Advice for backing up with small trailer

[Maclin]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Quoting Red Green from his comments on the difficulties presented when backing up a short boat trailer...

"....plus you're drivin' usin' your mirrors, ya know, or actually turnin' your head around if you're under 25..."

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

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.

Let's not loose track that this is not an 18 wheeler we are talking about.
He is having the problem with a Dodge Dakota backing up a Jon Boat that may be hard to see in the mirrors because it is so small.

 

[Chief9]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Ive never heard this, Im not sure how I would back a trailer without 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.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

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.

If you are driving a tractor trailer pulling a boat, then I agree you should use the mirrors.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Ive never heard this, Im not sure how I would back a trailer without mirrors??

I confess......I flunked my first road test. When I backed up I looked in the real view mirror. Even though this was almost 50 years ago I remember it like it was yesterday - the inspector said "look where you are going, not where you've been". Of course I already knew that from DriversEd!

Funny. I can't imagine using the mirrors. Everything is in reverse. How can you possibly steer if you are not looking at the trailer?

 

[airshot]

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.

A true statement when just backing your auto, however when backing a trailer mirrors should be first priority. Most folks do not have their mirrors adjusted properly anyway and that is the number one reason they don't like mirrors. I have been backin trailers for 47 yrs , and taught all my kids to use their mirrors, they couldn't get their drivers license until they drove thru one winter and also learned to back up a trailer. Should be part of your drivers license test then we would not be waiting a half hour at the ramps while learning to back up their trailers.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Find an empty parking lot and practice, practice, practice. Look out the back window or use the mirrors. Which ever works for you. The key is to get a good feel for the trailer and how it react to your steering inputs. At work i pull an Ingersoll Rand air compressor with a 550 ford truck with a service body on it. At first it made me nuts trying to back it up, but after a lot of practice it's not a big deal anymore.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Back to driver ED....
Backing Up 101

Backing Up around a Corner

Let's keep in mind that Basic Drivers Education assumes a standard Automobile, not a towing situation!
Every situation is different. The OP is pulling a Jon Boat on a short trailer, Very easy to see over the top of it when backing.

If you are pulling a boat much over 20 feet there is no visibility straight back. Mirrors are needed to see what is well behind the boat.
However turning around and looking directly at the boat will allow you to see if the boat is straight and what is to both sides at the same time. If some kid pulls directly behind the boat you are going to run him over using mirrors or not.
You can tell where you are but not what is behind you.

The folks here advocating turning around to back up are NOT saying, "Never look in the Mirrors."
The folks that back up using only the mirrors without ever turning around and looking are ignoring half of the visual information that is available to them. Turn around and look while backing but check in the mirrors every few feet to see what else is back there.
Use all the information you can get.

I suspect that many of the mirror only backers do so because it is beyond their physical ability to sit facing forward, throw their arm over the back of the seat, and turning their heads 180 degrees to the rear.

 

[dude11]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

You know,,I've always wanted to be able to use mirrors to back,but the ole school turn around & look seems to be best for me.You can cheat a little,if you'll mount two "u" brackets to your transom & stick a push-pole or something in it right before backing.The newer trucks are taller than before?? Not sure about the why portion,& the 4 wheel drives are as well. As mentioned,the longer the better but seeing it is always better.Some of the best entertainment you can find,is at the boat launch.:joyous:

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

The folks that back up using only the mirrors without ever turning around and looking are ignoring half of the visual information that is available to them. Turn around and look while backing but check in the mirrors every few feet to see what else is back there.

How do you figure that we are ignoring 1/2 of the information? There is a rearview mirror that gives you as much rear visibility as peeking over your shoulder and allows you to quickly switch between any of the 3 mirrors for a full view.


I do lack the physical ability to rotate my head 180 degrees, pretty sure only Owls can do that

 

[ZacUSNYR]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I do lack the physical ability to rotate my head 180 degrees, pretty sure only Owls can do that

 

[acdc96]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

just thought of a kinda good idea but probably not practical for road use.

my idea is... The trailer pivots on the ball and allows the tow vehicle to turn. well for backing up instead of having a ball that joins the trailer and the tow vehicle together, have the trailer tongue go directly into the hitch receiver so the trailer cant go side to side. now the trailer and tow vehicle are in sync and when one goes to he side they both do. it could probably work better with a front wheel drive vehicle then a rear wheeled one. but with this turning is a nightmare cause of the length. no sharp turns and you need a lot of room to turn.
my Dodge Dakota is 18 feet long, add 16 feet for my aluminum boat, = thats 34 feet if you add my 21ft cuddy thats about 28ft on the trailer = thats 46 ft long!!

kinda reminds me of a big RV.
good idea but too long and very hard to maneuver

thanks for the tips.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Wouldn't work unless the trailer wheels were castors.
In order to turn you would have to slide the trailer sideways.

Btw there actually ARE trailers like you describe with the castors I mentioned ho they are very rare and not generally found under boats.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

And since this has now become THAT kind of party.....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=viHDD3-dVpM

 

[Maclin]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Smoke, that is where I got my quote, that skit is hilarious.

 

[acdc96]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

And since this has now become THAT kind of party.....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=viHDD3-dVpM

Loved that video!!!

I gotta find a old beeter and make one. Or get a small truck like a ford ranger and get rid of the bed and extend the frame. Good project for a rainy day. A truck cab would work better than a car choped in half cause it's all enclosed.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Need to buy a lot more chisels.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

I have guide posts on the rear of my trailer, and can see them when backing up, works great.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Loved that video!!!

I gotta find a old beeter and make one. Or get a small truck like a ford ranger and get rid of the bed and extend the frame. Good project for a rainy day. A truck cab would work better than a car choped in half cause it's all enclosed.

there used to be a company that did conversions with 4x4 chevy trucks and car trailers.... you ended up with a front wheel drive truck-ler

 

[acdc96]

Re: Advice for backing up with small trailer

Could do this. Fail

Jetski Load Up In Van Fail - YouTube