Learning how to drive with a trailer..

[charlessenf]

Sounds like all good advice. Backing up is so very hard to do . . .All my accidents involved backing up! (though, none while trailering stuff!) GPS is good for taking trips into the unknown "re-routing features, yea!" I like that Six O'clock" thing and hope I remember it next time I'm backing a trailer up.

If you've a community college handy, see if they have a trucker's class. Those drivers can do some amazing stuff backing a fifty foot rig into a driveway and up to a loading dock between other truckers! Some big yards may have guys who just handle trucks in their yard - those guys might offer some tips!

 

[panamaguy]

Okay this is something that at 58yo, I have never done and its on my list to learn. I have a tow package on my truck, but no hitch and I don't own a trailer yet. To make things more interesting I live in the country and there are lots of windy small roads...some so narrow I fold in my trucks side mirror when I am on them...as I know from experience can be an issue. Two weeks after getting this truck someone came too far over and we slapped mirrors.

Anyway what is the wisest and safest way you guys would recommend to get into this? I want to get a trailer for the tractor at some point and a small camper.

I am one of those people that is typically, cool calm and collected and not easily stressed out. But for some reason thinking about getting stuck on one of these curvy back roads and having to back out or turn around with a trailer etc tenses me up just thinking about it lol.

Thanks in advance!

If your that nervous don't do. You will be a hazard to yourself and others. There is enough bad drivers on the road already

 

[EABill]

First thing is to take your time and slow down. I'm used to pulling two hay wagons behind the truck on curved hilly roads and if you have a city slicker bearing down on you just let him pass. If your hauling something big you own the road. Same thing with our 36 foot boat, take your time.

 

[LDR812]

A lot of good advise already. Dkmc talked to what I had in mind. Make sure you know how to load the trailer and secure the load. Also - depending on the weight, get a trailer with breaks and a good controller. I like the old style that you set the gain but can override with the slide. Go slow and be safe

 

[tjandrews]

Farm kids didn't learn how to back up, how to back was breed in at birth

Maybe for some of us, but not for me. I remember being assigned to learn at about 13. My father had borrowed a little Massey Harris to use to haul a homemade grain trailer around, and back it into the barn for unloading. He ran the combine, and I unloaded.
On top of it being a borrowed tractor, it was my first extensive experience with a foot clutch. (Our old Case SC has a hand clutch). After a bit of instruction, a few minutes of practice under his watchful eye, and dire warnings of the consequences of hitting anything, he went back to work, leaving me on my own.
That was 60 years ago. I never did hit anything, so I never found out if the "consequences" were real or not, but I did learn how to back a trailer up with a tractor. Even now, when my neck doesn't allow me to turn my head like it used to, I can back a two-wheeled piece of equipment behind a tractor a good quarter mile with no problem if I have to. But, I never did learn very well how to back one up with a car/SUV/pickup. And doing it using a mirror? Forget it. Didn't have occasion to need to very often, so I never practiced. And as others have said, practice is the key.
I would add one thing, though. Borrowing someone else's vehicle and/or trailer for learning the fundamentals isn't a bad idea, but it shouldn't stop there. After using about 15 tow vehicles over the years, I can tell you that it isn't just the length of the trailer that's important. The wheelbase and turning radius of the tow vehicle are just as important. You need to do most of your practice with the vehicle and trailer you are actually going to use before you put your new skills to the test.

 

[dkmc]

A lot of good advise already. Dkmc talked to what I had in mind. Make sure you know how to load the trailer and secure the load. Also - depending on the weight, get a trailer with breaks and a good controller. I like the old style that you set the gain but can override with the slide. Go slow and be safe

As the trailer began to sway, and got more aggressive as I let off the gas, I had no clue but in a semi-panic I grabbed the slide on the brake control, and gently applied trailer brakes.....having no idea if it would make things worse or better. Thankfully, the trailer straightened right up. What a relief. I shake my head thinking about it now. It was not funny when it happened.

 

[Redlands Okie]

As the trailer began to sway, and got more aggressive as I let off the gas, I had no clue but in a semi-panic I grabbed the slide on the brake control, and gently applied trailer brakes.....having no idea if it would make things worse or better. Thankfully, the trailer straightened right up. What a relief. I shake my head thinking about it now. It was not funny when it happened.

To my knowledge and experience that was the best move you could have picked

I pull a variety of Trailors daily, usually in urban area, but some highway travel. Being able to use the slide when in a bind without even looking for it is so important to me I use it fairly often so that I have it in my muscle memory.

 

[lastfarm]

I idnt read all the comments but wanted to point out the, "short trailer means to some the bed of the trailer. What you want is for the Toung of the trailer to be long enough to back easily. Practice with your mirrors {side) without a trailer. Around yard obstacles, cones or whatever. Then get the hitch, brake controller and trailer from a good dealer the can help.

 

[John0829]

Yeah, that comment about farm kids was just a stupid joke. Everyone pulling a trailer has had to LEARN at some point in life. Those on a farm just have more opportunity to learn and refine.

 

[Shady oak]

The longer the trailer hitch the better, especially if you have a short trailer. When at all possible use driver side mirror, less distortion. concentrate on the trailer wheels, especially with a small narrow trailer. Those are the things you need in the right place. Last, don’t over react. Patience is a virtue. You get out of line, reset yourself. Don’t try and fight it, if you keep getting more crooked, you can bend trailer hitch. As for forward, don’t over think it. Just drive, and corner just a little wider. You don’t have a 53’ behind you. Lastly, allow more stopping time.

 

[greenman48]

Okay this is something that at 58yo, I have never done and its on my list to learn. I have a tow package on my truck, but no hitch and I don't own a trailer yet. To make things more interesting I live in the country and there are lots of windy small roads...some so narrow I fold in my trucks side mirror when I am on them...as I know from experience can be an issue. Two weeks after getting this truck someone came too far over and we slapped mirrors.

Anyway what is the wisest and safest way you guys would recommend to get into this? I want to get a trailer for the tractor at some point and a small camper.

I am one of those people that is typically, cool calm and collected and not easily stressed out. But for some reason thinking about getting stuck on one of these curvy back roads and having to back out or turn around with a trailer etc tenses me up just thinking about it lol.

Thanks in advance!

First some background. I am 75 and spent 2 years installing trailer hitches and tow accessories for farmers, ranchers, and RV enthusiasts in Idaho. I have hauled farm machinery, and a couple of tons of firewood out of the mountains of Id and had a 23 ft tag-along camp trailer. A vehicle that states it has a "tow package" simply means that it has the wiring installed for towing a trailer. I have custom-built several trailers, both single and tandem axles. I have seen over the years people who have been hauling trailers around that have been doing it incorrectly and unsafely for decades and fate hasn't caught up with them yet. I have read some pretty good replies to your post, but would add that like most things there are little tips and tweaks that are usually only learned by experience or the hard way. I will never claim to be an expert on all things towing but experience is a pretty good teacher. Without knowing exactly the tow vehicle, trailer size, number of axles on trailer and the loads you expect to have on the trailer, any advice I can give you would be generic at best. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to pick my brain.

 

[Deanes]

I'll

Okay this is something that at 58yo, I have never done and its on my list to learn. I have a tow package on my truck, but no hitch and I don't own a trailer yet. To make things more interesting I live in the country and there are lots of windy small roads...some so narrow I fold in my trucks side mirror when I am on them...as I know from experience can be an issue. Two weeks after getting this truck someone came too far over and we slapped mirrors.

Anyway what is the wisest and safest way you guys would recommend to get into this? I want to get a trailer for the tractor at some point and a small camper.

I am one of those people that is typically, cool calm and collected and not easily stressed out. But for some reason thinking about getting stuck on one of these curvy back roads and having to back out or turn around with a trailer etc tenses me up just thinking about it lol.

Thanks in advance!

I'll join what everyone is saying. Anyone can learn to back trailers. It just takes practice. If you want, set up a course with metal fence posts in an open field and practice backing down a narrow path.
As a kid in 4-H I won a state "tractor driving" contest. Most of the driving involved backing 2 wheel trailers and 4 wheel wagons. I won because my dad made me practice, and practice and practice. Now I can still back anything. Once on a church trip I had to turn a school bus pulling a box trailer around on a 2 lane mountain road. Just takes practice to be comfortable.

 

[ljjhouser]

If you need a trailer and are committed to getting one, you might want to make that choice first THEN learn how to drive it. For example, a gooseneck is an entirely different matter than a bumper pull. A 20' bumper pull is much different than a 8' canoe trailer - MUCH easier to back up the 20'.
With a short trailer most people overcompensate when backing up.

Pick your trailer, and take it to a open area. Start by learning where your trailer axles will go in turns. Then always check the location of the axles when you turn. Doing this will enable you to safely manage forward driving.

Backing up. In a large open area, practice backing. AGAIN, watch how the trailer axles move in relation to changes driving the truck. If you practice enough, you will be able to predict where the axle will go and will become good at backing.

THEN, you will need to understand how to correctly load your trailer - another subject. I have had many trailers and built a few. I currently have a Doolittle 20' tilt bed 14K. You can learn to drive most any trailer. A gooseneck is also different and I have never pulled one.

Best wishes.

 

[bcp]

Bruce

 

[racardon]

Lots of good advice here. My wife is usually my spotter unless we are launching a boat. Then she is the driver and I am in the boat. When we first realized that would be the best set up, we took our motor home and the boat to a big empty parking lot. She kicked me out and said go sit in the shade. She practiced backing the rig using the parking lines as guides for an hour. After that, she could back that rig down any boat ramp faster and cleaner than anyone I've seen.

We've towed everything from a jet ski (short trailer) to a 30 ft trailer with a big 4x4 rig on it. We've towed with everything from UTV to our 30 ft motor home.

I will add two things:

First is a trick a neighbor taught me. Rather than having your spotter yelling at you, use your cell phones. That is if you have cell coverage. My wife is usually my spotter. We've towed everything from a jet ski (short trailer) to a 30 ft trailer with a big 4x4 rig on it. We've towed with everything from UTV to our 30 ft motor home.

Second is the spotter tells the driver which direction the trailer needs to go, driver side or passenger side. The driver will figure out how to steer. Of course the spotter also stops the driver before they back into anything.

Good luck and don't shy away from it.

 

[whatsup]

No hitch... you mean no hitch and ball; you have the receiver? You should have the necessary wiring for a truck with a trailer package, like the brake wiring at the brake switch and at the receiver at the back.

It will be setup either for a flat 4-way plug (just wiring for lights) or a round 7-way plug (has wiring for electric brakes as well). If you are going with the electric, you need more practice adapting to that.

You'll need a controller that can apply the brakes manually. You'll need a wiring harness that goes from the controller to the plug/adapter at the brake pedal switch. The other alternative brake system is purge brakes (rental trailers has these). No electrical hookup for them.

If you have no access to trailers from friends, I'd suggest renting a u-haul trailer. Lots of things to think about with trailers. Don't go cheap or skip something. Insurance is available from some companies for trailers.

Good luck, ask lots of questions.

 

[dcarman]

Okay this is something that at 58yo, I have never done and its on my list to learn. I have a tow package on my truck, but no hitch and I don't own a trailer yet. To make things more interesting I live in the country and there are lots of windy small roads...some so narrow I fold in my trucks side mirror when I am on them...as I know from experience can be an issue. Two weeks after getting this truck someone came too far over and we slapped mirrors.

Anyway what is the wisest and safest way you guys would recommend to get into this? I want to get a trailer for the tractor at some point and a small camper.

I am one of those people that is typically, cool calm and collected and not easily stressed out. But for some reason thinking about getting stuck on one of these curvy back roads and having to back out or turn around with a trailer etc tenses me up just thinking about it lol.

Thanks in advance!

Don't look back just drive! No, it sounds like you should practice handling it in a parking lot somewhere for a bit before taking it home and loading your tractor up. An 18 or 20 foot car trailer works great for most compact tractors. Compact tractors are generally light enough that a car trailer can handle it no problem.
A camper on the other hand is going to be wider than your truck. They are usually 8' wide and your truck is about 6-1/2' wide. If you have to fold your mirrors in to get through now the camper is going to take a beating there. Car trailers are a little over eight feet wide at the wheels but they are low enough that trees and such shouldn't bother them.

 

[JONNY BOYYY]

Okay this is something that at 58yo, I have never done and its on my list to learn. I have a tow package on my truck, but no hitch and I don't own a trailer yet. To make things more interesting I live in the country and there are lots of windy small roads...some so narrow I fold in my trucks side mirror when I am on them...as I know from experience can be an issue. Two weeks after getting this truck someone came too far over and we slapped mirrors.

Anyway what is the wisest and safest way you guys would recommend to get into this? I want to get a trailer for the tractor at some point and a small camper.

I am one of those people that is typically, cool calm and collected and not easily stressed out. But for some reason thinking about getting stuck on one of these curvy back roads and having to back out or turn around with a trailer etc tenses me up just thinking about it lol.

Thanks in advance!

99% of the time the only thing that will get you into trouble is speed...your mirror would still be here if you were going slow or stopped when the other guy drove by..

 

[BenjiMac]

Besides what CobyRupert wrote about the trailer tracking to the inside on corners, there are two things you need to know. First, when going forward, of course, you do not need to worry a lot about the trailer, it will follow your car. When backing up, the opposite is true; you do not need to worry much about where your car is going, just make the trailer go where you want and the car will follow it! Second is when parking the trailer, whether going forward or back, the important part is to get the trailer WHEELS in the parking space. If you start turning when the back end is in the right place, but the wheels not yet far enough, then you will be driving the wheels into a place that is not aligned with the parking space. Of course you also need to watch both ends of the trailer (or have someone else doing this for you) to make sure it does not hit something on either side of the space, but it is the wheels that need to be properly placed, and then the whole trailer will be properly placed. On short-long vehicles - the only time I had a lot of trouble backing up a trailer was when it was carrying my daughter's car, towed behind a fairly large U-haul van that was much longer than the trailer; that was difficult!

 

[Ga Farmer]

Really good advice here! 2 rookie mistakes I can think of are; not pulling up far enough when it gets all catawampassed and getting out often to look when you are in a bad/ tight spot. Even if you only move 6 inches. Get out and look.! I've always used the bottom of the steering wheel thing to teach new trailer drivers. That right to go left, ect, is for the birds to confusing! Just turn the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. It is much more difficult if the trailer is shorter than the tow vehicle, it will get around on you fast! Practice in a parking lot or field as suggested but have a designated spot to go to and see what it takes to get there. YMMV! Good luck