nineteensixtycaddy
Seaman
- Joined
- May 21, 2008
- Messages
- 74
Ok.. I've seen this SO many times, it almost makes me sick. Some guy (or gal), nice new truck, beautiful new boat, fly's up to the boat ramp, unhooks the tie downs (or not... depending on the dummy), and then starts to back up. Oh my GOODNESS here's where it gets funny, and sometimes downright dangerous. Boat's going off the side of the ramp, boat's that don't even make it to the ramp, boats that hit the back end of the truck, boat's that... oh man I KNOW you all know what I'm talking about. Or what's worse, they manage to get the boat in the water, and then when it comes the end of the day... they can't get the trailer back down the ramp, because they can't "see" it.
So... for those of you who have witnessed this,
Or... for those of you who don't want to be that dummy.
Here it is... the perfect way to learn how to back up a trailer, without causing any damage to your vehicle, or boat, or any trailer really. OR MORE IMPORTANTLY... any damage to your ego.
Start simple. Go to your local toy store. Go to the radio control section. Find ANY vehicle that goes slow and has a full function remote, meaning it goes forwards, backwards, and turns in both directions. It doesn't have to come with a trailer, as I can explain later, but the best you can find is a nice tractor trailer setup. RC Semi's are cool, and I've even seen RC trucks with boat's on trailers at the Wal Mart.
As for those of you who couldnt find a trailer, that's fine. Get your kids lego's out, and make one, and tape it to the back bumper with some masking tape. If that doesn't work, use a pen with a couple CD's taped to it, and a ruler... the kind with holes in it, and tape them to the back bumper so it can still pivot.
Next...Get the RC vehicle home. Take it out, charge it, and set up some cones. I used toy blocks when I was a child, but cereal boxes or canned veggies do just fine too.
Practice pulling the trailer forwards, around the cones, so you dont hit them. You'll learn about giving ample clearance for corners, and what I call... steering in advance. aka thinking ahead.
Then... remove all the cones from your "practice area" and throw it in reverse SLOWLY. Note that ANY movement of the steering, will make a BIG difference in where the trailer goes. It's the same with a REAL truck or car. Small movements are all that's needed.
Then.. once you get comfortable backing it up in circles, or figure 8's. Set up a few "garages" with the cones/blocks/cereal boxes, or whatever else you have. Set the clearances tight, and practice backing into the "garage" or "boat ramp"
I find that if you can do it in miniature, without thinking about... do I grab the top of the steering wheel or the bottom, do I turn the same direction, or the opposite direction... all those tips dummies at the boat ramp throw at you. Anyway.. if you can figure out the physics of it with a toy, you're more likely to handle it when you get behind the wheel.
For those of you who need to work up in steps.
I'll continue.
Get out a tricycle... or a power wheels... or a riding lawn mower.
Attach a "trailer" to it. Use a wagon, or wheelbarrow, or a 2x4 attached to anything with wheels. Make sure your trailer can pivot where it attaches to your "vehicle" and that the wheels you put on your trailer... don't pivot... as they won't on your boat trailer either.
Same as with the RC... practice forwards first. To get used to what sort of distances you need for clearance.
Then start straight line backing up. Then move to circles, and then figure eights.
Then set up some sort of cones to practice backing into. I like using pillows or something of the sort, so I dont' damage anything important.
For this stage.. make sure your neighbor's aren't watching.. they look at you REAL strange if you're 5'9" and riding a power wheels. (ok... that one did happen to someone I know)
Then.. get your real boat.. behind your vehicle, and find an empty parking lot, one WITHOUT any light posts, or concrete dividers, and practice backing up in a straight line, circles, and figure 8's. Once you are comfortable... hit the boat ramp.. and keep your windows up, so you don't listen to the dummies trying to tell you what you already KNOW how to do !!!
Best of luck to you, and remember... everybodies allowed mistakes.. but when it's your money.. well... you do the math.
So... for those of you who have witnessed this,
Or... for those of you who don't want to be that dummy.
Here it is... the perfect way to learn how to back up a trailer, without causing any damage to your vehicle, or boat, or any trailer really. OR MORE IMPORTANTLY... any damage to your ego.
Start simple. Go to your local toy store. Go to the radio control section. Find ANY vehicle that goes slow and has a full function remote, meaning it goes forwards, backwards, and turns in both directions. It doesn't have to come with a trailer, as I can explain later, but the best you can find is a nice tractor trailer setup. RC Semi's are cool, and I've even seen RC trucks with boat's on trailers at the Wal Mart.
As for those of you who couldnt find a trailer, that's fine. Get your kids lego's out, and make one, and tape it to the back bumper with some masking tape. If that doesn't work, use a pen with a couple CD's taped to it, and a ruler... the kind with holes in it, and tape them to the back bumper so it can still pivot.
Next...Get the RC vehicle home. Take it out, charge it, and set up some cones. I used toy blocks when I was a child, but cereal boxes or canned veggies do just fine too.
Practice pulling the trailer forwards, around the cones, so you dont hit them. You'll learn about giving ample clearance for corners, and what I call... steering in advance. aka thinking ahead.
Then... remove all the cones from your "practice area" and throw it in reverse SLOWLY. Note that ANY movement of the steering, will make a BIG difference in where the trailer goes. It's the same with a REAL truck or car. Small movements are all that's needed.
Then.. once you get comfortable backing it up in circles, or figure 8's. Set up a few "garages" with the cones/blocks/cereal boxes, or whatever else you have. Set the clearances tight, and practice backing into the "garage" or "boat ramp"
I find that if you can do it in miniature, without thinking about... do I grab the top of the steering wheel or the bottom, do I turn the same direction, or the opposite direction... all those tips dummies at the boat ramp throw at you. Anyway.. if you can figure out the physics of it with a toy, you're more likely to handle it when you get behind the wheel.
For those of you who need to work up in steps.
I'll continue.
Get out a tricycle... or a power wheels... or a riding lawn mower.
Attach a "trailer" to it. Use a wagon, or wheelbarrow, or a 2x4 attached to anything with wheels. Make sure your trailer can pivot where it attaches to your "vehicle" and that the wheels you put on your trailer... don't pivot... as they won't on your boat trailer either.
Same as with the RC... practice forwards first. To get used to what sort of distances you need for clearance.
Then start straight line backing up. Then move to circles, and then figure eights.
Then set up some sort of cones to practice backing into. I like using pillows or something of the sort, so I dont' damage anything important.
For this stage.. make sure your neighbor's aren't watching.. they look at you REAL strange if you're 5'9" and riding a power wheels. (ok... that one did happen to someone I know)
Then.. get your real boat.. behind your vehicle, and find an empty parking lot, one WITHOUT any light posts, or concrete dividers, and practice backing up in a straight line, circles, and figure 8's. Once you are comfortable... hit the boat ramp.. and keep your windows up, so you don't listen to the dummies trying to tell you what you already KNOW how to do !!!
Best of luck to you, and remember... everybodies allowed mistakes.. but when it's your money.. well... you do the math.
