Why do I have trouble backing my trailer?

37 chief · May 20, 2023

I never was very good at backing up a trailer, and it's not getting better. Today I had a mowing job at the end of a dead end street. I start backing, haven't hit any mailboxes, or parked cars. Then this car shows up from behind, and wants to get around, as I am in the middle of the street. I pull head and lose 10 minutes of backing. Get going again, the car comes back. I guess this wasn't his street. He thought I was going to pull head again. I just stopped he squeezed by. I finally get to the end of the street, and had to back around the corner into a intersection. Another car coming in the intersection behind me we both stopped. I wasn't going to lose what I done so far. I was just about ready to pull forward and leave. I backed up slow the car did the same. then I was out of there. My story for tonight. Stan

ptfarmer · May 20, 2023

How long is your trailer? (really short = harder, longer = easier).

37 chief · May 20, 2023

I believe it's 18 ft. Stan

paul · May 20, 2023

There are days I can buzz around like a pro in reverse. More days I look like an idiot..... the tough deal is with nothing on the car trailer I cant see it looking back, and I dont do well looking in the side mirrors waiting for it to appear on one side or the other.

The fun deal for me is the tractor, the baler, and the 3 wheel bale basket. Have to back that up to the barn door between the chicken barn and the silo. The closer to the barn door and nicely sideways the less steps I have to make with 80-110 bales of hay. So its good to be really close.....

The baler is a short hitch and long tail with the hitch a little off center. The bale basket has the front caster wheel so is really a 2 wheel trailer also.

Making that back up 150 feet to where I want it is fun.

Paul

redforlife · May 21, 2023

I have a tendency to turn the steering wheel the wrong way when looking in my mirrors. For me, if I hang my head out the window and turn my head and actually look back without using my mirrors, I no longer turn the steering wheel the wrong way of what I'm needing to do. Something about turning my head around and just looking that way (without mirrors) corrects everything.

Lawn mower trailers and car trailers with nothing on them is tricky. Can't really see what the trailer is doing unless you can see one side or the other of it. But it helps to lower the tail gate down (if the trailer jack will allow) and then look over your shoulder through the back glass. Another thing that helps, is just put an empty card board box on the trailer in the middle of the rear of trailer, and use that to tell where your trailer is at and what it's doing.

If you got a stiff neck because of age, and can't turn your head around anymore, and can only look straight forward all of the time, you better either get good at backing up trailers using mirrors, or just don't back trailers up at all anymore. I'm just being honest. Old age isn't kind. I don't have neck problems yet. But the time will likely come some day.

Bruce(OR) · May 21, 2023

Placement of the trailer axle is another factor. Closer to the vehicle, harder to back up typically. Closer is less forgiving of steering mistakes. Further away is more forgiving but also takes longer to correct.

Traditional Farmer · May 21, 2023

Watch the rear of the trailer and 'drive the trailer'

kcm.MN · May 21, 2023

(quoted from post at 22:15:49 05/20/23) I have a tendency to turn the steering wheel the wrong way when looking in my mirrors.

Here's a simple trick you can try. Next time you are backing a trailer and notice you seem to be turning opposite of what you want, look at where your hands are on the steering wheel. Normally, your hands will be at/near the top of the steering wheel. If you flip your hand placement, your wrong-way-trailer blues might just end.

Go ahead - try it some time. :wink:

john in la · May 21, 2023

While you can teach a person to back a trailer it is more of a knack to those that do it well.
If you have to think about what way to turn the wheel the trailer is already out of control before you can react.

About like some can get on a dozer and push down a pile of dirt.
But having that feel or knack to respond without thinking to cut a grade (blue top) just is something that is hard to teach.

caterpillar guy · May 21, 2023

If looking in the mirror as the trailer takes more of the mirror turn the wheel the way you want less trailer in the mirror. It comes second nature to me with all the truck driving I have done over the years with the semi. I find reverse is about as easy as forward is. Backing is also in the set up. IF you are backing into a spot or around a corner then set up is everything. Looking back or in the mirror is not a problem even backing 2 trailers persay like the disk and the packer behind it with tractor is pretty easy. Backing the chopper and a wagon is a bit more involved or a set of doubles with no lock for the dolly under the second trailer. The local gravel trains have a lock pin about 2-1/2 inches to keep the dolly straight when backing works pretty good for empty trailers and loaded though I suppose somebody has bent, broke, or torn out the pin in the past someplace.

rick n ohio · May 21, 2023

I seem to have a natural knack for backing a trailer I can go about 10 mph and go around corners I learned from tractors backing manure spreaders and other trailers.

Geo-TH,In · May 21, 2023

Stan, I would look for a gas station, grocery store or auto parts store close by and ask if you could park your rig there, then drive your tractor to the location you mow.

Stroby · May 21, 2023

Put your hand at the 6 o'clock position on the steering wheel. If you want to go left, move your hand left. If you want to go right, move your hand to the right. Try that.....it works.

UncleTom · May 21, 2023

What Stroby said. bottom of steering wheel movement is the way the trailer will go. Its always harder to back a trailer when someone is watching. I would have let that car that was behind you sit and figure it out that i was going to back up.

Richard G. · May 21, 2023

I use to back trailers and could put them in tight places.
That skill has about left me.

jimg.allentown · May 21, 2023

There is really only one way to get good at backing a trailer. Practice!

With all of the confusing talk about where to place your hands, turn this way, that way, bla, bla, bla, the only REAL way is to practice. Set up a place where you will be left alone, and set up a few traffic cones or lines, and play for a while every day. You'll get the hang of it.

showcrop · May 21, 2023

How about those people trying to guide someone back and their idea of helping is to make circular motions in the air with their hands.

BillinCentralMO · May 21, 2023

You know my wife !

tomtinker · May 21, 2023

After backing truck trailers for years, I had trouble backing a straight truck, go figure.

Stephen Newell · May 21, 2023

Everybody has trouble. When I was driving a trailer a lot I had no problem backing it. Now that I only do it a couple times a year every time it's like the first time.

Why do I have trouble backing my trailer?

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