When backing your trailer, you’re essentially turning your tow vehicle into a push vehicle for your trailer. That means almost everything is reversed. Obviously, your gear select is set to reverse, but your ingrained steering wheel movements are 180 degrees the other way. We’ll explain that.
Backing a trailer is nothing more than a skill to acquire. Really! You’ve mastered so many skills, from the mundane to the sophisticated, that we’re certain you can get this one, too. If you can drive forward, which is a skill, you can learn to back up. All skills need repetition to become familiar like muscle memory. So, practice the skills and back like a pro! Practice takes time… so invest in yourself a little and give yourself enough grace to stick with it. Your brain and body are learning a new move.
Tip: if you’re going to have someone with you while you’re learning how to back your trailer, make sure they’re a naturally gifted optimist and encourager. We’ve seen too many people give up based on who they chose to help them.
Backing Concepts:
- When backing, you’re telling your trailer where to go, not your tow vehicle.
- Steering a trailer is guiding from behind, like directing a wheelbarrow where to go… from the handles, not the front wheel.
- You turn your body and walk a little to the right… the wheelbarrow turns a little to the left, and then you push it! (Opposite directions result in opposite… results)
- You straighten up behind the wheelbarrow and walk it in a straight line.
- Your tow vehicle is you… the wheelbarrow is the trailer.
- The hinge point of your setup is the tow ball… that’s where your rig will “bend” when turning
- Backing slowly, with a few attempts, and succeeding is better than creating an unsafe situation. Everybody can appreciate that.
- Turning the steering wheel CLOCKWISE will result in the trailer being directed to the driver’s side (in the U.S.)
- Turning the steering wheel COUNTER CLOCKWISE will result in the trailer being directed to the passenger side (in the U.S.)
- Golden Rule #1: Go Slow. Take Your Time. Fast backers may be good… or they may be developing into a cautionary tail.
- Golden Rule #2: Don’t allow the trailer’s turn to be more than 45 degrees. Beyond 45 degrees will result in a jackknife if you continue reversing.
Steps for Trailer Backing Practice
- Find an available and empty parking that has lots of visibility and space to maneuver.
- A lot with parking lines is best… it helps with practice and judging distance
- Scan for… and avoid light posts, trees, and other hazards.
- Practice Straight Backing
- Pull forward until your trailer is directly behind your tow vehicle
- Slowly, back up your rig… making only the minor adjustments needed to keep the trailer tracking straight in front of the tow vehicle (in front?… yep, you’re going backward, so it’s now in front!)
- TIP! Many people find it easiest to place their steering hand(s) on the bottom of their steering wheel when backing a trailer. This negates the need to “rewire” your brain.
- Practice Backing to the Left (driver’s side in the U.S.)
- Pull forward until your trailer is directly behind your tow vehicle
- Slowly, back up your rig… making only the minor adjustments needed to keep the trailer tracking straight in front of the tow vehicle (in front?… yep, you’re going backward, so it’s now in front!)
- Slowly rotate the steering wheel CLOCKWISE to direct the trailer to travel to the driver’s side
Helpful Links
