Help with Backing Up

seagrace wrote:
Thank you, Rice, that is exactly the issue. I have no problem with letting her wander off and doing it myself, it just means I have to jump out of the truck a few more times to get it right.

I would rather we do this as a team and work out how to do it, and I would rather she have some experience backing - just in case there is a time when she will need to do it without me. I think the next trip out, I'm gonna let her take the wheel.

FWIW - yes, backing a boat/trailer is far easier when, 1. I've already lined up the truck, and/or 2. There is no boat on the trailer - she's a whiz at that ;-)

I think giving her experience in backing is very helpful.

And going over specific hand signals BEFORE starting to back in. I will ignore someone who starts directing me without providing a verbal "I'm going to tell you which way to move the trailer" because I've had people giving me directions on turning my wheel instead.

And with that, telling her exactly where you want the trailer to end up. I've had people come over to help me back up into my driveway only to have them put my trailer dead up against the fence so I can't access my dump tanks, propane and such. Not sure how they think they're helping if they don't know where I want to end up. (I just ignore them completely now and do my own thing while they start waving hysterically).