back our old glastron trihull down our 45^ short driveway into garage with the old ford 302 truck with 3sp/column, back when pop was working weekends,and i had my learners permit. it made her a nervous wreck. <br />i just had to pull the seat vinyl out of my ---

 

[poolshark38759]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

i use outside mirrors for everything!! i have a hard time backing up centered looking over shoulder. the ramp and tow vehicle i used you cant see the trailer when it starts down the ramp.<br /><br />===================<br />14' Polarcraft 25hp Evvinrude behind Ford Bronco

 

[shade788]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

When I saw this all I had to do was laugh.<br /><br />My dad has been boating for over 30 years and he yells at me everytime I turn around to put the boat in the water. He laughs because at the end of the day I can't see the empty trailer when I turn my head. The Dodge 2500 Heavy Duty Ram is too high and I can't see the empty trailer so I get frustrated. I told him I would get bicycle flags so I could see where both sides of the trailer are at all times.<br /><br />I would have to go with turning my head!!!

 

[JB]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Well, don't say I didn't give you all a chance to offer the best solution to putting your boat exactly where you want it.<br /><br />Want to be able to see exactly what you are doing?<br /><br />Want to be able to steer exactly where and when you want to?<br /><br /> Put a front hitch on your tow vehicle.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

JB...Thought about trying that but was wondering dont that get annoying on the hyway after awhile, you know always looking over the boat to see where you are going <br /><br />Jezz did I just say that? Sorry JB forgot who I was messing with, Please forgive me.

 

[cotterman]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

j b <br />tried the front hitch thing but i sunk my truck backing the boat in the water

 

[JB]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

OOOps! I should have explained.<br /><br />The front hitch is not a towing/launching hitch.<br /><br />It is a parking hitch.

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Mirrors!! I have a class A comm. drivers license and the tester would fail you if you so much as turned your head or put an eyelash out the window.

 

[snohomishbaddawg]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

MIRRORS! MIRRORS! MIRRORS!!!!!!!!<br /><br />having driven everything from motorcycles to front end loaders to tractor trailer rigs pulling triples, I can tell you there is no way you can possibly see everything you should be seeing while backing without using your mirrors. If you don't know how to back with your mirrors, practice a bit and you will have it down in no time. If you can't see out of your side mirrors because the boat is to wide then you shouldn't be towing with that vehicle until you have mirrors that work. <br />Looking over your shoulder is not the best way to back without a trailer, and definately not with a trailer.

 

[splugeeman]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Gotta turn the head don't trust mirrors. When you look one way in the mirror your thin and have hair! Every other way its ugly!

 

[mikecjn]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Mirrors mainly. I do look out the side occasionally but with the mirrors I can see both sides and whether or not I am staying straight.

 

[Brett63]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Over the right shoulder to line things up, Make minor adjustments with while backing into garage or down a ramp with the side mirrors. If I have to make big turns with the mirrors (I use the hand at the bottom of the wheel trick) once my hand passes over the top, I get too confused

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Well, I've been backing them for almost 50 years and have to admit that I still look over my shoulder. Never could get used to the mirror method.

 

[Mikevn1500]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Mirrors,dont see nothing but the winch anyway looking over my sholder. Trailer tires stick farther out and it seems fairly easy. When I had a smaller boat and trailer, I couldn't even see the trailer without a boat on it. I had to screw it up just to see where it was.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

If you do not use all three mirrors, the left, right, and center rear view mirrors simultaneously, you do not know how to back a trailer, and you should learn at once. After a little practice (in a vacant field, or in your driveway or back yard) you will see how easy, and safe it is, and wonder why you never learned to back a trailer to start with.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

PS!! Hanging your head out the window while moving is a good way to get your braines knocked out, if you have any.

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: Mirrors or Turning head; Backing Trailer Poll

Over the shoulder out the window! I only use mirrors to double check tire to dock distance, only on the passenger side. I learned with the bottom of the wheel trick but after a while its natural. I had to learn without mirrors since the rusty dodge only had the drivers side and it was safer to just crane the neck over. Now the rusty ford has nice mirrors and I have been getting used to them somewhat... Its all personal preferance, theres no right or wrong, unless you crash everytime!<br />Craig