Backing up a trailer

[ShenandoahJoe]

I have a little 4'x6' trailer that I use as a general-purpose farm cart, drawn by a ball hitch on my drawbar. It works great going forwards, but it's easy to jackknife going backwards. Now, I have the lower arms of my three-point hitch held out of the way with bungee cords, but I got to wondering if I might be missing an opportunity here.

Is there a way to rig some kind of check chains off the arms, which can help hold the trailer straight when I want to back up?

 

[Crusty Nut]

Your right, it is a good opportunity. it is a great opportunity to learn to back a trailer. The shorter the trailer, the more difficult it is but I know you can do it. Just go slow.:thumbsup:

 

[Willl]

No, not unless your trailer wheels swivel.

 

[two_bit_score]

a little 4'x6' trailer <-----------

That's the problem right there.

My welding trailer is short, too and it's a :confused2::ashamed: to back up in a straight line. Just takes time and patience and a few kind words.

 

[beenthere]

I...........
Is there a way to rig some kind of check chains off the arms, which can help hold the trailer straight when I want to back up?

Don't think you want to do that.

Practice, practice, makes ........

Then when you have that down, try a 4 wheel wagon.

Then after that, a four wheel wagon behind a two-wheel chopper or baler.

Then, this same rig 200 yards down a narrow fenced lane that has no gate at the end, with a JD G with hand clutch and no power steering. And it was a hot day too.

 

[TripleR]

It will be "less difficult"; won't use the word "easy" if you lengthen the tongue. Some fine it less difficult to back by using a 3-point hitch as opposed to the draw-bar. There simply is no easy way to back one of these up, but with practice you should be able to do OK.

As mentioned, try a four wheel cotton trailer etc

 

[TripleR]

Don't think you want to do that.

Practice, practice, makes ........

Then when you have that down, try a 4 wheel wagon.

Then after that, a four wheel wagon behind a two-wheel chopper or baler.

Then, this same rig 200 yards down a narrow fenced lane that has no gate at the end, with a JD G with hand clutch and no power steering. And it was a hot day too.

You win.

 

[buck12]

Hook that short trailer to an ATV and it will be even more fun. As said the shorter a trailer is the harder to back up.

 

[maybar]

I have a little 4'x6' trailer that I use as a general-purpose farm cart, drawn by a ball hitch on my drawbar. It works great going forwards, but it's easy to jackknife going backwards. Now, I have the lower arms of my three-point hitch held out of the way with bungee cords, but I got to wondering if I might be missing an opportunity here.

Is there a way to rig some kind of check chains off the arms, which can help hold the trailer straight when I want to back up?

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Better than check chains would be pallet forks and just pick that little feller up by backing the forks under the rear of the trailer. Would go equally well in either direction.

 

[pat32rf]

It should be a LITTLE easier if you get the ball off the drawbar and put it on the 3pth which will be farther out to the rear and give a bit quicker response when you turn the wheel....Other than that a longer trailer tonque (or pallet forks) is the way to go.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I had to learn how to back up a trailer of similar size. It takes some time but now i can back up strait for quite some distance. practice makes perfect. But in my case, the trailer is hitched to the draw bar, not the 3 point.

 

[RadarTech]

I have a 4 door long bed tacoma...
and backing up my 5x8 trailer is tough too... but as everyone says practice makes perfect!!!


J

 

[Chilly807]

Short trailers are a PITA, as are higher-sped transmissions that don't let you go slow in reverse without slipping the clutch. Slow speed is the best bet, make minor corrections. Oversteering and going too fast are the two most common pitfalls of trailer backing.

To answer your original question, no. Check chains would only drag the trailer sideways.

Sean

 

[NOTV8]

I feel your pain.... especially backing up when empty . It is a little easier if I use my ZTR...

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

Just takes time and patience and a few kind words.

Now I see the problem. I didn't use any kind words.

 

[Airedale]

You are not alone LOL! practice, practice, practice with more practice.

Al

 

[weedpharma]

Use this old trick: Steer from the bottom of your steering wheel. IE, you want the trailer to go left, move the bottom of the steering wheel to the left. Our brains don't work well having to reverse think!!

Weedpharma

 

[Army grunt]

I drove size means nothing big rigs, dirt haulers, all types of const stuff. the size of the tr. is not the important thing, its all in the length of the draw bar to the tires. the longer the better. with a short cupped tr. i look like rookie, backing his frist. above is good advice learn to back up, maybe lengthen the draw bar.your chane idea wont work
Army Grunt
ab

 

[clemsonfor]

Buy like 6 feet of square tube and extend the tounge that much it will make it noticibally easier.

The check chains will stress the mounting points a lot and keep it from jscknifing but will drag the tires backwards and to the side diagonally as you force the trailer where you want it to go, as it wants to jack nife, and you may break something on it or the chain in the process or bend your tractor arms.

 

[chipsndust]

Use this old trick: Steer from the bottom of your steering wheel. IE, you want the trailer to go left, move the bottom of the steering wheel to the left. Our brains don't work well having to reverse think!!

Weedpharma

+1 on this idea, and go twice as slow as you think you should.

I have also laid a 6' rod across the back of the trailer so I could see the ends in the truck mirrors.

Putting a ball on the front of your tow vehicle is the ultimate "cheat". You can see the trailer, and where you're going, and can immediately correct oversteer. (Of course, if you do this, you'll never learn to back the trailer!)