Trailer Backing Tip

[JRJ]

Not that we have any trouble backing down the ramp, but for those who know someone that does..Place your hand at the very bottom (6-o'clock) of your steering wheel. Your trailer will go which ever way your hand is pointed. This is old advice given me by a truck driver.

 

[lilwily]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

The best advice I have given is to go to a <br />empty paking lot and practice a litte. The<br />ramp or your garage is not the place.<br /><br />wm

 

[Ross J]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

I agree with the last writer. I bought a trailer boat and started with backing exercises at our local shopping centre (after hours). This proved beneficial as there were some pecularities with my trailer which I soon cottoned onto!<br />Plus my wife found it educational as well and is now a dab hand at the ramp which frees me up greatly to handle the boat whilst she parks up!<br />Ross

 

[skier]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

Hello, Try this<br /><br />While in the parking lot, try to use the parking lines as a ramp and practice staying inside the lines. Also a trick my mother told me, while in the same parking lot, there are those light posts with the cement bottoms. Drive right at one and stop when you think that you are about 1-2' from it, then get out and look. Then go to another light post and do the same thing with all 4 corners of your car as well as the middle front and back. Once you are good at that, then hook up the boat and back up to the same posts and stop when you think you are 2' from it and then get out and check. It won't take too long until you will know exactly where the back of the boat is from the drivers seat and you won't need that much help backing down the ramp. Just remember that when backing, don't try to force the trailer, guide and follow it with the tow vehicle.

 

[JRJ2]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

^8)

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

Something that may not have occured to some(Or myself) is that when the trailer is empty, it can be hard to see when backing down the ramp, especially if you have a campershell on the truck. I never realized this until my wife complained about it this weekend. Says she has a hard time backing down the ramp when the boats not on. She can peg it every time with the boat on. I guess if you have guides that stick up, it may help. I think she has a problem using the mirrors and judging which way the trailer is going. Just something I thought I would throw out there. I don't see where it's a problem, cause I always use the mirrors to back it up....

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

Guides help a ton for that reason.

 

[rookieboater]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

Something that may not have occured to some(Or myself) is that when the trailer is empty, it can be hard to see when backing down the ramp, especially if you have a campershell on the truck. I never realized this until my wife complained about it this weekend. Says she has a hard time backing down the ramp when the boats not on. She can peg it every time with the boat on. I guess if you have guides that stick up, it may help. I think she has a problem using the mirrors and judging which way the trailer is going. Just something I thought I would throw out there. I don't see where it's a problem, cause I always use the mirrors to back it up....

 

[rookieboater]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

I have'had the same problem even though I don't have a camper shell on my GMC full sized pickup, I put the tailgate down and can see the trailer to back it up and can also utilize the tailgate to get onto the trailer to secure the boat without getting too wet

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

have SUV when backing trailer i lay the rear seats down and open the rear hatch. you can see wheels, and know just where to stop.

 

[NBE]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

Just make sure if you lower the tailgate that there is enough distance between the tailgate and the post on the trailer that supports the winch.

If there is not enough clearance you could possibly dent the leading edge of the tailgate if you have to make a sharp enough turn.

Most trailers do have enough clearance but this happened to me at least once. Depends on the ramp and how much you have to manuever in order to get the trailer pointed straight down the ramp.

 

[anyfishlldo]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

I put the tailgate down for both getting down the ramp and for getting the trailer hooked up to the truck. It's easier to center the truck using the panel on the gate behind the handle which is dead center, on mine I can also gauge how far to back by the spare on the tongue in relation to the gate.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Trailer Backing Tip

none of these things help if you're using something like a suburban with doors (not the pop up tailgate). They are likely to swing shut...

So my best way is to get trailer guides.... but now w/ my new house I can't fit them in the garage and I'm wondering what to rig up....