Advice for backing up a gooseneck horse trailer

[tcreeley]

I know what you mean re marital friction and backing up and or hitching - our two horse bumper pull. If my wife is going to help out I ask her to stand so that I can see her in the side mirror. I ask her (facing to the front) to hold a hand up indicating -stop (open hand), go left (point left with finger), go right (point right with thumb), keep coming (beckoning hand). Sometimes I have her indicate distance by holding her hands apart the actual distance and bringing them together as the distance decreases.

Mostly I just line the side of the truck and trailer with the edge of the drive in the mirror and follow that. I always think about the path the trailer wheels have to take to go straight or make turns. Then it is a matter of angling the front of the trailer with the truck so that it can do that.

I live on a busy state highway and I hate backing the trailer into the drive to the barn- One or two shots at it- before the next vehicle comes along!

 

[grsthegreat]

I know what you mean re marital friction and backing up and or hitching - our two horse bumper pull. If my wife is going to help out I ask her to stand so that I can see her in the side mirror. I ask her (facing to the front) to hold a hand up indicating -stop (open hand), go left (point left with finger), go right (point right with thumb), keep coming (beckoning hand). Sometimes I have her indicate distance by holding her hands apart the actual distance and bringing them together as the distance decreases.

Mostly I just line the side of the truck and trailer with the edge of the drive in the mirror and follow that. I always think about the path the trailer wheels have to take go straight or make turns. Then it is a matter of angling the front of the trailer with the truck so that it can do that.

I live on a busy state highway and I hate backing the trailer into the drive to the barn- One or two shots at it- before the next vehicle comes along!

here's a great way to save the marriage...... Swift Hitch Portable Wireless Camera - Hook Up Help - PPL Motor Homes


called swift hitch. I use it to hook up both bumper pull and gooseneck trailers, then i place it in the horse trailer while towing so i can watch the horses while i drive.


Best $$$ i ever spent. An no more friction with the wife while hooking up trailer

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . After 22 years, I do try to maintain some level of dignity with the wife.

I can see by that statement you are totally delusional. Completely out of touch with reality

Seriously, it's already been said: Practice, practice, practice and take it easy.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had to back BP with a Bobcat on it about 1/2 mile once; one lane road with nowhere to turn around. Was delivering it for a buddy that does concrete for a job. He gave me wrong directions. As others have mentioned, I took it slow and made small corrections.

My 5th wheel is much easir to back. But still, slow and gentle corrections. Had to back it out a couple hundred feet once. For straight shot it was not too bad.

I would agree with one of the previous posters though; put in a turn-around at the end of your 500' access. Having to back that far once or twice is ok, but for that to be your normal parking; time for a turn around

LOL! Reminds me of one of my screwups years ago. I was on the extra board doing LTL local so if someone was out, I got their run. I had a drop at a coal yard so I proceeded on the road I thought was the one I needed only to find out I was one road off which I realized as I came to a chain link gate with no turn around room.

I advised dispatch as to my dilemma and started to back up my single axle/48' box two and a half miles. Some twenty minutes or so into my endeavor dispatch called back to see how I was doing. Uh, still backing up....

Anyway, as mentioned, a big lot and practice. GN, BP, whatever, you should have at least some minimal backing skills. But then it may surprise some as to how many big rig drivers cannot back up for squat. I don't think the "serpinetine" backup is a required test skill anymore. Perhaps is should be.