How to back up a trailer,Tips and Tricks
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- How to back a trailer, tips, tricks and instruction.
After 35 years behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler, I've backed up more miles than some folks have gone forward. Consequently, I've learned a few things about backing that I hope make it a little easier for you.
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This farmers wife thanks you for this video. My father, my brother, my husband, my in laws and even my 11 year old son are awesome at backing equipment, but I can hardly back anything! Its a gift to be a natural at running equipment but to be able to articulate what makes you good at it is a blessing to the rest of us! Cant wait to practice!
I hope it helped! Good luck and practice makes perfect. No one was born knowing how to back a trailer. It comes with time and practice.
I must admit that I saw this video about 1 year ago before a long trip for fall foliage in Vermont and Maine. I had some backing to do on the trip and thanks to this video I did it very well and had no problems. I have come back to get a refresher for this season of traveling. I pull a 42 foot 5th wheel and your tips about the mirrors and equal distance make it so much better. Thanks to you and your dog for a wonderful video!!! And making me look good at the campgrounds.
Thanks very much!! I'm really glad it was a help!
One thing he didn't mention about safety chains is to cross them so they form an X. The reason behind that is, if it pops off your ball, the crossed chains will catch the tongue. Great video and now I'm going to go practice!!
Thank you very much for this. I drove straight 10 wheeler trucks for 40 years. I hauled a 28' Grady White around weekends. I now have a little 12' utility trailer and that sucker wants to go everywhere except where I want it too! It's my fault. I ain't too bright being from Maine and all. I'm loading a Vespa Scooter in there next week with a canoe, portable a/c unit, mattress, sleeping bags, coolers, 2500 watt generator, microwave, hot plates, and plenty of other stuff. Your video has helped me understand some of the things I'm doing so wrong. Practice is important. I'm betting no matter what, it's going to be a great 4th of July in Houlton, Maine! Thanks for your help!
bunny hopper Houlton? I've hauled potatoes from houlton about 35 years ago. I picked them up in houlton and delivered them to a Charles chip factory in Hartford Connecticut.
Houlton, Maine: The end of the line for I-95. The powers to be fought hard to get that road even that far. For a long time it was a one lane road. Now the speed limit from Bangor north is 75 mph. Some of those crazy Canadians set their speed control at 90. The hurry to get there has always puzzeled me. It's still fun to go back. I'm from there and don't let the stares intimidate me. Houlton people are nervous around outsiders, or as they say, using their semi racist term, "Oh, he's from away." They forget that 90% of the graduating class is, "from away." I would still bet that those people up there in the county know how to back up a trailer! I get to test my skills next week. I'll be screaming like a little girl!
WOW! Here it is about 7 to 8 years after you made this video and I found it!! Have been planning on getting a trailer for some projects, but wondered how I would disconnect the RE-connect it. Excellent tips, in all my years, only had to use a trailer a couple of times and never by myself.
Glad I could help!
Dude!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to create the video. I've had trailers and I'm having a 16' race trailer built and this video gave me some insight that I was missing. Love you family. Steven Lawrence in PG County Maryland.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thanks for making this video. I work for a landscape designer, and it feels like backing up a trailer is the most terrifying thing in the world for me right now, but I think I'm getting the hang of it.
I'm renting a 5x9 trailer tomorrow from U-Haul I live in the city of Toronto so never really drove my f-150 with a trailer hooked up to it. Thank you sir for makin this video. This really helped me get a better understanding of driving my truck hooked up to a trailer. Really helpful.
I have a 20 ft. camper and I'm afraid to back it up. My sons say I have to practice, practice, practice. Now I understand a little better. It's a hard thing to learn as a 64 year old woman that's backing up alone. Thank you SO MUCH!!!
My advice is to find a big empty parking lot. Practice backing into a space or just practice backing up straight,then try and get it to arc left and hold the arc. Practice is paramount.
+BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose exactly what my son said. I'm going to be a good student and start right away :)
Love how the dog is checking your progress at 9:32.
doggo approved! puppers make the best co-pilots.
alright. clear. keep reversing Bob.
Thanks for the informative video! One tip that helped me when I first started trailer backing was to keep one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel (closest to your body). Then you can move this hand in the same direction that you want the trailer to go. It helped to clear up the left/right confusion for me.
But why does hand placement make that change? I can't wrap my head around it🤯
@@alonzoweaver7948 Because if your hand is at the bottom of the steering wheel, when you move it left, the trailer goes left and if you move it right, the trailer goes right. You don't need to think about the trailer direction as much as when your hand is at the top. At least in my experience.
Wanted to say thank you for taking the time to make this video. My Father recently passed away and I will be packing my Mom's house up in a uhaul and towing her car back to Pa. This was a huge help. Thanks :)
I thought this would be important for you to know. If you will be using a car tow dolly,these backup instructions would not work. The dolly pivots at the center and is actually nearly impossible to back more than just a few feet. If you will be using a dolly, always make sure you don't get into a position that you will have to back out of. Always think far enough ahead when parking,that you will be able to pull forward when leaving. If you will be using a car hauling trailer ,then this tutorial would apply. Relax! You'll do fine! My condolences on the death of your family member.
Wow! That was very good and informational and I like how you just show everything about how to with this and you don't act like a know it all, you act like someone who genuinely cares and wants to help others
Thanks!
@@bctruck yeah man I'm glad I found your channel, and this is going to help me out because I'm getting my first 6x12 trailer very soon
Good luck! Dont get rattled. No one is born being a good backer. It takes practice and lots of it.
Great video! I am not a newbie at backing up, I just bought a 30' travel trailer and wanted to learn some tips and tricks from the pros! I have worked in construction, maintenance and worked with people from other trades, I always love to learn the tricks of the trade! Thanks again!
I've pulled a trailer at work and a caravan and boat at home for the last 36 years and can say your tutorial is gust spot on . On short backing after the angle is set I don't even check the mirrors again. When I started we didn't have ratchet tie downs . A good video for us would be a single and a double hitch that falls of the load and the trailer when you undo the rope. Thanks BC good video.
Excellent video!! Today I rented a trailer and have no idea how to back up. Now I’m going outside to practice what you have demonstrated and explained. Thanks!
Good luck!
Glad to see all these posts from others who can't back up, thought I was the only one. First trailer pull in two weeks.
Good luck.
We were all there at one point. Important to stay calm. You will get frustrated. How you handle it is up to you.
Great tips! But I thought after all those years as a trucker-dog, Breezy would be able to help you out by barking when you're getting close to the hitch, etc! The only trailer I'm currently dealing with is the little one I attach to my garden tractor to carry my tools. I'll be honest... My ability to back it up is REALLY inconsistent! Some days, zip-zip-zip and it goes perfectly! Other days... well... After trying 2 or 3 times I give up and just lift it up and move it manually! *giggles*
Lifting it is cheating!!! No gold backing up star for you!!! Ok,in truth,,,,, I have moved my yard buggy by hand also. They are very difficult to back because they are short.
LOL! Well, now I don't feel so bad! :-)
I very recently bought a little pop-up tent trailer and I will be going to pick it up on Monday. I have never towed anything before so I found your video very helpful...thank you!
"I've backed up more miles than some folks have gone forward" Best quote of the year
Thanks so much for all the info you said in your video. I am taking my kids camping with a tent trailer and hope to back it up myself this year for the first time. I plan to practice with your techniques before I go. I like your down to earth explanations of keeping the trailer viewable in both mirrors.
The pup was my laugh for the day! Good dog. Thanks.
I had a trailer come unhooked once going down the road, if I didn’t have my safety chains hooked up it would have been bad. I hit a bump where the road meets the overpass my locking pin fell out and the bump caused the latch to pop open and come off the ball. The trailer was empty and the chains kept it from taking off, either on coming traffic or going over the the bypass and falling on the traffic below. A scary thing like that makes you very cautious on making sure you’re trailer is secure and ready for the highway.... Thanks for sharing this video I’m sure it’s helped someone....
I have an enclosed 5x8 trailer. What a nightmare. I have had to find a neighbor to put it in my driveway. I want to get a 15' camper trailer. Definitely getting backup cameras! I also learned recently...someone said put your hand at 6 o'clock on the steering wheel and don't take them off no matter what. This was you will be less likely to over correct with big movements. I haven't tried it yet because I don't know who will park my trailer again if I can't do it lol. Sounds logical. Thank you for your video!
This helped me a lot since I am a first time towing (a tiny 12 ft. Tiger Moth camper). My drive way is at an angle upwards which I knew I couldn't push the trailer upward so I need to get my camper all the way inside the garage where it is flat so once inside I can move the trailer where I want it I also have a narrow amount of room to backup from the street then at an angle onto my drive way. Thank you for taking your time to help us newbies! ! ! !
I don't know how tall your new camper is but remember to check the hight to make sure it will clear the top of the garage door. Good luck. Backing is a skill that takes lots of practice.
thank you! This is a great explanation on how to back a short trailer. I always have such a hard time backing my small 5x8 trailer and I can not ever seem to get it to back up straight. I will have to put something on it so I can see it better from my mirrors. I don't have near the issues with the bosses 8x16 trailer. So I know I can do it. Just needed some tips and you gave those..thank you! Next will be my fishing boat and trailer! :)
I really liked this video. I always do the trailer because my husband is terrible at it. This video helped a lot. It's the simple things that can give you the most problems. This guy amusing, down to earth and explained it well. Loved the dog!! Thanks for the video and being a cool dude.
Thank you for this my guy!! I have a job interview in an hour for a landscaping company and need to be able to drive with a trailer attached. This tutorial you put up puts my mind a lot more at ease 👍🏻👍🏻
Big thank you for making this video! I do a lot of driving for a landscape company and have been backing up trailers for about a year now, but still kinda suck at it. Lol. No formal training or anything so I actually self taught/ learned most of your tips, but the others definitely will help a bit. I just wish I didn't have to tow tiny (and squirrelly when backing) trailers behind large dump trucks with absolutely zero visibility of the trailer until it's basically jackknifed, or park them in our small, oddly shaped storage yard. Usually by myself with no ground guides available. With this video you may have just cut my time hopping out of the truck, checking my positioning, and throwing/kicking my hat down by 50%. So now it'll just be like 10 minutes per day on average. Lmao
Great video. Thank you for teaching us newbies.
Excellent video!! I just bought my first trailer and I really needed the tips... Well I'm going to start practicing ...Thanks for taking the time and sharing your knowledge for a novice like me.
I have watched this a few times . It has been extremely helpful as a refresher before hauling. I use your tricks all the time.
Thank you so much, you explained things very clearly.
Very good points. Yes we tend to over turn our wheel. We will keep practicing.
Great video, thank you. You had me when you mentioned " survivalist blog" one of my favourites. I loved your tip on using something on the ground to gauge how far back to reverse to hook up.
Just what I needed. Just bought a pop-up camper, had trouble getting it backed into my driveway!. This really helped.
You did an awesome job explaining. I bought a trailer to pull a ride on mower and because I don't know how to back it up I find myself having to unload the mower, hook up the trailer by pulling it, loading the mower again. By the time I've done all that I'm already exhausted....I'm a female by the way.
Thank you I just emailed this video to my husband , he he he !! I wish you taught hands on lessons I would love to learn to pull & park our little pop up camper to help with the driving . Great video!!!
This was the best instructional video I've seen on backing a trailer. Thank you for that, and for the extra tips about loading and tie-downs.
Thank you very much!!!
Thanks for taking the trouble to make this video it is really helpful :)
Greg Mathews thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. It makes it worth doing.
Thanks much just started working for a company where I use a trailer and this video was very helpful
Good luck! Slow and small turns is the name of the game.
Thank you so much. I also learned from your video... that I need to hook up in the back yard and practice in a safe / off road area a few times. I dont have anyone to tell me all of this. And that packing tip... fantastic. Im packing all my belongings and going 3000 kms. Really appreciate this video.
Thanks for commenting!
Wow!!!! You were a huge help to me trying to back my horse trailer! Really appreciate your video!!!! Keeping the fenders the same on both sides helped so much!!!!
Thanks for the tips. I find myself in quick need to learn proper trailering techniques, especially backing-up!!
You can do it! Slow and steady.
The very best advice i ever got was to just follow the trailer when backing. I also find it easer to use the outside mirrors rather than a direct view.
Very informative! Just got me a 6x12 trailer and realized I don't know how to back it up. so went in the office found this video! haha lots of useful info
Awesome tips!! Backing up a trailer using only your mirrors is a difficult thing to do..your video is very helpful and straight to the point..Thanks for taking the time in making it..
Good video!! We all appreciate you taking the time to share your experience in learning this process. I learned a lot. Thank You!!
The one thing i was told that has helped me the most when backing up with the trailer already attached. "Turn your steering wheel the opposite way you want the trailer to go" and use counter steering to follow the trailer" You eventually learn to "square up" the backing angle.
If you hold your steering wheel at the BOTTOM the trailer goes the direction you turn the wheel!! :) so cool. Hope this helps someone. Never knew this and have been backing trailers for years.
Thank you! YT of your channel was at top . This Senior Solo lady can always learn. Iv got a motor home 23' new rig to me with rear camera resently installed. I sure it helps. I have learned that little bitty cars hard to see speed around me ,which is ok but not while I'm changing lanes,YES blinker on. ANOTHER reason for camera If I'd not seen that little skate of a car Lord have mercy. I know you've been there too. appreciate your tips and will pass them on and let folks know your helping us folks. Iv subed and look forward to see what you teach me next. From OKLAHOMA SAFE TRAVELS.
I'm glad I watched this. I have to drive a utility trailer in a couple of days and I'm not sure how the parking is. I'm freaking out at the thought of backing it up. I plan on going to an empty lot to practice trying to park it between lines so I can get a feel of it before I go there and get myself in a jam should I have to back this up to park. Thanks for the tips, they should come in handy.
Great video bud, thank you .
I will be implementing these tips when I practice backing up on a car park .
I have had a small trailer for donkeys years and it’s high time I learnt to back the damn thing up.
Thanks for video I will be doing my first road trip pulling a trailer soon so I will be practicing before hand with your tips
Wow thank you for all these tips! Very helpful
Thanks for the great video. Much more than refreshing my memory on backing up a trailer!
Glad it helped!
Great job on this video. I hope it helps many people. 36 years OTR was enough for me, and the DOT🤓
I hope you see this reply. You won’t believe this but when I saw this comment show up, I’m actually sitting in my custom knife shop thinking about all those years I spent on the road. I felt like I had a purpose. I felt fulfilled and satisfied with my life. I’ve been retired for a few years now and I’m sitting in my shop,working on a custom knife and I have none of those feelings anymore. Now, I feel unimportant. I feel like I’m not a spoke in the wheel anymore. I feel like I’m just sitting here waiting to die. I don’t miss trucking as much as I miss the feeling of being of service to my fellow man. I miss feeling useful. It’s strange that another trucker would leave a comment on a very old video, at the exact moment I was sitting here reminiscing about all those years and all those miles.
BCtruck, BC Blades feel free to give this old trucker a call sometime. 406-696-7994 I’ll share about how I find such fulfillment in my life after trucking. I’m turning pens and keepsake urns now, and I get to highlight some of God’s blessings that may go unnoticed. My dad wrote this poem to help me describe my woodworking. Enjoy and call if you want, we’ll swap lies about trucking.
THREE TREES
Three trees stood together in the morning breeze
Trying to look as pretty as you please
They wondered among themselves what their end might be
Each wanted to be the one the world would see
These trees wouldn't have very long to wait
Some wood cutters would help them decide their fate
Looking them over they cut one tree down
And immediately hauled it off to town
Now this tree was sure it would leave men awed
I t was soon hammered and nailed, forever sawed
Now it wanted regal splendor where rich people would stay
But, alas, it was made into a manger full of hay
The next tree felt sure he would be a big ship
And carry rich passengers on a far away trip
Instead it was made into a very small boat
And placed on the Sea of Galilee to float
The third tree just wanted to point to God all day
However, it was cut down and sent far away
It had dreamed of just being something for people to see
But was made into a cross on a place called Calvary
Those trees all fulfilled a part of God's great plan
When He sent down his son to die for man
All three trees together shared a dream
It was fulfilled, but not the way they deemed
The first tree held baby Jesus fast asleep
The second held Him while He admonished His commandments to keep
The third tree held Him until He died
Their dreams were fulfilled on that hillside
Please Father let me be like these trees
And humbly serve you if you please
May I forget about just wanting glory
And be content to be part of the story
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! Just finishing up a restoration of my vintage travel trailer. I was nervous about backing up. Your video is excellent! I’m going to practice in a big lot with cones!
Fantastic! That’s exactly how you do it! Cones can’t damage anything and can’t be damaged. Good luck!
BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose Thanks! Her maiden voyage is to Top Sail RV resort in Santa Rosa beach FL October 3! Going with Tin Can Tourists group. About 100 of us with vintage campers. Mine is a 1966 Roadrunner, frame up restoration. I partnered with my local RV shop. I did work that was in my skill level and they did stuff I couldn’t do. They even let me come to the shop on my day off to work on the camper!
I learned by playing with toy trucks that had trailers. It gives you an overview of what your doing and helps you see what’s going on in the big picture.
I've always thought that an RC tractor trailer would be a good teaching tool.
A fully covered and detailed explanation for once!
Thanks..
Very, very helpful....I think I was turning the wheel too hard one way or another....also backing up to the hitch using equal amounts of trailer in both windows was a great tip and it worked for me!! Thank you!!
Thanks for making this video. I must say it was very helpful to improve my learning skills to obtain my BE-Driving licence.
desi desi good luck!
Thank you for making this video. Wonderful instruction with a lot of very helpful hints. Awesome job!
I just got hired, I told the boss I don’t know how to back up a trailer, he made me do it anyway by time the third day came I caused thousands of dollars to his $40,000 trailer system, he was very pissed to say the least. But then he called me up apologized and told me he will take the blame for it because I did warn him, so I’m trying to learn thank you for your information
Really helpful- especially using the wrench/ foot estimate
Thanks for making this, off to practice now and wanted to refresh my memory
Thank you. I was getting so frustrated. You tip about keeping the trailer equidistant in each mirror made all the difference. a
And the small movements.
Great! Glad it helped.
Getting ready to go practice some...I'm hoping there won't be that much difference in a single axle...but I really appreciate your help!
Good info - thanks. I tow a 3,000 kg trailer behind a Series III Land Rover in Thailand; they are the same length so it is easy to go past the point of no-return! Had to learn the hard way!
I open the rear door so I can see the hitch on the trailer with a marker stuffed under the floor mat to show where to aim. I religiously use low range to back up so I have as much time as possible to correct, and keep steering input to slow and small. I have to reverse 100 yards at a regular site - 20 inches each side, but not quite straight! Easy to get frustrated!
Thanks for the tips.
You made that look so easy. I can't imagine any situation I'd have to know all that....but yep, good information to have. Thanks for sharing.
This was exactly what I was looking for! Just got a 16 foot food cargo trailer. This is going to be very helpful. Thank you so much.
Sometimes people will say turn this way that way but you ne or know why you doing it you explain it good
2pacnasgame thanks!
You are so kind to provide this video, helpful for a new travel trailer person. 👠💖💖💖🕉
thanks for this video! this is one of the best explanations I've seen! thanks for the great tips!
thanks!
Great video dude,, thanks for posting it. I'll be towing a motorcycle this year for the 1st time.. I'm getting as much information as possible before going out to the supermarket parking lot for practice. Thanks again.
thank you for taking the time to show us! we're going to practice. and boy do you have huge driveways where you're from!
I'm totally one of those that's new to driving with a trailer and I crap myself when I have to back it in. Thank you!!!
Noel Villasenor Only if you have a perverse mind.
I just bought a trailer like yours
I need to find a big empty parking lot w/WiFi so that I can listen to this and then practice what you're preaching
Thanks
Good luck!
Spoken like a true trucker, nice Just to add one thing sometimes it is important to chock the wheels when your unhooking to keep the trailer from rolling away and breaking the jack, just a thought.. Take care
Thank you so much. Not all of us have someone to ask, so this is very helpful. 👌
Thanks for making this, I'll be getting my first trailer soon and this was helpful. Maybe could you do a part II with advise about driving, preventing sway, braking, etc? You definitely have a ton of trailer experience to give.
Thank you for this vid! Bought my first trailer yesterday and to my surprise backing it into my backyard gate that had 2” clearance per side was a LOT harder than I expected.
Glad it helped!
Very helpful video I really feel like I tools something away from it. You went over basics but a lot of tips no one has told me.
Nice video. The mirror and steering suggestions were perfect! Much better than how my boss taught me.
Such sheer intelligence; bought a camper and almost destroyed side of my house. This is invaluable.
I'll give it another shot.
I've never, not once, pulled any trailer. Good information. Thanks. I have bad depth perception, though. Knowing when to stop backing might be a challenge.
Generally,when I hear people yelling or the sound of grinding metal,i know its time to stop backing.
BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose Seems reasonable. Thanks.
The wrench marking point is a really good idea.
I find that using my mirrors works best for steering. My old brother in law gave me the best 3 words I've ever heard for correcting a trailer during backup - Follow the trailer.
This was so helpful to me. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Great video presented in a slow calm manner. I'm wanting to get a travel trailer but not comfortable with backing up. Thanks for the tips. I'd love to have all that space to practice lol
Thanks! If you can find a mall parking lot, you could practice there.
You are a good teacher.thank you
Wow, you know this skill well.... I'm just a beginner ...you have helped in a big way.
Tim Kelly thanks for letting me know!
I found your video very helpful. I’ve watched a lot of backing videos and this was the one to make it click. Thanks for your help.
Thanks for letting me know!
This video helped me a lot tomorrow I’m going to drive one wish me good luck
Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience through this video. It is very useful to a newbie like me.
Thanks for taking the time to make that video, Good information!!!
Thanks for all that helpful information/ that was awesome
That was a great instructional video. Thanks for the lessons and info.
Thank you for the sound advice and the tips on backing up!
...except...except...except my powerchair doesn't have side mirrors! Or even a center rearview mirror, come to think of it. But I have spent a lot of time driving it, and I'm rather skilled at it, if I do say so. This is a CRITICAL tutorial for any driver, thank you!
We need to get you some ape hangers on your scooter,, and a doorag and fingerless gloves. Oh oh oh,,, and a chain drive wallet.
BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose I'm ashamed to tell you I already have a 420-D wallet with really butch snaps to keep it closed chained to my right armrest, and a cammo ballcap, and army-surplus Kevlar gloves. Whats an ape hanger?
AnnBearForFreedom ape hangers are tall handle bars,they look bad--------Ass!!!
BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose I have googled them, and agree, they do look way badass. Sadly, they won't work for me since my mobility device is an actual powered wheelchair not a scooter. So my cap will have to suffice to convey my anti-social attitudes. The patch says "Do I look like an effing people person?", so that will have to be badass enough.