Hooking up Trailer

[RegL]

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.

The wood block thing is a good idea in the Winter anyway. I'm sure all of us living in the North have had a jack frozen in at one time or another. Not fun.

 

[smoothie17]

Like some of the other members suggested it's much easier if you lower the trailer stand on a piece of 2" x 12" so you can slide side to side if you're close. Also, I stand up a broom, shovel, etc. or anything with a long handle next to the trailer hitch so I can see it above the tailgate of may truck so I can judge the distance easier.

 

[DieselPower]

This might help. "EZ Hitch" the one person trailer hitch alignment guide endorsed and used by Bill Dance Not sure how long it would hold up but it's a interesting idea.

 

[Jimbrown]

Some actual tips.
One line up straight with the trailer it is really hard to do if you come at the trailer at an angle.
Two mark the center of your pickup tailgate so you can see where the center is.
Three put some sort of mark on the center of the trailer that you can see when backing up .....try to line up the marks.
don't be afraid to use some type of lever to line it up when you get close. I keep a T post right at my parking area just for that. I can get my bumper pull almost every time first try now my gooseneck is a lot harder and too heavy to lever around.

 

[Jimbrown]

Wow talk about an shin biter. I would probably beat that thing to pieces the first week.

 

[john_bud]

Jeff,

Practice is the word. I hook up alone all the time. Actually pretty quick and a darn site faster than getting dxn's from a well meaning but clueless helper!

For the big trailer, I flip up the jack handle and use it as a marker. When I am about 6-7 feet from it, I get out and look how it is lining up. Then go back a few more feet - check again. Then go back and am usually right there or pretty dern close. Moss told you about gaging distance to back based on looking at the ground by the door. I do the same thing - works very well.
Oh, If I am back far enough, but off to the side by 2" or some irritatingly small distance, I use the 5' breaker bar to nudge the trailer over. I'd say my average time is about 1 minute or about 2x that of having a competent helper.

On the small trailer that hides down lower than the truck and is narrower to boot, I drop the tail gate. I only have to get close, then just move the trailer, but with the gate down it's easy to get it withing a couple inches.

jb

 

[DieselPower]

Yeah, you would need some shin guards when walking around your truck with that thing.

 

[RobertN]

Practice. And, make sure you have a straight shot at it; backing to a trailer at an angle is a pain... If you use a spotter, make sure you both know what signals you'll use, and are patient

 

[Farmwithjunk]

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...

If you own a goosneck, don't forget to lower the tailgate before hooking/unhooking.

You'd be amazed...........

No telling how many hundreds of times I've backed under a gooseneck hitch. I've took a small fortune from a couple friends betting them I could get with-in 2" on one try. Never told them I leave the trailer jack where the ball hits about 1/4" of the hitch when I back under. Back 'till I feel it bump, then stop.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

I prefer hooking up my trailer by myself, as opposed to the boss lady "helping."

If a guy friend helps it is real easy, but when Debbie tries to help what a PITA!!!!

So just practice, as was mentioned many times.

steve