How to reverse a boat trailer or any trailer like a Pro

[Bigplumbs]

When I first started trailer boating like many I found it very hard to reverse. I was taught this and I now reverse with no issues. This will have you reversing like a pro in 30 seconds:

1) Put your hand on the Bottom of the steering wheel and keep it there

2) Look in your Mirrors only and do not look back by turning your head

3) Keeping your hand on the bottom of the wheel. If you want the Rear of the Trailer to go left. Move your hand to the left, If you want the back of the trailer to go right move your hand to the Right.

If you ever turn your head round and look back or move your hand to the top of the Wheel it will all go wrong

Doing it as described above will have you reversing like a pro in about 30 seconds. It really is that easy

 

[The Q]

Saturday I shall face front and watch where the trailer goes, no problem.... There's at least 4 boats being launched at the club for the Summer and I don't know how many coming out after the winter season..



My Land Rover has a front towball and pin

 

[Bigplumbs]

Saturday I shall face front and watch where the trailer goes, no problem.... There's at least 4 boats being launched at the club for the Summer and I don't know how many coming out after the winter season..



My Land Rover has a front towball and pin

I bought one of those also. I was taught how to do it as above by my uncle who is a retired HGV Driver. It is now so easy that I never fitted the front tow hitch. Try the method above you might like it. If not so be it

 

[The Q]

Oh I use it where I need to, when just moving a single boat having towed it in..
But moving several boats in a club car park that the public can wander through, it's a lot safer to have it all in front of you.
(The owner of the boat I sail in in the winter is also an Ex HGV driver so I knew about the technique)

 

[Hurricane]

When I first started trailer boating like many I found it very hard to reverse. I was taught this and I now reverse with no issues. This will have you reversing like a pro in 30 seconds:

1) Put your hand on the Bottom of the steering wheel and keep it there

2) Look in your Mirrors only and do not look back by turning your head

3) Keeping your hand on the bottom of the wheel. If you want the Rear of the Trailer to go left. Move your hand to the left, If you want the back of the trailer to go right move your hand to the Right.

If you ever turn your head round and look back or move your hand to the top of the Wheel it will all go wrong

Doing it as described above will have you reversing like a pro in about 30 seconds. It really is that easy

Nice little tip.
But I always try to imaging myself pushing the hitch without the car.
That way, I get the turning direction correct.
The other thing to get right is the point at which you can "follow the turn" on the other lock without jack knifing.
And sometimes in a tight turn, it is helpful to actually let it jack knife to get the towing car past an obstruction etc.
Knowing how far to let it jack knife without damaging the car or trailer is also a key thing to understand.
But in an open unobstructed space "following the turn" without jack knifing is the best.

 

[benjenbav]

Nice little tip.
But I always try to imaging myself pushing the hitch without the car.
That way, I get the turning direction correct.
The other thing to get right is the point at which you can "follow the turn" on the other lock without jack knifing.
And sometimes in a tight turn, it is helpful to actually let it jack knife to get the towing car past an obstruction etc.
Knowing how far to let it jack knife without damaging the car or trailer is also a key thing to understand.
But in an open unobstructed space "following the turn" without jack knifing is the best.

Owing to what I’ve always thought to be a combination of a very limited imagination and plenty of practice I’ve never found reversing trailers to be an issue.

The lack of imagination helps because I don’t think about the fact that the trailer turns the opposite way and the practice speaks for itself.

But the point about knowing how far to let it Jack-knife reminded me of an incident when reversing a small boat trailer with my mum’s mini (yes, a tow bar on a mini - it was the 1,000cc version) when I was 14 (on the farm, not the public highway btw).

I failed to remember that the trailer had handles that protruded laterally about a foot either side of the hitch and which I couldn’t see from the driving seat. I was just maxing out the Jack-knife to get the trailer where I wanted it when I heard the crunch. Fortunately it was just the boot lid, which was easily removed, reformed and filled. It took me a while to live that down, though.

 

[Farmer Piles]

At risk of being smug - but I'll write it anyway -I have the advantage that at the age of 11 father stuck me on a Massey Fergusson 135 with no power steering with a small farm trailer on the back, and left me to it. Been reversing trailers and all sorts of farm kit ever since.
Good tip Big Plums.
Another one, from the old man 50 years ago, is to pull forward what you think is enough to get aligned and then go a bit further. Give yourself more room.
My tip to people is to think of the trailer as a giant wheelbarrow and just focus on pushing the trailer hitch in the right direction for where you want the
rest of it to go.

 

[mil1194]

At risk of being smug - but I'll write it anyway -I have the advantage that at the age of 11 father stuck me on a Massey Fergusson 135 with no power steering with a small farm trailer on the back, and left me to it. Been reversing trailers and all sorts of farm kit ever since.
Good tip Big Plums.
Another one, from the old man 50 years ago, is to pull forward what you think is enough to get aligned and then go a bit further. Give yourself more room.
My tip to people is to think of the trailer as a giant wheelbarrow and just focus on pushing the trailer hitch in the right direction for where you want the
rest of it to go.

The pulling forward as much a you think you need to - and add a little bit more is the best advice I could/would give anyone. Like you I’ve been on tractors, harvesters, reversing sileage trailers etc for the last 30years. The only time I really failed was with a tiny trailer behind a Sprinter van and I couldn’t see it until it was too late. I ended up taking it off and pushing it by hand.

 

[Farmer Piles]

Ironically it is far easier to reverse a big trailer than a small one as everything happens much more slowly and you have time to correct. A small trailer behind a big van must have been a nightmare.

 

[LiftyK]

Excellent advice. May I add a tip given to me by a Welsh park keeper - only make small adjustments with the steering wheel.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Excellent advice. May I add a tip given to me by a Welsh park keeper - only make small adjustments with the steering wheel.

Yes I should add that one to the list

 

[bowler]

Or this? Oldie but goodie.