Trailer alignment system

[zopperman]

Hey Guys, though I'd share this. I picked up one of these:

at harbor freight tonight on sale for 6 bucks and it is AWESOME!
I don't need anyone to back me up... I don't have to bang my truck into the coupler and it was 6 bucks.
Anyone else ever used one of these and been happy with it?

 

[Knightrider2]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Wow! $6, I just paid $29. I thought I found the next best thing to sliced bread. I guess I am still happy even though I paid more.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Aren't they great!? i had a buddy start making fun of me for it and saying I should just "know my truck" but that's why his bumper looks like crap

I was thinking about making one from two tennis balls and some extendable magnetic grabber things.. but then I saw this on sale and had to grab it!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer alignment system

yep they rock BUT in the pic, instead of putting it in front of the ball put it on top of the ball.... back up until it gets knocked off, and then you are done

 

[zopperman]

Re: Trailer alignment system

I was messing around with it this morning and your way works much better, smoke They're a little messy, but at least I can back up to a trailer alone without fear...

 

[guy74]

Re: Trailer alignment system

I have seen those before and wondered how well they worked. On my trucks, I have DMI hitches, hooking up is really easy. ( http://www.rigidhitch.com/default.aspx?page=customer&file=customer/rihiin/customerpages/dmi.htm ) I'm not sure if that would work on my van, since it would be hidden behind where the 2 doors meet though.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Best solution to the problem: rear-view camera. It's just silly how easy hitching up can be when you can be the ball spot-on with the coupler. A little more expensive than the tennis-ball approach though.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Got a set this year.$6.00 also. Great item

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Do both pieces telescope? How tall can they go? How strong are the magnets?

I'm looking for something that I can stick on top of my side-roller bracket arms on my trailer when backing down the ramp, because I lose sight of it in the mirrors when it just starts going down the ramp slope. I was thinking a couple of bike flags, but this might work if the magnets are strong enough.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Do both pieces telescope? How tall can they go? How strong are the magnets?

I'm looking for something that I can stick on top of my side-roller bracket arms on my trailer when backing down the ramp, because I lose sight of it in the mirrors when it just starts going down the ramp slope. I was thinking a couple of bike flags, but this might work if the magnets are strong enough.

What is your tow vehicle?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Trailer alignment system

What is your tow vehicle?

It's a Dakota pickup with a cap. My trailer is small and single axle, and my side-roller arms are quite short (it's a low-freeboard boat), and just as the trailer "crests" the parking lot to the ramp I lose sight of it for a split second, and that of course is when it likes to jackknife If I didn't lose sight of it like that, I could properly correct for it every time instead of having to re-try one time out of every five or so retreives.

EDIT: duh, I just thought of something, I wonder if I could lower the tailgate while backing...then I could see :facepalm:

 

[zopperman]

Re: Trailer alignment system

I used to leave my whole trunk open... this is much better. The magnets are pretty strong adn both pieces telescope to 43" i believe.

I wish i coudl afford the rear view camera

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer alignment system

If it isn't busy, I generally drive down the ramp and do a u-turn down by the river here..... granted, not all ramp layouts work for that but I'm doing it with a crewcab dually and a 30' trailer so most rigs should be easier.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Trailer alignment system

that's a BIG boat to be trailering.. I think most of the ramps by me are restricted to vessels < 24'

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer alignment system

 

[zopperman]

Re: Trailer alignment system

DO you have those big white PVC pieces or something? I've always been able to see those pretty well.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Do both pieces telescope? How tall can they go? How strong are the magnets?

I'm looking for something that I can stick on top of my side-roller bracket arms on my trailer when backing down the ramp, because I lose sight of it in the mirrors when it just starts going down the ramp slope. I was thinking a couple of bike flags, but this might work if the magnets are strong enough.

I have a set and I use them exactly that way (or I used to on my last tow vehicle)

TerryMSU

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Best solution to the problem: rear-view camera. It's just silly how easy hitching up can be when you can be the ball spot-on with the coupler. A little more expensive than the tennis-ball approach though.

I've got a rear view camera and it's not perfect. The biggest problem is that it's got a wide angle lens so distance is distorted. More to the point, trying to make out details at a distance is very difficult. I ended up adding a bunch of hi-viz reflective tape on the very end of the trailer hitch to try to catch my eye. I am thinking about adding a similar tennis ball system to augment my camera. I suspect it will help tremendously.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Trailer alignment system

Jay I cannot stress how much I love this thingie... my ambulance at work has a back up camera (had a back up camera...) and it also fish-eyes a little and it can be very tricky. It also has some red yellow and green bars to let you know when you're getting close... those do help a lot.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Trailer alignment system

The rear-view camera in my truck doesn't have much problem with the fish-eye effect. If I can back towards the boat trailer, I can spot the coupler about 6-8ft before they touch, so it's plenty of room to make a correction. I also have the green/yellow/red bars to indicate distance from objects and the black center line which matches up with the hitch ball. I didn't really care about the option when I bought the truck, but it's probably one of the most-used features now.