Backing Up with a Short Wheelbase?
Hi all, I have a new, 12-foot pop-up trailer that I'm towing with a 2010 2-door Jeep Wrangler. They both have fairly short wheelbases, and I'm finding that it's not easy to back the trailer up to whe...
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Yeah, I've got a 2011 2-dr Wrangler that I use to tow a small motorcycle trailer. Can't see the trailer fenders in the mirrors until it's almost too late to correct the direction when backing up. It's a pain. Actually used it to haul some stuff to the dump one time and the guy at the dump offered to back it up for me because I couldn't get it where he wanted it.
Two little tricks that seem to help me. First, place some pole, post, flag or marker on the trailer in the center a couple of feet rear of where it attaches to the Jeep. Something you can see in the back window when backing up. I try to keep it lined up with the hi-taillight on the Jeep when I want to back straight. A slight deviation tells you the trailer is about to head in that direction real quick and you still have time to correct.
Second, by steering from the bottom of the steering wheel, i.e. put your steering hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Then the direction you move your hand and the steering wheel will be the direction you want the trailer to head in when backing up.
And finally, no trick, just lots of practice.
Two little tricks that seem to help me. First, place some pole, post, flag or marker on the trailer in the center a couple of feet rear of where it attaches to the Jeep. Something you can see in the back window when backing up. I try to keep it lined up with the hi-taillight on the Jeep when I want to back straight. A slight deviation tells you the trailer is about to head in that direction real quick and you still have time to correct.
Second, by steering from the bottom of the steering wheel, i.e. put your steering hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Then the direction you move your hand and the steering wheel will be the direction you want the trailer to head in when backing up.
And finally, no trick, just lots of practice.
