Hooking up Trailer

[JeffandTamara]

Does anyone have tips on the best way to hook up a trailer by yourself...It takes me a lot of trial and error to get the truck just right so that the hitch goes down properly on the ball.. I've thought of clamp on mirrors and a flag on the trailer hitch.... I figure some of you guys might have figured this out with some clever ideas...Thanks...

 

[Casco1]

practice, practice, practice. Although there are several gadgets to help, plastic shafts one on the TV and one on the trailer. You line them up as you back up. Look at Camper's world site they have stuff. I just got good at it through repetition. If your trailer is wider than your TV use your side mirrors to center it. If your trailer is narrower it's a little tougher you have to line up in your rear view mirror.

 

[wushaw]

I use this from CampingWorld..it is great. It can also be stuck to a smooth surface for line up also.FastHitch Mirror - Camping World

 

[BTDT]

If you park trailer on concrete in the same place all the time, paint a mark on ground that you can see. When your back tire gets to the mark you know you are back far enough for hitch to lower onto ball. If you park trailer in grass or pasture, put down one of the little flags like they use to mark underground utilities. When tire is beside flag and even with it you know you are in position. Easy and cheap.

 

[ksmmoto]

I use the mirror also, works great! I use a ball on an extension on the trailer to get close and then I can pickup a visual with the mirror.

Sure beats having my wife help, she always yells before I am done. Plus I have to hitch alone most of the time.

ksmmoto

 

[MossRoad]

When I hook up my car hauler trailer, I try to first line up my van straight with the trailer. Going at an angle is much harder. I sit perfectly straight in the driver's seat and turn my head towards each mirror as I slowly back up. I keep the same visible amount of the trailer in each mirror, that way, I know the van is centered to the trailer. I back up until I feel and see the trailer hitch touch the van, if I don't hear it hit, I see the trailer roll. It usually bumps my license plate. . I then know that I am about 6 inches too far back because my ball hitch sticks out 6 inches past my license plate. So I put the van in drive and look out to my left at the ground. I line my eye up with the side of the window frame and pick an object on the ground near the van, like a leaf or clover flower. I then pick another object that is 6 inches in front of it. I drive forward until the window frame is even with that object, put the van in park, shut it off and go lower my trailer hitch onto the ball. Works every time!

 

[MossRoad]

One other tip... I park in gravel, so I put down an old piece of 2X12 under the trailer's jack stand every time I park it. If I am off side to side, the jack stand will slide easily on the 2X12 surface, whereas in gravel, it is stuck. I can muscle the trailer hitch side to side a couple inches if needed just by giving it a good yank in the needed direction.

 

[Egon]

Practice! Practice Blue air Practice

One day you'll find it just comes natural.

Moss, some trailers are a little heavier than others. Don't even think of moving mine by hand!

 

[browns40]

Well J&T,

Practice, practice, practice--like most things getting that spatial perception for where the ball is in relation to the tow vehicle takes time...

I always try to line up straight with the trailer, if it's too tight, at least line the ball up with the hitch. Back up to where you figure it is, then go have a look at what the difference is.

Make any angle adjustments based on how much out of line you were.

Then I use my foot or a stick, leaf, etc. on the ground in relation to the door hinge to determine distance moved by the ball--you know, sitting in the truck with one foot on the brake and the other on the ground is not 100% safe for sure, but...

50% of the time I get it after one look, 40% it takes two, 5% three, the last 5% isn't fit for a family friendly website!

After a while you will be able to trtanslate those small distance and ancles from the drivers seat.

Good Luck!

 

[hudr]

Practice.
I used a regular cab, long bed 3/4 ton chevy, ball on the bumper, for years witht the same trailer. I could hit that trailer with my eyes closed. Now I have a 1ton, crew cab w/ a receiver hitch. Nothing bends in the right place, plus the trailer is covered up by the dually fenders. I had to learn how to drive all over again.