Is it just me?

I didn’t have any problems backing up my TT and 5er but found empty boat trailers and utility trailers a nightmare until one thoughtful observer gently suggested it would be easier if I stop using my mirrors and just put my tailgate down so I could see the ¥^€§$*# thing directly. Never had a problem after that!

Actually, I have more problems backing up a 5th wheel trailer then I do a bumper hitch trailer.

But, not all of the 5th wheels seem as bad as others. My brother once had a 3 axle livestock 5th wheel and I simply could not back that thing up. When going around a curve backing up it would get stuck in the curve and the only thing I could do to get it to straighten out was to pull ahead and get the truck straight with the trailer again. It didn't help that my older (and thinks he smarter) brother was yelling at me the whole time because he said I'm not supposed to do it that way. He would also freak out if I would look out the window backwards to see exactly what was going on. According to him you are ONLY supposed to back up by looking in your mirrors. I just gave up and let him do it.

Now, there are other 5th wheels that I don't have as much trouble with.

I think that it has something to do with the distance from the hitch to the center pivot point on the trailer and the length of the pickup or something like that.

Grew up on the farm backing all sorts of things. The longer the tow vehicle and/or the shorter the trailer the harder it is. I once backed my 4x8 trailer from the street into the ally with my 29 ft coach on the first try. BUT it did take many small corrections including short (1-3 ft) pull forwards to keep control of every thing. I am not going to try it again and ruin my record!!

The key as mentioned above is very slow and early small corrections. Be quick to stop and pull forward a foot or so to reduce the angle as needed then back slowly again. Also, either use your mirrors or look over your shoulder but do not try both ways during the same backing operation. If you do, you will turn the steering wheel the wrong way every time. I like backing long things!

My FIL was a commercial local trucker for the majority of his life, driving trailers for a local supermarket chain. He had a 24', now a 28' camper. A couple years ago he borrowed my 4x8 trailer to move a lawn tractor. Jackknifed it into his bed, destroyed his truck bed.
It happens to everyone. Short trailers are a bear!
Want something worse...? Try to back up a log splitter trailer!!!

Yup - it's the little trailers that give me fits....LOL! I can park our pontoon trailer with inches on either side - but trying to back up a single JetSki trailer is infuriating!

Here's a tip from a retired pro driver who has backed up 53' trailers down to 20' pups. When backing up a short trailer take a look at the overall picture, then glue your eyes to the 'near' side (driver's side) as you back up. As soon as you take your eyes away for a second to check the other side you'll go off line. After awhile you'll be able to 'one-shot' it like a pro. You're welcome.

Take that same short trailer and hook it up to a crewcab longbed truck. You will never be able to back it up! Now hook up that same trailer to a small car and you will back it up like your big trailer.

RobWNY wrote:
Try backing up a lawn tractor with a yard cart attached. More times than not, I'll start backing up and then stop, get out and move the cart into position so I can back up another 5 feet

X2

It's you. Short trailers respond much more quickly to steering inputs, and more importantly, the "point of no return", where you won't be able to straighten it out without pulling forward, comes at a much shallower angle.

I have a small 4x6 trailer.
Sometimes I get so frustrated I back it in by hand if it's empty.
I can thread a needle backing the 30' TT