Backing Up Your Trailer
After over a year driving either the teardrop or our tent trailer, I have yet to learn how to back up with a trailer connected to our vehicle. This video is helpful.
I think the best bit of advice is that learning this takes LOTS of practice. Mike and I chose lightweight trailers because we have been scared of this part of the process. We have tried to learn to back up the trailer properly, but every time we screw up, we just take it off the hitch, put on the wheel and hand roll it into place.
That’s the benefit of having a lightweight trailer, you don’t have to learn how to back it up.
Then again, that’s the BAD thing about having a lightweight trailer. We have never learned how to back it up.
I’m beginning to think that we need to purchase some traffic cones and just practice backing up the trailer over and over until we can do it without thinking about it. If I ever want a cute canned ham trailer, I’m going to need to know how to do this.
I really like your site, and come back from time to time to “catch up”. This one is a few months old, but thought I’d toss this out there anyway.
The best advice I got a LONG time ago for backing up a trailer was to hold the bottom of the steering wheel (with the trailer and tow vehicled lined up straight). Raise your hand (still holding the wheel) the direction you want to start turning. Once the trailer begins the turn, adjust the wheel to “follow” the trailer.
Try it sometime, it works well.
BTW, a smaller trailer is always more difficult to back up than a larger trailer (because of the shorter wheelbase). I used to back up loads on an 18 wheeler with no problems, but STILL have to stop, line back up, and try again with my motorcycle and my small Timeout trailer.
Comment by Herb Parsons — July 22, 2014 @ 1:29 pm