More Questions on Backing Up with Trailer???
A couple of quick questions on backing up. I know there is a lot out there on backing up but my questions might be a little different. I am fairly proficient at backing up and maneuvering my trailer...
Forum Discussion
Well, when I went to truck driving school, they taught the down and around method. Hand on the wheel at 2 o'clock position(Remember a Semi has a huge wheel so in a pickemup, top the the wheel works just as well), and to move the trailer left, come down, which is bringing the hand down to the right(Hence why 2 o'clock works best) and to move the trailer right, go around, which is turning the wheel left.
To back up straight, keep your eye on the very back of the trailer, however don't focus on the trailer, but pick something behind the trailer as a guideline, and keep the back of the trailer lined up with that object. If you see it disappear come around, if you see a gap start come down. Small movements of the wheel is all it takes, maybe a 1/4 turn max.
To turn into a space, look at the wheels. The further the wheels are behind the truck, the slower it breaks, making it easier, yet harder at times, to back. The closer the wheels are the faster it breaks.
So to back in, the best way is on the drivers side as opposed to the blind side(did this yesterday with mine to sneak between two large lilac bushes onto my main drive with ditches and a mailbox to avoid. Took 3 attempts and I still scraped one of the bushes, not easy blindsiding.) So pull up as close to the "curb" as you can so that the trailers wheels are edging it, get the wheels about 1/2 the distance from the back wheel to the rear bumper to the entrance you are backing into. As soon as you start moving, start coming down on the wheel, watching the tires, as soon as they start to break, keep pulling down until the back tire starts to skid, then start coming around to maintain the turn. Once you break into the driveway, you should be about halfway in through the turn by now, start coming around slowly as you pivot the trailer in. You may need to pull up once or twice depending on the angle of the lot you are pulling into, but when you get the hang of the trailer break, and how much input you need, it will get easier and you will find yourself backing it in one shot.
It is a LOT easier for me to teach this when I am actually watching and guiding the driver, but hopefully you can get the idea.
To back up straight, keep your eye on the very back of the trailer, however don't focus on the trailer, but pick something behind the trailer as a guideline, and keep the back of the trailer lined up with that object. If you see it disappear come around, if you see a gap start come down. Small movements of the wheel is all it takes, maybe a 1/4 turn max.
To turn into a space, look at the wheels. The further the wheels are behind the truck, the slower it breaks, making it easier, yet harder at times, to back. The closer the wheels are the faster it breaks.
So to back in, the best way is on the drivers side as opposed to the blind side(did this yesterday with mine to sneak between two large lilac bushes onto my main drive with ditches and a mailbox to avoid. Took 3 attempts and I still scraped one of the bushes, not easy blindsiding.) So pull up as close to the "curb" as you can so that the trailers wheels are edging it, get the wheels about 1/2 the distance from the back wheel to the rear bumper to the entrance you are backing into. As soon as you start moving, start coming down on the wheel, watching the tires, as soon as they start to break, keep pulling down until the back tire starts to skid, then start coming around to maintain the turn. Once you break into the driveway, you should be about halfway in through the turn by now, start coming around slowly as you pivot the trailer in. You may need to pull up once or twice depending on the angle of the lot you are pulling into, but when you get the hang of the trailer break, and how much input you need, it will get easier and you will find yourself backing it in one shot.
It is a LOT easier for me to teach this when I am actually watching and guiding the driver, but hopefully you can get the idea.
