How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

[minuteman62-64]

Been awhile (like 20 years), but getting close to getting the boat back in service, dealing with the launch ramp and then getting the boat back into the storage location. For backing the trailer I used to sling my right arm over the back of the seat, turn my shoulders about 90 degrees so I was facing the passenger window, and, then swivel my head to the rear and perform the backing manuver. Now, my seat back is high and there is a head rest in the way so I won't be able to do that anymore (plus my head doesn swivel any where near as much as it used to).

What do you guys do? Remove the headrest to give better opportunity for looking back? I know the big-rig guys do it all with mirrors - is that hard to learn?

 

[etracer68]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

I use my mirrors all the time, move the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear of the trailer to move. Take it slow, and you should be ok. You can pratice in your drive way.

 

[Trailerguy34]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Hello Minuteman -

I would suggest on giving it a shot by purchasing extended towing mirrors.

It is a huge help . I found them on a site called Reese-hitches.com and I loved them !

Trailerguy

 

[kobe]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

I also only use mirrors - have a Silverado Crew with a cap on the back. never have an issue backing up. Etracers advice is great - how i started many years ago. now I don't even think about it - comes naturally. my best advice to you is find an empty parking lot and practice in the parking stalls, gets easy fairly quick.

 

[rbh]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

YUP, very slowly, small corections or you go down the ramp like a spawning salmon going upstream.

 

[109jb]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Outside mirrors only. On my truck, turning around or using the inside mirror is useless.

I also do it this way when I use any vehicle even if looking out the back window is unobstructed.

 

[badkins50]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

I always use my outside mirrors only and never turn my head. I keep my hands at the top of the steering wheel so I turn the wheel opposite the way I want the trailer to go. the key points are so nice and slow and most of all stay calm. Don't worry about others watching unless of course they get in you way or they are screaming "hey you forgot your plug".

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Once you get used to the CORRECT way to back up (mirrors) its actually far easier. The exception is a single jet ski trailer. 100% impossible to back with mirrors, as it is short and narrow. By the time you see it in the mirror, it is too late and already past the correctable stage.

 

[kobe]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

The exception is a single jet ski trailer. 100% impossible to back with mirrors, as it is short and narrow. By the time you see it in the mirror, it is too late and already past the correctable stage.

My backup camera works great for that! my truck didn't have one - so i bought one for $100 and wired it to my reverse lights, whenever i put it in reverse, the camera comes on. works great with my utility trailer too. must look weird to bystanders to watch someone backup without looking in the mirrors but also staring forward (they can't tell I am staring at a camera... lol

 

[hog88]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Mirrors. Take your boat to the nearest school one weekend and practice, it's like riding a bike.

 

[Kaplooi]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

I agree. Using mirrors only is only doable if you have a boat wide enough and a trailer long enough that you can see how to correct in time. With a small aluminum boat or jet ski you're going to have to turn and look. With my boat I can do half and half where I can use outside mirrors when launching but not retrieving because the trailer is invisible until it's too far off course. Though I can use the rear view when retrieving to an extent. I think boats actually get easier to reverse the larger they are because they're easier to see and the longer trailers make corrections easier. My first boat was a 14ft aluminum fishing boat that I pulled with a Geo tracker. The comically short wheelbase and short trailer made it pretty tricky to launch since even small corrections would have the thing sideways in no time.

 

[boat1010]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Not sure what (older) has to do with it.. But I use mirrors to back up. Even with the single Seadoo trailer. Just with the small trailer you have to go slower and keep a little closer eye out when the trailer shows up in the mirrors. If you can't back down the small trailer with the outside mirrors then drop the tailgate and use the center mirror, works just as good.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Not sure what (older) has to do with it.. But I use mirrors to back up. Even with the single Seadoo trailer. Just with the small trailer you have to go slower and keep a little closer eye out when the trailer shows up in the mirrors. If you can't back down the small trailer with the outside mirrors then drop the tailgate and use the center mirror, works just as good.

"Older" was pointing to the difficulty in rotating one's head to look to the rear. Don't know about you guys, but I lose a degree or two of neck rotation every few years.

Agree on the small trailer problem. In my National Guard days I had to back up short trailers hooked to long "Deuce-and-a-half" trucks. Not easy.

I have the "trailer aligner" from Harbor Freight - basically tennis balls mounted on wands that extend to about 42". I'm thinking maybe one of those mounted at the rear of the trailer may give me some idea of where the trailer is going when backing down the ramp when retreiving.

 

[JoLin]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Not sure what (older) has to do with it..

Yeah, what's up with that?

Anyway, once I learned to use the mirrors, and only the mirrors, things got a lot easier. I never turned around in my seat again.

My .02

 

[109jb]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

I agree. Using mirrors only is only doable if you have a boat wide enough and a trailer long enough that you can see how to correct in time. With a small aluminum boat or jet ski you're going to have to turn and look. With my boat I can do half and half where I can use outside mirrors when launching but not retrieving because the trailer is invisible until it's too far off course. Though I can use the rear view when retrieving to an extent. I think boats actually get easier to reverse the larger they are because they're easier to see and the longer trailers make corrections easier. My first boat was a 14ft aluminum fishing boat that I pulled with a Geo tracker. The comically short wheelbase and short trailer made it pretty tricky to launch since even small corrections would have the thing sideways in no time.

Longer trailers are easier for sure, except if you have to back around a corner. As for the single jet-ski trailers, my truck has extendable trailer mirrors and I can adjust them to see and back up a single jet-ski trailer no problem and my truck is a full size Sierra 2500HD.

 

[beason]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

i cannot turn and look, i have a bed cover, and without the boat on the trailer, i cant even see it back there. I use the side mirrors only. I have extend able mirrors, but for my 18ft, i dont have to extend them. I can watch the left fender and tire on the trailer and put it where i want it. The only time i have an issue is when im having to back it to the pass side. its hard to see the trailer in the mirror way over there.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

My first boat was a 14ft aluminum fishing boat that I pulled with a Geo tracker. The comically short wheelbase and short trailer made it pretty tricky to launch since even small corrections would have the thing sideways in no time.

Short wheel base trailer is tough, but short wheel base vehicle makes it easier... Try that same trailer with a 3/4 ton longbed truck, and it becomes MUCH tougher...

Best tow vehicle for the 2 miles I have to the ramp, Ford Bronco. Big engine, heavy, and very short wheel base.

 

[Grandad]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Just a comment on using wide mirrors. Unless you need them to see your short or narrow trailer, I don't think they're much benefit. IF you can see your load, preferably your trailer fender, a mirror close to your tow vehicle gives you a truer view of your direction of travel. The wider your mirror is positioned, the greater the error in perspective. I found adding vertical boat guides to the rear end of my trailer not only makes loading a cinch, but also gives me a much better perspective on where the whole train is headed. - Grandad
PS. - There's a reason us older guys don't turn our heads so much. We've become more sophisticated in our "bird" watching, so our necks get out of practice.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

Agree with all of the above......I use my mirrors.

The only time I look over my shoulder is when putting the trailer in the water empty (to retrieve boat) to make sure I am at right depth. When doing this, it helps to have the truck lift gate down (which I do before I start backing down the ramp to retrieve. And yes, I too I have lost some range of neck motion in my 58 years so I guess I qualify as one of "us older guys"!

Good luck and welcome back.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: How Do You (Older) Guys Back Up Your Trailers?

I must be considered "young" as I still look over my right shoulder and hold the wheel at the 6:00 position.