Teaching Your Spouse How to Pull a Trailer
First let me say that this is really intended to find out your teaching methods for anyone, not just a spouse. Problem is there is a bit of sensitivity issues that get in the way with a spouse. I have...
Forum Discussion
First of all she DOES need to be able to see the corners of the trailer. As a matter of fact, I think that's a requirement in many states. Some of the convex mirrors on the corners of the Subaru mirrors should work. The hardest part of getting confident with a trailer is remembering where it is.
Do you have your car properly set up to control sway and keep the trailer level? If not, it will make ANYONE nervous.
Start on a deserted back road. Just let her drive and get the feel of how much the braking changes and get used to remembering the position of the trailer.
Then progress to turning corners and remembering to not cut the corners too short and curb cut the trailer.
The hardest thing for me is changing lanes on a multi-lane highway. My advice to anyone on a busy road is to get in the right lane and stay there as much as possible and not be concerned about speed. You are not in a race. This is a situation where she MUST have mirrors set up to see the location of the trailer.
I was taught to back a trailer by putting my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, and moving my hand left or right to make the trailer move the same way. Make all movements slow and small. Again, she needs good mirrors for this. One of the most important things is to GOAL--Get Out And Look. She should know to look for obstructions, anything overhead, and her stopping point. Markers like cones are helpful on corners and stopping point.
Most of all be patient and not condescending to her. Make each session no more than an hour. Everyone starts to wear thin by that point.
Dads don't teach daughters these things, and they should.
Do you have your car properly set up to control sway and keep the trailer level? If not, it will make ANYONE nervous.
Start on a deserted back road. Just let her drive and get the feel of how much the braking changes and get used to remembering the position of the trailer.
Then progress to turning corners and remembering to not cut the corners too short and curb cut the trailer.
The hardest thing for me is changing lanes on a multi-lane highway. My advice to anyone on a busy road is to get in the right lane and stay there as much as possible and not be concerned about speed. You are not in a race. This is a situation where she MUST have mirrors set up to see the location of the trailer.
I was taught to back a trailer by putting my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, and moving my hand left or right to make the trailer move the same way. Make all movements slow and small. Again, she needs good mirrors for this. One of the most important things is to GOAL--Get Out And Look. She should know to look for obstructions, anything overhead, and her stopping point. Markers like cones are helpful on corners and stopping point.
Most of all be patient and not condescending to her. Make each session no more than an hour. Everyone starts to wear thin by that point.
Dads don't teach daughters these things, and they should.
