Learning how to drive with a trailer..

[dodge man]

I haven’t run into anything because I forgot but I have been driving down the road and all the sudden remembered I have a trailer back there.

 

[Paystar]

If you have a Ford with trailer backup assist it’s not so simple. You have to put reflective stickers on your trailer, take some measurements and then set it up in the truck. I’ve never bothered.

That day I wanted to try it to see how it worked, it wasn't a big deal. Just need a tape measure, apply a decal to the tongue of the trailer and follow the instructions.
Truck came with multiple stickers so you could set up a few trailers.

I did find that it steers way more, and faster than I do to back a trailer up straight.

 

[MossRoad]

Find a parking lot and start doing figure 8's forward. Then start doing figure 8's in reverse.

Here's a hint that helped me a long time ago when backing a trailer and using your mirrors.

- Move your hands on the steering wheel from the common 10-2 positions to your lap at the 7-5 positions.
- Look in your mirrors.
- If you want the trailer to go left, push up with your left hand.
- If you want the trailer to go right, push up with your right hand.

Easy peasy.

 

[dodge man]

I find just about anything would be faster than me backing a trailer although I’ve improved. My driveway is about 600 feet long and about a foot wider than my trailer. When I back down the entire length my technique used to be back 50 feet, get on the grass, pull forward 10 feet, then repeat. Now I maybe only pull forward once or twice. It’s great practice though. I could just go forward and turn around in the grass but that’s no fun.
I may have to add the stickers some day.

 

[YanmarFever]

When you buy the trailer, get a spare tire with a mount for it.
I had blowout on I-5 in Washington going 70 mph with 2 tractors on the back (heavy) and if it wasn't for the spare tire I would of been in deep trouble.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

As a kid with trailer on tractor Grandfather said "look back. If you want trailer left, steer left". I never forgot that.
Going down road have your phone with you, wife following. She can see when trailer is on the edge. My Grandad towed trailers before RVs and always put a small piece of tape at windshield bottom where trailer wheel was on road edge.

 

[grsthegreat]

luckily...ive been hauling trailers since i was 20 years old. way easier to learn when your young. I have a 24' bumper pull that is WAY easier to back than my short jet sky trailer. like others have said, short trailers love to jack knife. my easiest trailer to haul and back up is the 30' 5th wheel horse trailer. its amazing where i can back this out of.

when instructing my wife to back trailers, i set up a cones course in arena. way easy to learn this way. and you can only crush a rubber cone and not a fender.

with me, i ONLY use mirrors. looking backwards just makes it harder to maneuver.

 

[jfsawatzky]

If you have a garden tractor or a compact one, could you practice with that? I find backing with our atv to be much easier than a truck. Point is to practice with something that is easier. View attachment 788197

I’ve always found it easier to back up a trailer using a tractor. it’s slower but it’s easier to practice practice practice as others have suggested.
I just purchased a pickup and trailer within the past couple years so I’m still learning the art of backing up with the mirrors … I can do it but I am no expert and might need to take several attempts to get it to go where I want.

 

[scaredychicken]

I thought I was the only one, and I'm also 58.

I'm getting better at it over time, but it is still a very slow process for me.

- take it slowly
- open spaces, watch for obstacles
- 6 PM on the steering wheel
- use the mirrors
- have a more experienced buddy with you when needed
- snow and ice ... that is Master Level
- do the dump runs on the slow days, when there is time and space
- you don't want to meet up with me at the boat launch (nobody has that much patience)

 

[9973720wb19]

when backing up, put your hand at the bottom part of the steering wheel. as you back up, turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go...

 

[bcp]

Modern mirrors on the right side, that make everything look farther away and smaller, have messed up my backing more than once.


Bruce

 

[not2old]

What truck would have a tow package without a hitch? Does the truck have a trailer wire plug yet?

When I bought my 1990 F250 I optioned a trailer tow package rather than a camper package and a hitch receiver was not a factory available option. It did have a hole in the bumper for a ball that I have never used. Not sure when this changed.

 

[not2old]

Everyone who starts into towing trailers, forgets about it and runs it into something...

I'm competent with the type of trailers I have and have run into stuff in the driveway at home because I was too lazy to get out and look when I knew I was close to something.

 

[not2old]

If you have a passenger and need to back up into a confined space, bring a loud whistle with you and have them blow it hard if you are about to hit something. You will feel less stupid than if you cause damage. Some people use a walkie-talkie.

 

[YanmarFever]

#1 rule I always obeyed was to roll down the window 3" so that you could hear if a child or some one was yelling at you in case of an emergency.

I delivered a tractor to a customer that didn't tell me that there would be over 30 people there for a tractor party, filming every move and kids running around wild!

Talk about being careful... They were on the trailer before I even stopped in the front yard to unload.

 

[grsthegreat]

When I bought my 1990 F250 I optioned a trailer tow package rather than a camper package and a hitch receiver was not a factory available option. It did have a hole in the bumper for a ball that I have never used. Not sure when this changed.

That bumper hole is useless. If your going to tow get a receiver hitch.

 

[grsthegreat]

#1 rule I always obeyed was to roll down the window 3" so that you could hear if a child or some one was yelling at you in case of an emergency.

I delivered a tractor to a customer that didn't tell me that there would be over 30 people there for a tractor party, filming every move and kids running around wild!

Talk about being careful... They were on the trailer before I even stopped in the front yard to unload.

Reminds me of driving a horse team in a parade. The float in front of me was throwing candy to Kids. Parents and kids all over the place in front of me. Pissed me off.

 

[ArlyA]

That bumper hole is useless. If your going to tow get a receiver hitch.

On several levels bumper mounted balls are poor. There capacity is low and how do you get your ball at the correct height to match your trailer? A receiver hitch allows you to change it. I might have 4 of various heights to work with different trailers...

 

[RjCorazza]

Reminds me of driving a horse team in a parade. The float in front of me was throwing candy to Kids. Parents and kids all over the place in front of me. Pissed me off.

I used to pull a float in our county fair parade, and they finally banned the candy throwing thing. I would imagine it's even more gut wrenching with horses.

 

[KennyG]

That day I wanted to try it to see how it worked, it wasn't a big deal. Just need a tape measure, apply a decal to the tongue of the trailer and follow the instructions.
Truck came with multiple stickers so you could set up a few trailers.

I did find that it steers way more, and faster than I do to back a trailer up straight.

I've got the Ford Backup Assist because it came with the tow package. Otherwise I wouldn't have paid for it because I can back up a trailer. It does adjust more and faster than I would but it has some sort of algorithm that keeps it well away from jack knifing, which is kind of nice.