How to back up a pivoting axle trailer

[Hoot Owl]

When I was a young lad, the annual 4H fair had a competition for backing a wagon into a spot. It was always a very long afternoon.

In High school I was to busey on the farm to take part in 4H or FFA. One Saturday FFA was having a farmers competition of all things farming. Some of my friends signed me up with out me knowing until my name was announced during Friday morning announcements. I made a point to show up. We had to back a wagon in to a space 2' wider than the wagon. Guess who got first place. They made me do it twice because it was dead center.
We had to back the silage wagons in between the silo's to unload after building the new feedlot.
We had 1' on either side of the wagon's and they were extra long wagons with dual axles in the rear.

 

[BlueKnife]

One key thing is that you must be able to see the tongue. That really is the key to understanding what the response of the rear wheels is going to be. I have done this many times in the past, and have always watched the tongue so as to understand what the wagon is going to do.

That's helpful, of course, especially while learning. It's not entirely necessary though. I've backed up wagons with a pickup. Watching the front wheels tells you the same thing that the tongue does, it's just not as dramatic.

 

[BlueKnife]

I find it more than a little ironic when what's actually a trailer, supporting all of its own weight, can't be called trailer.

Then semi trailers, by far the most common kind of trailer, is called trailer.

As someone pointed out earlier, words do matter. There are (pull/full) trailers that carry all the weight, and there are semi trailers. Those don't support all of the weight and that's why they're classified as semi trailers.

Semi trailers can't be disconnected from the tow vehicle and hold up all of their weight on the wheels alone. They also don't have a tongue that steers a front axle. Those are the defining characteristics of a wagon.

 

[lpakiz]

Another tip-FIRST get the rear of the wagon pointed where you want the rear to end up. Aim the rear of the wagon, you could say. It's easier with an empty wagon and even easier yet if the deck boards run parallel to the centerline of the wagon. Then you can see where the wagon is pointed, as well as see how far from center the wagon tongue is deviated.
Then, watch the tongue and how far it deviates from straight. If the tongue is straight with the centerline of the wagon, it will back straight and in the direction you have the rear end pointed.
NOW, as you back up, move the wagon tongue left or right a bit with the tractor drawbar. As the tongue moves sideways, watch when it gets to a position that moves the front wheels the amount you need to steer the rear end. You will first move the tongue sideways, then you'll need to follow it with the tractor, so the tongue angle stays constant as you travel in reverse.
If you you don't follow the tongue, it will rapidly deviate into a jackknife. Then you need to pull up, straighten the tongue, then back up again.
i like the suggestion to practice with a child's wagon. Same principles with both.
Takes LOTS of practice. Lots of patience, but it certainly can be learned.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

So what

Semi trailers can't be disconnected from the tow vehicle and hold up all of their weight on the wheels alone. They also don't have a tongue that steers a front axle. Those are the defining characteristics of a wagon.

So what I have hooked up behind the first trailer is a wagon?

I always thought it was a second semi trailer with a con gear, making it a full/pull trailer.

But yes, what the majority of people call trailers are actually semi trailers. And don't get me going on "semi trucks". Something that doesn't exist in real life.

 

[BlueKnife]

So what

So what I have hooked up behind the first trailer is a wagon?

I always thought it was a second semi trailer with a con gear, making it a full/pull trailer.

But yes, what the majority of people call trailers are actually semi trailers. And don't get me going on "semi trucks". Something that doesn't exist in real life.View attachment 850663

No. The front "axle" (con gear) isn't part of the rear trailer any more than the truck is part of the first trailer. But I see where the confusion could arise.

 

[Captain Patrick]

I am more faithful than Bruce. I think I can help you. AFTER YOU PRACTICE SOME! Now... Shake the fog out of your mind. All of it.
This is harder to read than do.
I think you are looking at the wrong spot of the trailer for this axle combination.

I am going to build a picture.
I bale hay with a bale basket(a trailer, call it (A)) behind a baler(another trailer, call it (B)) Have the picture? At the back is trailer (A), pulled by trailer (B). The pivot of the wagon front axle is the hitch point, of trailer (A) to trailer (B).

Under the cargo box of your wagon, you have a trailer (A), behind trailer (B). Can you see this? (B) is attached to the power source.
i.e. A Tractor, or Truck, Team of horses. What ever you are going to use.

Now. Imagine the cargo box is see through. Like glass, on top of the trailers. Look underneath, Where you have trailer A, behind trailer B. Yes I am being redundant. Stick with me. You can do this. Look at where you want the rear trailer (A), to go.

Now, what do you have to do, to move to the front of trailer (A) to point it where you are parking it?. At this point, think what you must do to trailer (B), to force (A) into position? Sketch it out if you need to. Manipulate the hitch point between the power source and the hitch on trailer (B) to make trailer(A) go where you want it. Use the trailer in the middle to move the rear trailer. Use your power source to make it all happen.

Best of luck. Watch the back. Use the front to put it where you want the back.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

How it was explained to me: With just a trailer on a ball or hook, the trailer goes the direction you move the bottom of the steering wheel. Add another pivot, it goes the direction you move the top of the wheel. Every pivot go bottom to top, top to bottom, etc.

I was told this by the truck boss when I worked at UPS. He could back triples (three trailers and two dollies), and hit the 9-inch wide positioning stripe on the unloading bay. And, I once watched him push 19-dollies from the trailer yard, around the building to the mechanics shop.

Other than repositioning his hands, and lots of years of practice, he couldn’t explain how he did it.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

He could back triples (three trailers and two dollies), and hit the 9-inch wide positioning stripe on the unloading bay.

Dang! I couldn't even back this up more than maybe eight feet.

 

[BubbaG65]

Piece of cake - wherever you are backing it up to, rig up a pulley system. Drop the hitch, Simply drive forward pulling the rope while the other end of the rope sucks the wagon into place.