Backing a vehicle can sometimes be a stressful experience. Also if you have something attached to the vehicle, it becomes even more nerve-racking. However, backing up (backing up) with a trailer is relatively straightforward, especially with a little practice. The process is easy as long as you understand the concept of what you are going to do.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Prepare to Reverse the Trailer
Step 1. Come up with a strategy
Keep in mind that backing up with a trailer requires prior movements of the towed vehicle to move the towed vehicle in the correct direction. A preconceived route is needed, keeping in mind the direction of the trailer, the direction of the towing vehicle, any objects in the immediate vicinity of the driving route, and the relative motion between all the objects involved.
Step 2. Practice in an empty space such as a parking lot
Buy some small orange cones to help you reference. Try learning with a long trailer, then try a smaller trailer. Make sure to take it easy while you learn. Short trailers are more maneuverable and responsive, making them more difficult to reverse. Longer trailers cope better with mistakes, but you will need to try harder to get them around a corner.
Step 3. Get an observer
An observer can be helpful as it will be another set of eyes behind the trailer that will see things that you (as a driver) will not be able to. It is also possible to invest in a set of 2 short-range 2-channel radios. This will make communication much easier by avoiding yelling or trying to see the observer.
The observer must remember to look up! It's easy to become so aware of ground obstacles that you can forget to keep an eye on the top for tree branches and cables. Always keep an eye out for leaning trees, it is possible to lose sight of the base of the trunk and in case the tree is leaning towards the trailer, a piece of the upper deck could be carried away on the roof line
Step 4. Adjust the mirrors
It is very important that you can see behind you, because you will be backing up with a large trailer attached to the vehicle. Make sure your mirrors are adjusted so that you can clearly see the rear of the trailer.
Step 5. Try to position yourself so that you are backing up to the driver's side of the vehicle
You will be able to see the trailer much better and the spot in the driver's side mirrors and also look back over your shoulder to see the rear of the trailer. In case you need to go around the esplanade to get closer to the point on your left side, go for it!
Step 6. Place one hand on the steering wheel and turn your body and head to look behind you and at the trailer
Place your right hand on the bottom of the steering wheel (6 o'clock position). That way, when you're ready to move, all you have to do is turn your hand in the direction you want the rear of the trailer to go. Test it! By using your hand in this position, you will practically avoid turning the wheels in the wrong direction while reversing.
Method 2 of 2: Backing the Trailer
Step 1. Turn the steering wheel to the right so the trailer goes to the left (while looking toward the front of the vehicle)
Another thing to note is that the bottom of the steering wheel directs the trailer. Looking to the rear often helps to give you the feeling of backing up by directing the trailer.
In case you need to turn the trailer around a corner, steer the trailer towards it. You will then need to drive slightly in the opposite direction to maintain the turning angle
Step 2. Back the trailer to the driver's side (for example, to the left in a left-hand drive vehicle) and not to the passenger side because it is harder to see
The most common recoil is the one performed at a right angle.
Step 3. Keep moving as you approach the space and turn straight towards the center of the street
This is considering that you do it with the steering wheel on the left. Now turn the vehicle sharply to the left, so that you are positioned at an angle. You should be at least 180 degrees on the left side in case you are backing around a bend to the left.
Step 4. Place your hands on the bottom of the steering wheel
Move the steering wheel as you reverse to keep the trailer moving in the correct direction. Remember to go slow. Have no problem getting out of the vehicle and checking your progress. There's no point trying to do it in one go to keep your pride if you end up wrecking the trailer in the end.
It's important to keep the tractor and trailer out of a scissor motion, so don't make a sharp turn. The ideal is to be able to go back inside the place with a fluid movement. You will almost always have to stop and move forward a bit to achieve a more even recoil
Step 5. Back and forward as many times as necessary until the trailer is in place
Sometimes the hardest part of the process is having a lot of people watching you. Try not to get nervous if there are a lot of people watching you. The result is up to you and not theirs. Keep your concentration.
Advice
- Don't turn the steering wheel too fast in either direction.
- Go slow! In the event of something unforeseen, stop the vehicle and find out what to do before making any decisions.
- Longer trailers are easier to back up than shorter trailers.
- If the trailer starts to scissor (turn at an acute angle), stop the vehicle immediately. Go ahead a bit and try again.
- One way to think about motion is that the rear wheels of the vehicle are the steer wheels for the trailer (imagine the trailer has four wheels, where the front steer wheels are actually the rear of the vehicle). So to get the trailer to move in the right direction, you will need to have the correct angle between the trailer wheels and the rear wheels of the vehicle. Therefore, first use the vehicle's turn signals to achieve the correct angle between the trailer wheels and the vehicle's rear wheels (by turning the steering wheel in the "wrong" direction), and then back up in the direction you actually are. want to go.
- Check and secure the hook, safety chains, hydraulic jack, and light cable.
- Don't be afraid to stop, go out, and look to see where you are. It is better to stop several times to check where you are to pay to repair damage to your trailer, truck or other people's things.
- Stop immediately in case you go in a direction you don't want to go, go ahead and try again.
- It is much easier to back up on a nearly straight path, making slight corrections. Avoid trying to back up to your destination with a sharp 90 degree turn. If possible, access your destination through the street to get a straighter path. If there is room, move forward and turn across the width for a straighter path.