Backing a trailer!

[Pull Toy]

Practice... practice... practice! LOL!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byng4ND1o-JLdWRoNUxFYy1nYkk/view


Good luck,

[xrated]

My wife had horses when she was a kid growing up, so she still loves horses....so naturally, I had her watch that video. That was hilarious...thanks for posting.

[sourdough]

Practice... practice... practice! LOL!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byng4ND1o-JLdWRoNUxFYy1nYkk/view


Good luck,

Man! I don't care who you are that's funny!....Actually hilarious!! Thanks!!

[Cbrez]

If you swap out the laughing horses for people, looks just like my last parking job. Too funny :)

[sourdough]

That's what I was thinking. The first time I tried to back a 35+ foot trailer into a tight spot I figure someone would start popping popcorn!! Thankfully those days are gone!!

[66joej]

practice... Practice... Practice! Lol!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0byng4nd1o-jldwronuxfyy1nykk/view


good luck,

ffuuunnnyy!

[Ken / Claudia]

That was great. Thanks

[PARAPTOR]

If you swap out the laughing horses for people, looks just like my last parking job. Too funny :)

Sooo true, and seems to be a really normal thing to do, ie when we pull up to a campsite others run over to that area with their chairs and adult drinks. When you complete your setup, grab your chair and join the group for the next person. Really enjoyed the clip :popcorn:

[Murphsmom]

We watched a guy with a VW trying to maneuver his travel trailer into a campsite at the beach last summer. He must have been from somewhere that doesn't have any trees, as it took over an hour for him to back that trailer into the space. Around and around the loop he went, trying to figure out the proper angle.

And yes...we were all watching!

[chuckster57]

I loved it!!!

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Unfortunately,, the number of playbacks has reached a maximum and is
no longer viewable ...

hankaye

[cardinal96ss]

Last year while sitting out enjoying the evening a TT pulled in and went to backing into a spot a few spots away. Shortly the wife came over, explained that this was their first day of their first trip and the unbelievably her husband had never backed a trailer before, so would I "watch and look out for him". Placed me in a position I didn't want to be in. Within a few minutes I had to walk over and help out. Thankfully he was receptive to the help as it could have gone badly and soon he was in the spot and setting up.
Lesson to new timers- Don't be afraid to ask for help. Those folks sitting and watching will gladly help without judgement and you will soon be joining them. Right?

[Desert185]

Last year while sitting out enjoying the evening a TT pulled in and went to backing into a spot a few spots away. Shortly the wife came over, explained that this was their first day of their first trip and the unbelievably her husband had never backed a trailer before, so would I "watch and look out for him". Placed me in a position I didn't want to be in. Within a few minutes I had to walk over and help out. Thankfully he was receptive to the help as it could have gone badly and soon he was in the spot and setting up.
Lesson to new timers- Don't be afraid to ask for help. Those folks sitting and watching will gladly help without judgement and you will soon be joining them. Right?

Sometimes certain things do take a village. Can't believe I said that. This won't go public, will it?

[cardinal96ss]

Hopefully not, but please don't say it again.

[Buck1032]

That's what I was thinking. The first time I tried to back a 35+ foot trailer into a tight spot I figure someone would start popping popcorn!! Thankfully those days are gone!!

You should have been at our house the first time I had to back our previous TT down our 1,000 plus feet driveway. Down the hill and around the curve to get out onto our tight dead end road. I felt like the guy in the video. Our DS was in the back seat being loud, DW walking behind on the phone giving directions and the father in law outside the drivers window giving directions. I was hearing lefts, rights and straights from all angles. All told it took 47 minutes. From there out I had the wife and son stay in the house, I would call them when I was ready to get out onto the road and they would walk down. Less than 3 minutes without help. With help 47. LOL

[sourdough]

You should have been at our house the first time I had to back our previous TT down our 1,000 plus feet driveway. Down the hill and around the curve to get out onto our tight dead end road. I felt like the guy in the video. Our DS was in the back seat being loud, DW walking behind on the phone giving directions and the father in law outside the drivers window giving directions. I was hearing lefts, rights and straights from all angles. All told it took 47 minutes. From there out I had the wife and son stay in the house, I would call them when I was ready to get out onto the road and they would walk down. Less than 3 minutes without help. With help 47. LOL

LOL! I hear it. A few weeks ago a fellow across the way from us was trying to back in and load his Arctic Fox cabover camper. He was older and another older gentleman came over to the passenger window to give instructions, the guy staying next to him (young man) came out and began helping from the driver's side. It was totally hilarious. The older fellow would tell him something and motion and he would cut his wheels and move a few inches, the young guy would start motioning and tell him something and he cut the wheels back the other way....then pull forward and start again. This went on for almost an hour and I told my wife I would go and offer to do it but didn't want to offend him. He eventually got hooked up but it was a hoot to watch.

[sourdough]

Howdy All;

Unfortunately,, the number of playbacks has reached a maximum and is
no longer viewable ...

hankaye

Just played it so guess it's back - not quite as funny as it was the first time (watched it 3 times) but it is still very funny :lol:. VW did a great job creating this vid.

[Barbell]

In Alaska last summer watching the fishing boats come in in Seward. Fellow drove up in his new SUV pulling a brand new boat. Started trying to back it down the ramp to launch. Kept over correcting and pulling forward so much he kept getting farther and farther from the ramp til he was out in the street. The crowd was watching but no one offered to help. Finally a woman who had been watching went over and very politely asked if she could help. Driver got out and she backed it down the ramp no trouble. Guy got in his boat and never came back while we were there.

[{tpc}]

Bummed I can't see it either. This year will be interesting for me as we have just moved. Maybe I should have someone tape the first time I try to back into the drive. We went from a extra wide 2 car style driveway, to a single car driveway.

Oh and we have a fire hydrant right on the right of way next to the driveway. If I can avoid that I should be ok lol. There is going to be a learning period...hopefully I don't learn the hard way.

[canesfan]

I have a fire hydrant on the blind side next to my driveway that sits 15' in from the street. Even though I know if I keep my tires where I know they need to be, on the driveway, it still makes me a little nervous, after 12 years of backing in here. It's pretty much a 90* turn from the street into the driveway, so I'm not seeing that fire hydrant at all unless I get out and look.

As for watching, I get scared watching some people try to back into a spot. There have been many times I've wanted to go over and ask "would you like me to do that for you" but you never know what kind of response you'll get. Last year I was in my favorite SP going back to my site. I came up on someone trying to back into a spot. I stopped far back so as not to seem to rush them or worry them. I sat there and watched as he had the truck up in the woods on one side of the road and the trailer I was sure was going to end up in the woods on the other side. Wife was "trying" to help him, but it wasn't happening and the look on both their faces told they were NOT having a good time. Just about when I couldn't bare it anymore and was going to go ask if I could help, they managed to get the truck and trailer somewhat onto the site, at least enough off the road that they waved me by. I went on and was only a couple spots down from them. I could hear yelling for quite a bit after. When I went walking later they had managed to finally get into the site. They still didn't look too happy. I figured it wasn't the best time to say hi.

[{tpc}]

The way the street is configured I can come in either way. Of course the way I am used to from the old place leaves the hydrant on the blind spot. If I come in the other way, its the neighbors pine tree. The street is wide enough that I should be able to get a decent angle on it, but its not the slowest of streets. Can't park in front of the house because no parking, unless i go on the opposite side of the street.

I've found for me, that its best of the wife just tells me to stop if I am about to hit something. The rest of it, move this way or that way, too close to this or that....I already know, well because I can see lol. I know she is trying to help but I'm already working through the steps in my mind, and yelling to me for this or that just confuses those steps. Its took awhile but I think she understands it now.

Just let me know if I am about to hit something! lol.

[canesfan]

The way the street is configured I can come in either way. Of course the way I am used to from the old place leaves the hydrant on the blind spot. If I come in the other way, its the neighbors pine tree. The street is wide enough that I should be able to get a decent angle on it, but its not the slowest of streets. Can't park in front of the house because no parking, unless i go on the opposite side of the street.

I've found for me, that its best of the wife just tells me to stop if I am about to hit something. The rest of it, move this way or that way, too close to this or that....I already know, well because I can see lol. I know she is trying to help but I'm already working through the steps in my mind, and yelling to me for this or that just confuses those steps. Its took awhile but I think she understands it now.

Just let me know if I am about to hit something! lol.

Lol, me too. I'm more often by myself than not, so I don't have to worry too much about that anymore, but when she used to try to help I'd tell her the same thing. And if people insist on trying to help I'll ask them the same thing, unless I really need something and then I'll ask.

[flybouy]

Sometimes certain things do take a village. Can't believe I said that. This won't go public, will it?

Problem is, with my luck, I get the village idiot.

[LarrySharon]

Oh yea, I can id with the video, learned to tow and backup last summer. Now I figuring that I will have to relearn some of the aspects since 8/9 months will have passed by the last time I backed up. My driveway is the worst for me so far, almost a 90 degree and uphill to boot. But ready to go go go. :)

[66joej]

One of my first jobs as a young man was driving 18 wheelers. Back in the day (1960s) the way we learned to back up was to watch the trailer wheels not the trailer and don't try to be a hero and back up too fast.

[the sodfather]

One of my first jobs as a young man was driving 18 wheelers. Back in the day (1960s) the way we learned to back up was to watch the trailer wheels not the trailer and don't try to be a hero and back up too fast.

Very true. This is how I learned as well. Speed kills.

[rhagfo]

Yes, the horses laughing in that video was great, but one of the first was even better!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxr83Vkrh00

[Frank G]

When I see a rig pull in and is about to back into a spot I will approach them and have a little conversation to assess the situation and the drivers skill level, then ASK if they would like assistance. Calm nerves takes the pressure off and everything goes better. At this point I will enlist the help of my DW as his spotter. After 45 years of spotting for me she is the best! She knows where to stand to always be visible in the drivers mirrors and hand signals that are understandable.

BTW The DW is a much better driver than I, especially in tight situations "how did you do that" :bow:

[Todd727]

I saw that VW ad a year or two ago. Make sure you click on the "See how we did it" link. Funny ad, but slightly deceptive.

[Desert185]

I saw that VW ad a year or two ago. Make sure you click on the "See how we did it" link. Funny ad, but slightly deceptive.

You mean horses don't laugh and guys can back trailers? What a let down.

[xrated]

Years and years ago, a fellow I worked with (he drove a semi inside a plant that we worked in and had some very tight dock access areas), gave me a little tip on backing up trailers. He told me to "reference" the bottom of the steering wheel while looking in the mirrors for backing. He stated: Imagine the bottom of the steering wheel (the part closest to your lap) and imagine that there is an arrow on it, point left and pointing right. When you are backing up and looking in the mirrors, and you see that the trailer needs to go further left, move the steering wheel in the direction that causes the bottom of the steering wheel to go to the left (driver's side of course). That will make the trailer go left. And of course the opposite if you are trying to make the trailer go right.....turn the wheel so that the bottom of it is moving to the right.

After many years of backing trailers.....late 60's early 70's, that motor skill to make the trailer go where I want it to go is instinctual, but when first learning, it can be a very valuable tool for getting it correct.

[Todd727]

You mean horses don't laugh and guys can back trailers? What a let down.

Not that ad. der...

[rhagfo]

Years and years ago, a fellow I worked with (he drove a semi inside a plant that we worked in and had some very tight dock access areas), gave me a little tip on backing up trailers. He told me to "reference" the bottom of the steering wheel while looking in the mirrors for backing. He stated: Imagine the bottom of the steering wheel (the part closest to your lap) and imagine that there is an arrow on it, point left and pointing right. When you are backing up and looking in the mirrors, and you see that the trailer needs to go further left, move the steering wheel in the direction that causes the bottom of the steering wheel to go to the left (driver's side of course). That will make the trailer go left. And of course the opposite if you are trying to make the trailer go right.....turn the wheel so that the bottom of it is moving to the right.

After many years of backing trailers.....late 60's early 70's, that motor skill to make the trailer go where I want it to go is instinctual, but when first learning, it can be a very valuable tool for getting it correct.

X2!!

I found that same concept in SAIL magazine when we had a 20' sail boat. We pulled it with a slightly modified 1964 Ford Econoline van!
The slight modification was a 302 V8, backed by a C4 automatic!!

[Bob Landry]

I've backed my Outback 277 into a service stall with 6" on each side. No big deal after you've done it a few years.. LOL

But I back a boat trailer 3-4 times a week also and that helps.

[smokeater05]

That's hilarious!

[captcolour]

Years and years ago, a fellow I worked with (he drove a semi inside a plant that we worked in and had some very tight dock access areas), gave me a little tip on backing up trailers. He told me to "reference" the bottom of the steering wheel while looking in the mirrors for backing. He stated: Imagine the bottom of the steering wheel (the part closest to your lap) and imagine that there is an arrow on it, point left and pointing right. When you are backing up and looking in the mirrors, and you see that the trailer needs to go further left, move the steering wheel in the direction that causes the bottom of the steering wheel to go to the left (driver's side of course). That will make the trailer go left. And of course the opposite if you are trying to make the trailer go right.....turn the wheel so that the bottom of it is moving to the right.

After many years of backing trailers.....late 60's early 70's, that motor skill to make the trailer go where I want it to go is instinctual, but when first learning, it can be a very valuable tool for getting it correct.

X3 Actually all you need to do is put your hand on the bottom of the wheel, and you move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to move. Still tight spots and not so much visibility can be a challenge.