ALT-1 How to Back up a Trailer
Alright, now I am a girl but raised as a tomboy! I have backed up many of trailers in my life time, Campers, flatbeds, refrigerated trailers, belly dumps, Boats, jet ski's, hay trailers, log trailers, car trailers, generator trailers, log splitting trailers, light trailers, horse trailers, even cars behind old tow trucks! I am sure you've got the idea by now!
First and foremost for the ladies out there, DO NOT let the guy's (no matter if they are relative, boyfriend or hubby) Get you riled, if they yell, boss, criticize or complain send em packing and teach yourself because it is easier than you think!
Now with a truck (or car) and trailer, give yourself a realistic goal, plenty of room and take your time. Turn around and watch your trailer, all you have to remember is turn the wheel of the car or truck the opposite direction you want the trailer to go and do not turn too sharp it only takes a little turning of the wheel to make that trailer turn fast and sharp.
I started driving semi with my father when I was Twenty and every time I tried to back up he would be yelling at me to far or to close or something that just racked my nerves. I took the truck one day, out into the desert and used a silly cactus as a parking space, gave myself alot of room, and alot of time with no one yelling at me I had perfected it in about 30 minutes.
My hubby and I got ourselves a real nice camper a few years ago and I was trying to back it in under a tree at the lake for a long camping holiday weekend. And, yep, you guessed it, he started yelling about too hard, too sharp and put me right into a dither again! I walked away and the next week while he was at work I hooked up to that trailer, took it back to the lake and within 30-45 minutes I had it parked perfectly under that tree, leveled, and set up for the next weekend! I also brought both boats and the jet ski's over after that! It was my birthday weekend and I wanted the setup to fit my needs!
If you have yourself a vehicle where you cannot turn around or look in a rear view mirror and only have the use of side mirrors then the concept is generally still the same, keep your eyes on the trailer through both mirrors, take it very slow, no one yelling and be patient with yourself and just breath, you will get it, have faith in that.
