The security camera footage will probably be played as entertainment at family events
Locust Fork
Member Posts: 32,088 ✭✭✭✭
So, I have never needed to learn to pull a trailer around. I had horses when I was younger, but we didn't take them anywhere. My grandparents had a lake house, but I never had to tow a boat anywhere. All my life has gone by with "almost" needing to learn to tow something. Here we are, 53 years old and suddenly I'm roaming the country with an enclosed trailer behind me.....scary!
I have been taking Larry with me on the longer trips (when he can get away.) He's better than I am....but he isn't a pro at it either. I just CANNOT back this thing up and get it going where I need it to.
This past weekend I had a trip to Virginia and I went to the wrong house. It was a small road and I wasn't paying attention enough to notice I passed the house I was going to. When I got to the end, there was a gate....my heart nearly stopped because it was a narrow road in a curve and I had just pulled right up to a closed gate. The gate opened, so I thought I was being let into the correct place.....I was not. It was a beautiful place, pretty yard, nobody at all to be found. I call, sure enough I am not where I'm supposed to be.
Here is where it gets funny. Larry and I made a 74 point turn in this driveway to get turned back around. I didn't want to pull into their grass, the driveway had a small circle, but nowhere near enough to get turned around. I don't know how long it took....30 minutes maybe?
If they have a video it will make for great entertainment if they have a party or something. "Look at these two....look how frustrated the husband looks....is his wife taking pictures of our flowers with her phone....how many times are they going to go back and forth."
Comments
Watch some u-tube videos on how to back a trailer, then go to a big empty parking lot on Sunday morning, and practice. For what it's worth, I have been to numerous boat launches and saw tons of "men" who could not back their boat to save their soul.
Just put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and whichever direction you want the trailer to go, move your hand that way. It is a lot easier for me to back and position my 18ft trailer than my 8 ft trailer. My wife is petrified to try to back up a trailer. She doesn't mind pulling one, but doesn't want any part of backing one up. Of course, which her history of backing up my trucks into trees, I am kinda nervous about her doing it also.
After we bought our property in 2001, I bought a Kubota tractor and a trailer to do all the things that needed to get done. It took me about a week of using it to get proficient at backing it up, and after a year I was as good as any truck driver. Now I hardly ever have to use the trailer and I suck at backing it up. It's a skill that can be mastered, but you have to use it regularly to stay proficient at it.
Good luck,
Joe
As neacpa said, the shorter the trailer, the smaller the correction required. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to back a small trailer that you can't see. By the time it comes into view in the mirror, it's too late. I knew a farmer who could back three wagons on a tractor, putting the back wagon into a corn crib. Gives me a headache just thinking about it.😉
As HPD said, practice, practice, practice.
add hitch to front
That will work. An Uncle used to pull a 10' aluminum boat on a trailer he couldn't see to back up. He installed a hitch to the front of his pickup, and always got the boat launched. He said he got some funny looks the first time he used it.
I was going to type something about "53" . . . but I thought about it and decided not to do that
. . . and then I did that
. . . so now I am not sure what I should do.
🤔
Growing up on a farm I learned early on how to back a trailer. It isn't really that difficult if it's a boat trailer or the likes. If you want difficult, try to back a wagon with a steerable front axle. My Dad was one of those guys who could back 2 of those hitched together into the corncrib.
I'm the same age as my aunt....we have altered an old song to fit. "Shes only 17" by Winger is now "She's only 53"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlN3oEjMpUQ
It could be worse. See what this lady has to do to back up her trailer. Go to about 5 1/5 minutes and you get a better view of the road.
I do know what you mean though. I have to park my concession trailers every week and I should know better by now but every location is different. My problem is I am a perfectionist and always want my trailer exactly lined up with the traffic lane.
A neighbor wanted to borrow my utility trailer so I told him he would need a 2" ball. He responded that he had "a square hole thingy" on the back of his truck. AaaH No. So I pulled the trailer with my vehicle and helped. Somehow, he was offended.
Short trailer short tongue no fun
like others stated find a parking lot and practice .
where I use to work I also was taught shuffled semi trailers into the docks . as I had pulled car trailer's some thru the years I thought no big deal but at first I was a bit nervous about tearing up a trailer it took me a while but I did get the hang of it and became OK, but never really good enough to say I was good never got the speed changing them out like a lot of the drivers did . I did learn quick long trailers 40 and 50 foot trailers were a lot easier than the 20' versions the longer trailers gave more room for mistakes and correction time , we had people that were natural never backed a trailer that did great right out of the gate but also the ones that messed up more than a few trailers while trying to learn .
both my sons are good at it (backing trailers ) but both helped local farmers when they were younger so backing up wagons gave them practice
I like people who "try" to help you. They watch the side you can see, not the blind side or they stand where you can't see them in your mirrors. Between waving you back & signalling you to stop there's usually a "bang."
When I'm helping someone & they get close, I stop waving them back. I hold my hands apart and then move them together so the driver can see how far they have to go.
I worked at a local Chris Craft dealer in Peoria when I was home from school summers. I got pretty good at it but that was 60 years ago and agree with Bubba Jr.
For you, Kasey!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxVJ471hyg
could be worse. See what this lady has to do to back up her trailer. Go to about 5 1/5 minutes and you get a better view of the road.
I do know what you mean though. I have to park my concession trailers every week and I should know better by now but every location is different. My problem is I am a perfectionist and always want my trailer exactly lined up with the traffic lane.
There was a road? I'll have to go watch (her) it again.
Backing a camper into a long term spot a few years ago, the gentleman who ran the place attempted to ground guide me. I became so frustrated with him. I finally got out of the truck and explained to him that standing behind me screaming directions made it hard to understand him. I asked him to stand in front of the truck so I could see and hear him better.
Once he was there, I could totally ignore him, use my side mirrors (3/4 ton Chevy extended mirrors). Backed right in, first pass after he was out of my hair. I think he was trying to center me in the space. I was parking it as close as possible to the water/sewer/electric hook ups. He may have been nervous I was going to hit them.
Parked it squared to everything with about a foot between the camper and the hook ups. Wanted as much "yard" space as possible.
During deer season I have to park my 36 footer down a hill between trees, stumps and large rocks from a forest service dirt road at a 90 degree angle, over a berm alongside the road. It has honed my skills. 😲
I'm in awe of all of you that can handle these things.....eventually I plan on getting some time allotted to practice this. I've been lucky and had Larry with me on the longer trips I've recently taken. Yall should see us when I'm trying to guide him. He looks like he wants to take a bite out of the steering wheel at times.
One thing you might try is to get a toy truck with a trailer and practice maneuvers with it on the floor. Watch how the trailer reacts as the rig is backed around different ways. You can then do as HPD suggested and find a nice parking lot.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Watched the folks at the rodeo back a delivery wagon up with a 4 horse hitch to transition from a city street to going into an alley to unload. Impressed the hell out of me.
I'm also pretty good at backing trailers. The worst experiences I have had are at super busy boat launches where there is a line of waiting IMPATIENT boat owners who add stress to the task at hand!