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 where I want it to go. What's the trick? I've watched a dozen videos but they're all long trucks with big trailers and it looks a lot easier. Any tips are appreciated, thanks!

Shorter the TV and longer the trailer, IMHO, make easier backing. My Libby with my ROO back up pretty easy. Just practice.

the trick is to get a longer TT, then it will be easier to back up.You need to start turning back before you think you need to. Try to keep the truck and trailer in more of a straight line.

Short wheelbases result in VERY quick response from any input.Back up very slow.Make very small steering inputs and see what reaction occurs.Practice!Longer wheelbases require heavier inputs and are slower to respond....then you have to quickly correct and chase them. Being longer it is easier to correct.Short wheelbases...fast reaction with limited correction.Practice!Go to large empty parking lot and practice backing into striped parking spaces, pulling into spaces, maneuvering around the spacePractice! Slow/small inputs.

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.

Practice, practice, practice. Short trailers are more difficult to back than long trailers.

Backing Up with a Short Wheelbase? | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2015
Short wheelbases result in VERY quick response from any input.

Back up very slow.
Make very small steering inputs and see what reaction occurs.

Practice!

Longer wheelbases require heavier inputs and are slower to respond....then you have to quickly correct and chase them. Being longer it is easier to correct.

Short wheelbases...fast reaction with limited correction.

Practice!

Go to large empty parking lot and practice backing into striped parking spaces, pulling into spaces, maneuvering around the space

Practice! Slow/small inputs.
K_Charles
Explorer
Aug 23, 2015
the trick is to get a longer TT, then it will be easier to back up.
You need to start turning back before you think you need to. Try to keep the truck and trailer in more of a straight line.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Aug 23, 2015
Shorter the TV and longer the trailer, IMHO, make easier backing. My Libby with my ROO back up pretty easy. Just practice.

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Backing Up with a Short Wheelbase?

23 Replies

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