Backing the Trailer

[minuteman62-64]

Backing with my old Tacoma was getting harder and harder. I now have a Honda Ridgeline that will make my old crank-the-neck-around and do it no longer a possibility. The Ridgeline does have a rear-view camera that I can already see will be great for backing up to the hitch.

I'm wondering if the Ridgeline's rear-view camera will be of any use when actually backing the trailer. My boat has a narrow (6'-t") beam so the "fish-eye" view from the camera will extend to either side. Or, should I invest in one of those wireless camera setups that I can mount on the back of my trailer?

Interested in your thoughts on how the newer vehicles equipped with rear-view cameras are in this regard.

Yeah, I know the best answer is to learn to use the side-view mirrors when backing - it's on my to-do list, but, if there's an easier way ………..

 

[dingbat]

I have Dynamic Hitch Assist on my F150. Cats meow.
The wife likes it too....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgPTe-ZM9sk

 

[Scott Danforth]

I still use my mirrors and I back my trailer around my property between trees, etc. the backup camera works well to hook up the trailer, however is useless for anything else.

 

[GA_Boater]

Find an empty parking lot and practice using the mirrors. That's the easy way. :smile:

Adding a wireless cam to the back of the trailer only adds one more thing to look at and is still only good for hooking up tandem trailers.

 

[Cat nip]

I like the idea of the camera on the back of the trailer for getting into a tight spot in the dark when my little car mirrors are just not cutting it. Like when im backing up my 7' wide popup with the old ladys Toyota matrix into a snug spot with trees on 3 sides at 1am or backing up my 22' pontoon with my crown Victoria at 3 am in unfamiliar places. Not necessary but could come in handy sometimes and is a lot cheaper than a new big azz truck with tow mirrors and all the other bells n whistles.

 

[ahicks]

We use a late model Honda Pilot which likely uses the same camera system the Ridgeline uses. I don't consider it much help when backing our boat. Like Scott says, awesome for lining up the ball and the coupler, but not much else.

Lately, I've gotten into the habit of raising the lift gate when backing the boat down a ramp. With it out of the way, I can use the inside rear view to see not just the left or right views available from the outside mirrors, but the entire picture, including both sides. Raised on a farm, I can back about anything anywhere using the outside rear view mirrors, but this latest trick seems to have made things even easier.

Point being, maybe see how you do with the tailgate down?

 

[JASinIL2006]

I've never mastered the use of mirrors to back up the boat... for some reason, my brain just doesn't seem to process the reversed images correctly and I end up getting the trailer all sideways, even after years of trying.

Lowering the tailgate on the pickup truck helps, unless I've got the tonneau on the truck bed, which is most of the time. The tonneau blocks most of the view of the trailer.

The only thing I've found that really helps is the installation of guide poles. Mine are attached to the trailer behind the wheels, and the poles are tall enough I can see them when I turn around and look out the rear window. They have made all the difference in the world. With those, I can instantly see where the trailer is going and backing the boat/trailer is no longer stressful or time-consuming. The poles may be a crutch, but I don't care. They work and they simplify the launching and retrieving of my boat, which means I use it more and I get to enjoy boating more.

 

[minuteman62-64]

I tried the lift gate down technique - worked pretty good till I got into a tight turn and the post of the tongue wheel mashed into the top of the gate Oh well, that was my carelessness.

I have a couple of flags I mount in the oar lock sockets of the boat - lets me see where the boat is when it drops out of sight where the launch ramp drop begins. However, they are not available when retrieving the boat. Gave me an idea for mounting the flags on the trailer as an easy upcoming project.

Bottom line: I guess I'd better begin practicing using my side mirrors. I may still take a look at one of the wireless cameras to mount at the rear of the boat/trailer. Prices are dropping so low it would be a cheap way to get a little extra help.

Thanks guys.

 

[Scott Danforth]

not sure if it helps, I used to have a small utility trailer that you could not see behind the truck, car or SUV. it was 4' wide and 6' long. being short, it would go sideways way to easy.

I used to simply take a shop push broom and lay it on top the trailer, then I could see what the trailer was doing and was able to back up up around the yard, between trees, etc.

vary similar to the flags in the ore locks

however like ahicks ... years of practice growing up. I used to back the boat with the camper growing up - between trees in the north woods of the UP. not quite a hay trailer behind an old tractor, however I have backed that up too.

practice makes perfect.

 

[aspeck]

Learn to use the side mirrors ... and in a bind I will still put my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel so the direction I move my hand is the way the back of the trailer is going to go. That helps with the coordination of the mirrors. I have a back-up camera, but I generally do not use it to back up, other than to see if there is anything in the way that I can't see with the mirrors, or to hook up the trailer. All else is with mirrors. Guess I am just old school and feel all the new "safety" technology just makes people rely on it and makes them less attentive to what is happening around them.

 

[dingbat]

Guess I am just old school and feel all the new "safety" technology just makes people rely on it and makes them less attentive to what is happening around them.

I'm not aware of any of the new safety technologies designed to replace human interaction. They are tools to enhancement or compensate for one’s abilities

Not a fan of all, but most have practice applications if given a chance.

I for one will never again own a vehicle without blind spot technology. It’s saved my rear more than once

 

[H20Rat]

Guess I am just old school and feel all the new "safety" technology just makes people rely on it and makes them less attentive to what is happening around them.

Won't be long before you won't have a steering wheel to drive with anyway! Technology/progress happens, and we are better for it. We would be living in the stone age otherwise.

In any case, anything that makes driving safer/easier/better is a win in my book. Doesn't matter if people rely on it exclusively, technology usually ends up doing it far better than humans could ever do anyway!

 

[Cortes100]

Your ridgeline backup camera won't help any. It will show you the bow of the boat and that's it. Camera won't register that the trailer is all crooked until it's too late. Like others have mentioned, the trick is to see the back corner of your boat/trailer. Stick, broom, flag, what ever will help a lot.
For me I grew up backing trailers so can pretty much do anything with the mirrors. Now with new trucks, some have this back up assist gadget. With the camera, a few stickers, etc, you can back up the trailer without touching the steering wheel. My new F150 has it, and I need to hook it up and see how it works. But the old original practice with the mirrors is the best.

 

[tramsdell]

I find that manufactures arent spending much time on mirrors now that nack up cams are mandated. The new mirrors SUCK. Small, in the wrong place, etc.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

See if you can buy towing mirrors for your Honda myself I want electric with a curved lower mirror that will show me the trailers wheels when i need to see them. The more you spend here the better they usually are. Slip ones are cheap and effective, but full on big adjustable mirrors are worth every penny. One way to justify the cost is how much is your deductible that you may never have to pony up if you avoid that one incident.

 

[tramsdell]

See if you can buy towing mirrors for your Honda myself I want electric with a curved lower mirror that will show me the trailers wheels when i need to see them. The more you spend here the better they usually are. Slip ones are cheap and effective, but full on big adjustable mirrors are worth every penny. One way to justify the cost is how much is your deductible that you may never have to pony up if you avoid that one incident.

As a last resort on the super merc, stick on convex mirrors helped alot

 

[Starcraft5834]

Ive got a Honda Pilot. back up camera is nice for ball to hitch, nothing more... it is nice though for hook up.

 

[JimS123]

I have spent 50 years towing with a car. Look out the back window and I can park it anywhere. I have tried using rear view mirrors but my brain just cannot calculate doing it backwards.

I retired the old girl last year. She is now relegated to the Friday night cruise nite circuit. My new towcar is a mid size CUV. With the hatch open I can turn around and see the entire trailer. Much better than a back window. I'll never tow again unless I have a SUV or CUV.

 

[oldjeep]

Vehicles built to tow still have decent mirrors. About the only thing a backup cam is good for is hooking up the hitch or backing up a tiny trailer that you can't see in any of the 3 mirrors.

 

[westernira]

Good advice Petty. I hope it helpful for me too.