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

[sw33ttooth]

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

well, i know i am young 22. but i just use my drivers side mirrors only depending on what side the ramp is on i only use 1. when i bought my truck it did not have the passenger mirror i went a year with out it and learned i really only need the drivers side mirror as long as my ramp is located on that side. i pull far enough forward that by the time i am going down hill i am 6-8 inches away from the dock and straight.

my boat is a little bigger then my truck so useing the back window really gets me no where as i cant see with in 10 feet of either side of the boat near the back. i am also used to driving a 1 ton with duallys and a 35 foot camper and you cant see anything out the rear view mirror so i rarely use this device when backing up.

word of advice the more axles the easier it is!
1 axle almost never wants to back up straight
2 axles [currently what i have] backs up with minimal problems
3 axles just as easy in reverse and it is going forward

 

[DBreskin]

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

"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

Spend twenty minutes a day at a coed college campus or popular beach and you'll increase your neck rotation ability within two weeks.

 

[cribber]

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

I pop open the back hatch and turn my head so I can see where the trailer is going. By the time it shows up in my outside mirrors I'm already crooked headed to smack the dock.

 

[oldjeep]

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

I pop open the back hatch and turn my head so I can see where the trailer is going. By the time it shows up in my outside mirrors I'm already crooked headed to smack the dock.

Sounds like you need to adjust your mirrors. No way that you can't see the fenders on a 185 trailer in the mirrors.

 

[89mercruiser]

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

I learned to use my mirrors. It's far easier for me and it comes natural now when backing up a trailer or just parking the truck when trying to line it up in a stall. I have two small convex mirrors that make seeing the parking lines easier. I tried over my shoulder but it bugs me. I have to help my dad back up the boat more often than not.

 

[Philster]

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

99% mirrors for me.

Tip: I know, and see, a lot of guys who seem to waste the most important opportunity when backing up: Starting straight. I mean, ok, if you can't start straight, I understand, but for the love of og, even at ramps with huge launching areas, I see guys make half hearted turns, then they start to back up with the boat at a 30 degree angle, so they correct it, but on the way down the ramp, the boat is straight and the tow vehicle is as crooked as Jake LaMotta's nose (that's for you old guys), and sometimes screws up the ramp area. :facepalm: Plus, at some point, they were guessing where the other side of the trailer/boat was at, since their angle prevented them from seeing if they were about to hit the side of the ramp.:redface:

Be it launching, or parking, and backing up the driveway, if ya just start out right, the whole thing goes a lot smoother. Set up your mirrors right.

Looking over your shoulder? Nah... I don't even do that to back up and hitch up the boat alone.

 

[Tetondan37]

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

I use the mirrors. My wife prefers to open the backwindow of the Excursion and look over her shoulder when the trailer is empty.

I taught her by taking her to a high school on a Saturday morning and letting her practice.

 

[Knightrider2]

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.

2nd that

 

[GMC2003]

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

I'm young (19) but..... I turn my head over my right shoulder and go from there, using the mirrors messes me up. That being said, I can use mirrors, It's just easier for me to turn my head. At my ramp I often have the trailer at a 135 degree angle, and it is ten times easier looking over the shoulder.... again for me.. Find what works for you and stick with it, good luck.

 

[sea wolf]

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.

I have an '07 F-150 with a bedliner & can't see the trailer when I'm backing up to retrieve my boat. So, I drop the bedcover into the truck bed & lower the tailgate. It's a pain to reattach the bedcover but makes backing up a lot easier when I can see the trailer.

 

[kahuna123]

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

This guy has the right idea

http://youtu.be/eBNq0NlEp78

 

[Silvertip]

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

I back an enclosed cargo trailer into my garage on a daily basis using the mirrors only since the view through the inside mirror out the back window sees nothing but "black". I might add there is 4-inches of clearance between each fender and the door. Using only the outside mirrors I've never (yet) even touched the rubber seal on either side. Get close on one side and there will be plenty of clearance on the other. But then I've been trailering probably longer than most of you are old.

 

[skargo]

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

Mirrors! Put your hand on the bottom of your wheel, and turn it in the direction you want the trailer to go. It's how I was taught when I was 12!

 

[Philster]

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

..... But then I've been trailering probably longer than most of you are old.

What are you saying, that you backed the Ark down the ramp?

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

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

I was taught to use mirrors to back up trailers way before I was old enough to legally drive on the roads.

Hands on the bottom of the wheel ( as stated a few times earlier--IT WORKS !! )

Watch the mirrors and if you start to get too far "out of wack", just pull front a few feet and straighten out. It's not like it's a competition or anything.

 

[Texasmark]

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".

I do just the opposite: Hand on the bottom of the wheel, eyes in the outside mirror, eyeballs on the tail end of the trailer and turn the wheel in the direction (easier than opposite for me) that "feels" natural. If it gets away from you, don't chase it.....stop, pull up till all is straight and repeat the process. Works every time, even for a newbie....IF you follow the rules.

HTH,

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

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

Mirrors! Put your hand on the bottom of your wheel, and turn it in the direction you want the trailer to go. It's how I was taught when I was 12!

Yepper, looking at the rear of the trailer which as you said is the direction you want the trailer to go.....don't know why this is such a problem for folks?????

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

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

What are you saying, that you backed the Ark down the ramp?

Maybe he did! So what?

 

[Philster]

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

Um.... lighten up. When someone is self deprecating -- oh, I don't know, say about their age -- and we have a nice little thread goin' on here, it's kind of good-natured fun to make an age joke. I mean, it's 'bout old timers and such backing trailers up... ya know, 'cause their rickety backs mean theys gots to use them there mirrors. Ya know?

I made a Jake Lamatta joke, too, in addition to the Ark joke.


So what?

 

[26aftcab454]

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

I'm so old I fart dust-( never trust a fart!)
I been using mirrors only for decades--it just take practice.