Excited to pick up the trailer, but have no experience of towing or even backup!I didn't expect this is that hard... Gosh:(frustrated, just pulled up straight ahead...What am I going to do .........Actually our driveway is not that short/narrow, but the trailer will not follow the way we want it to beWe realize that the trailer's wheels won't turn ...Help

whitebear80 wrote:Excited to pick up the trailer, but have no experience of towing or even backup!I didn't expect this is that hard... Gosh:(frustrated, just pulled up straight ahead...What am I going to do .........Actually our driveway is not that short/narrow, but the trailer will not follow the way we want it to beWe realize that the trailer's wheels won't turn ...HelpTake it to a vacant parking lot and practice. Watch your mirrors and get the "feel" for how it moves in relation to your TV. Make small corrections when backing up. Also, the shorter the trailer, the more difficult that it is to back up because of the amount it turns in relation to the amount the TV turns. Let us know if the practice helps.

When you go to back up, place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Push the way you want the trailer to go. Backing up, everything is backwards and this will help.

Also, practice very slowly. Backing come natural to some, but to others, not so much. Just remember to go very slowly at first. I mean maybe 1 foot at a time, so you can see what the trailer is doing when you do something. Slow, slow, slow.

yloshrk wrote:When you go to back up, place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Push the way you want the trailer to go. Backing up, everything is backwards and this will help.Rest your arm on your lap. Most will turn the wheel too far and over correct. As was mentioned, practice, practice, practice until you are doing it in your sleep.

Ok. Exhausted today, will find a parking lot to do the practice ...Do we need a very wide road to back up? Do I have to straighten the trailer before backing?

Got the trailer back, but don't know how to back up

F1bNorm
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
Pretty good advice has already been given.
Some thoughts:
At the beginning, you might want to remove/detach any sway/ equalizer equipment on the hitch. (So you don't bend or break anything)

Talk to your helper and get your signals straight. Use hand signals directing the rear of the trailer. Point the direction, no verbal turn left/ right, no turn the the wheel rt/lt.

Helper needs to stand where THEY can see YOU in the side mirror. If they can't see you, you cant see them.

Helper needs to look up for tree limbs, down for posts, boulders etc.

Especially at the beginning, your helper needs to watch that you don't jackknife the rig.

Use phones or walkie talkies so you do not have to yell at each other. Set on hands free.

Hand on the bottom of the wheel and move it the direction you want the REAR of the trailer to go.

Keep the rig as straight as possible. Back and forth is OK, but move slowly, the rear of the trailer will swing.

It's easier to back if you have a reference point. Tree or wall is good. If practicing in a lot, put it in a specific space marked with lines or cones.

You took step one by asking for help! Where was the internet when I was learning?!

Norm
facory
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
mockturtle wrote:
I used to have a TT. Remember GOAL: Get Out And Look. And always choose a site where you are backing to the driver's side. Much easier.

Here is a critical point. By getting out and eye balling the site you are going to back into you have a valuable visual of where your trailer is in relation to the site.

Also, the smaller the trailer the quicker it will turn. That's why a boat trailer is very reactive to your TV as compared to a 25' TT. 5vers are even slower to react.

Practice & Patience. Don't be in a hurry.
Bucky_Badger
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
OP, curious what vehicle, TT and hitch are you using?
Dick_B
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
...hand on top of the wheel to go in the other direction? Now he's really confused.
After 10 seasons I still use the hand on the bottom of the steering wheel trick...
whitebear80
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
Finally get the trailer straighten on the driveway and freed the TV...
whitebear80
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
It is rough but after it is parked, it is very good
BTW, my TV is EL expedition and trailer is Creekside 23BHS

The first back up was quite hard, the trailer would not turn even I turned a lot on the TV, Now I realize that it might because of the reason F1bNorm mentioned:
remove/detach any sway/ equalizer equipment on the hitch
I didn't remove the weight distributor bars...

It took a while for the trailer to turn after I turned hard on the Expedition...
But you know, after several of back and driving forward to adjust and even drove a circle to get back to the perfect location, finally we got it on the drive way now...

Will practice after we remove that weight distributor...
limbery
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
Especially be sure to remove your bars from your WD hitch if there's much of a slope to your driveway....they're much easier to get on and off if you're level...as well as for maneuvering the TT.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014
Let your wife give it a go. Some woman just have the knack :C
2littletime
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
When you are backing, are you looking back at the TT or are you looking through your side view mirror? If looking through the side view mirror, is turning the wheel going to be the opposite direction?
facory
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
Doesn't matter. Right is right, left is left. Turn the bottom of the wheel the way you want the back of the trailer to go.