backing up with a cart

[bellweather]

OK, I'm no expert, so can anyone tell me the trick to backing up a tractor with a cart attached to the rear hitch? I just can't seem to avoid the cart jackknifing every time I attempt to go in reverse in anything but a straight line. I must be doing something wrong. Thanks.

 

[rozett]

Practice, practice, practice.... It's really no different than backing up a car or truck with a trailer.
Although the much shorter wheelbase of my Cub, makes it a little tougher than backing up my Excursion with the horse trailer.

One trick that I was taught by my dad was to hold the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the direction that you want the cart/trailer to go. It works well, but you still need to practice.

 

[pajoube]

Thanks for the tip on holding your hand on bottom of steering wheel for direction you want trailer to go. I had never heard of that.
PJ

 

[Ozarker]

The turning radius of your trailer is smaller than the turning radius of your tractor. That means that any movement of the steering wheel will be amplified by the trailer turning faster than your tractor. Once it starts to go too far, it is already too late to stop it.

Don't think in terms of pushing the trailer. Think in terms of following the trailer. Just aim the trailer where you want it then follow it there with the tractor using short, smooth turns of the wheel. You are accustomed to turning the steering wheel a certain amount to drive ot back the tractor where you want it. Turn half that much to follow the trailer.

If it starts to go too far one way, don't even try to correct it. You can't and you will over correct. Just pull forward and do it again. You'll get the hang of it.

 

[TerryinMD]

The other posts sum it all up.

The only other piece of advice I can pass along other than practice and lots of patience is to watch your speed. Slow and easy is best. I usually have my JD RPMs a bit above idle. This gives you more control and does not exaggerate the direction changes.

Good luck.

Terry

 

[Rowski]

You have gotten a lot of good advice. The best is practice! Rozett advice 'holding the bottom of the steering wheel and turning in the direction you want the trailer to go' is what my father taught me. Another thing I might suggest is to practice backing up in a straight line for a long way, say 100ft. By trying to keep the trailer and tractor going in a straight line you get feel for how much steering wheel input is needed. Go slow, the slower the better. Keep the tractor moving while turning the steering wheel a minimal amount smoothly. As mentioned try not to over compensate, pull forward to straighten things out.

Just practice, you'll get it. Best of luck!

Once you get it, the next lesson is to mount 2 mirrors and back up using you mirrors only/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

 

[jhburke]

I just put two mirrors on my kubota. I can back easier and better with mirrors than I can trying to look over my shoulder. I use to drive a truck off and on so I have had some practice. Also when trying to back into a building or any close area. Just keep your eye on one side of unit, because if it fits in the area if you just clear one side the other will also clear.

 

[bellweather]

Rozett and the others...thanks for the tips. I guess I'll just have to practice and take it slowly.

 

[MossRoad]

PJ,
FYI, I have a Rubbermaid cart for my Simplicity lawn tractor and I always had the jacknife problem in close maneuvering. With the PT425, I have no problems!?@#$ I can't figure it out, but it works great. I know you are looking at these machines, so just another bonus.

Also, with a car or truck I can back a trailer like a world champion as long as I can see it directly by hanging out the window or looking out the back of the pickup, but if I have to use mirrors I'm quickly "off the drive" and into the grass. The car hauler that I bought is paricularly hard as it is so low to the ground that I have to use my mirrors to watch the right side when using my van as a tow vehicle. I'm getting better at it, but, as others have stated, it takes practice. The weird thing is, I can back up a vehicle with the mirrors perfectly. I play a game in the mornings with the kids. I line up the steering wheel in the first five feet of the driveway and try to back down the rest of the 80' or so with my hands in the air. I can do it 9 out of ten times and they really love it when dad hits the grass. Put a trailer on there, and I'm a true novice /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[GrantMO]

Like Ozarker said, every small movement of the steering wheel gets translated into dramatic turns of the cart. If you have the space, it's always easier to pull up and get lined up straight and then back straight. Go watch some of the novice backers on a boat launch ramp sometime to watch the alternatives to this. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif