Trailer hitch

You got the e=mc^2 reference wrong too.
Ford finally found a good trailer assist customer though.
To simplify Lwiddis reply. It’s a bad idea.

Go practice until you get the hang of it. If you can’t get the hang of it in a reasonable amount of time, you do not have the skill to tow a trailer.

One thing that may help, if you can borrow a longer wider trailer, to practice with, the longer the trailer, the slower they react and wider is easier to see.

and more practice, practice...

Maybe you haven't learned tire/wheel placement and axis of rotation thereof...

Your TV's rear axle/tire is the basis for backing up and where you should/want to place the wheel/tire in order to NOT hit something

Ditto the trailer axle(s)/tire/wheel, but if more than one axle, you have to figure out how/where/etc your trailer turns on

Add that the overhang of the tail end of both TV and trailer affects this

Example is if you are backing up and there is a post on the inside of the turn (vs outside the turn radius), spot the trailer axis (you have to figure that out before all of that and is out in the parking lot with cones...and...a spotter/walkie-talkie)

Then practice, practice, practice running over those cones until you learn HOW2 miss then. For both sides

Then HOW2 to not hit them with your TV

Another possible trick is to use a flatbed trailer, so you can see 'through' where a hardbody trailer would obscure vision. Even if you have to rent one for the day

drsteve wrote:
Get a couple of orange cones, hitch up your trailer, and head for the nearest Walmart, mall, or school parking lot.

Practice, practice, practice.

The shorter the trailer and the smaller the wheels, the smaller corrections you make with the steering to get it to go where you want. If the trailer is so small that you cannot see it in your mirrors until it is crooked, Then you need to temporarily put some large marker flags on the rear trailer bumper that stick out to the sides - This will help you see where the trailer is pointed when backing.

Jasonmorford82 wrote:
So I found something that can help. My camper is only 2000 lbs, 200 tongue weight. MAXXHAUL 12" Tires 70225 Trailer Dolly. That will help a ton and get what I need done. I still want to learn to back up, but have problems.

I guess I am just dense.

You just told us some more about your camper. 2,000# with 200# TW. And you can push it by hand with a small non powered trailer dolly. This means a short length camper, single axle.

Many of us here have long campers compared to yours. The long trailers actually back a lot easier. Especially if they have tandem wheels.

While the principals of backing a long trailer or a short one are the same, there a few differences.

Real short trailers seem to want to go right into a jackknife almost immediately. It magnifies the issue until you understand what you are doing wrong.

Here are a few tips to help with backing a short trailer. Your not dense, just need some pointers and then practice.

1. What can help most is, first pull ahead and make sure the truck and camper are tracking "straight" in line with each other "before" attempting to back up.

2. Go slow, very slow and start backing up. Watch the back of the camper. As soon as you see the back of the camper starting to drift off of being straight, make a "slight" steering correction. Keep an eye on the back of the camper and if it continues to drift off further, do a "slight" more correction. When it comes back to center, keep proceeding back.

When the trailer is not tracking straight aligned with the truck going forward when you pull ahead, it will instantly start turning against you when you start backing as it is already steering the path you left it in. Totally straightening up ahead going forward stops this instant issue wrong way issue.

When you make a correction, starting out, most drivers over correct. Until you master how much steering adjustment to do, go in very small increments and keep watching the trailer. And go slow. The fastest way to back up well when learning, is taking your time and doing it right the first time.

If you get too far off course, realize it, stop, pull ahead straighten out, and start over. Trying to back your way out of an excess too far backing turn, most times just make it all worse fast.

Backing long campers with long wheelbase trucks can have still have issues. It is just that short trailers aggravate things many times faster.

I have a 8 ft box, 12 ft long ball to bumper, 5 ft wide utility trailer. In my truck in my sig, I cannot even see the trailer behind the truck. It takes time, realizing the issues and then practice. Don't rush it and do small moves. I have to wait to see the tail light hanging off the trailer to appear while backing slow to start a correction while backing. If I cannot see the left or right tail light, then I'm going back straight enough.

Hope this helps and good luck

John

Guess some folks have not been privileged like me and did not grow up backing the sugar wagon into the barn lot.

think I better slow down on the coffee this am. :B

Dave H M wrote:
Guess some folks have not been privileged like me and did not grow up backing the sugar wagon into the barn lot.

think I better slow down on the coffee this am. :B

Or like me. I learned to back while working at Dixie Boat. I had to back the boats into the warehouse, and turn them to park side by side. it was like putting them in a sardine can.

I will never forget the FIRST rule of backing a trailer. Get the back of the trailer lined up with the hole as best you can before stating back. That eliminates a lot of maneuvering.

My first trailer was a little folding 4x8 with 8" tires. Even when I towed it with a mini truck, I could not see it until it was crooked.

I still struggle today backing little trailers but could train anyone to back a 53 footer in an hour. Lol

practice practice practice

you'll get it, and if you don't, Class A is your future