Trying to back a trailer is no fun

[PILOON]

Here is another 'Luck of the irish' one.

Was in my early 20's, visiting folks in Mtl while working in Sudbury.

Purchased a boat and trailer in Mtl to bring to Sudbury.
Being Sunday no way to fix lights nor plate the trailer before leaving.

Passing thru North Bay at 2 AM, kinda fast like no plates, no trailer lights doing probably 50 in a 30 zone and one headlight just quit as well I get pulled over by the OPP!

Woops!, well officer (I explain the late transaction) the light was OK as I entered town and please note that (true) I have a 6" X 24" red reflective strip attached to the boat trailer for visibility plus the traile/boat is lower and narrower than the car so my brake lights are visible!
Also at this time only you and I are on the road.
As to the headlight, thanks for the warning, I promise to replace first thing.

He responded, "Be careful and don't let the next officer catch you, have a nice day, good night sleep"

Dated bill of sale probably helped as well and the fact that I added that oversized reflector strip indicating that I really wanted to be safely seen.

Guess that was before the era of 'cash grabs'

 

[Redneck in training]

Don't be too hard on the girls, I taught and tested EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention) for a fire department, and I was astonished at the poor operating skills of a lot of the guys who were scary going forward much less able to even use their mirrors for anything but combing their hair.

There were a couple of farm raised lady firefighters however, who could put most of the guys to shame. It just takes lots of practice.

One of my present day neighbors is a sixty plus lady who drives an asphalt truck with pup and is one of the better operators around male or female.

Regards
Sherweld

My wife is a city girl but she is an expert with a trailer going forward or backward. I can do it too but I have to figure out what to do in particular situation. She just drives there. She says that she is better mulitasker.

 

[foggy1111]

foggy - you have the luck of a irish! I know I would've been busted in your shoes.

Yeah, really lucked-out on that trooper stop, especially not checking the plates or registration....not sure if he was giving me a break or was just stoopid. Strange thing.....I think he pumped 3 to 5 gallons of fuel from his car (he was all set up for this situation) into my truck and never even charged me for the gas. Today they might call a tow truck for you but this was strange to me....even by standards back in the 60's.

You haven't lived till your in downtown Chicago, with a four truck load, looking for a place to fuel in traffic either....man, that gave me religion....and I bet I'll never miss a turn on I90 again. I remember all too well I had started smoking back then....and I almost smoked a full carton of cigarettes (Tarytons) on the trip....I could hardly breath when I got home.

 

[Soundguy]

My wife is a city girl but she is an expert with a trailer going forward or backward. I can do it too but I have to figure out what to do in particular situation. She just drives there. She says that she is better mulitasker.

Heck.. I'm just lucky if my wife can back up her VEHICLE without hitting the gate on the way out.

3 times in 2 ys she's made a pretzle out of a 16' gate. plus left a nice beauty mark or two on her yukon.

soundguy

 

[wwalkersd]

Heck.. I'm just lucky if my wife can back up her VEHICLE without hitting the gate on the way out.

Yeah, my wife is "spatially challenged", too. But she's only hit something once (when backing up our truck). With her car, she's figured out that if she's too close to the wall of the garage, or another vehicle is in the driveway, that she should just ask me to back it out for her. No way is she ever going to haul the horse trailer! My daughter, luckily, takes after me in this regard.

 

[Soundguy]

My wife gets it from her mother. When my MIL comes over, she actually parks in the grass in front o fthe house and calls me out to pull the car into the driveway thru the gate. ( 16' gate with 12" concrete!!!.. should be no problem right? ).

In any case.. i back it out for her too

soundguy

 

[czechsonofagun]

Wife best of all will take the trailer if she really has to - but only for trips where there is no backing up

In military we had some kids from farms and they were quite amazing backing up trucks with trailers, mirrors only and back they go.

And somebody mentioned fast food and a trailer? I had to deliver two sheep from east of Blue Ridge to the west of Blue Ridge. Well it was a nice day, I loaded kids in my CJ7, caged sheep in the trailer and we hit the road. By Lurray everybody was hungry - so I went through MacDonald drive through. I made the day for the sales people, never heard so much baaah baah at MD in my life

 

[Knotbored]

Years ago I lived on a culdesac (spelling?) sort of L shaped. A neighbor returned from a vacation towing his new-bought camping trailer and I believe he had stopped at every tavern since the dealers to show it off.
The trailer had a break mechanism to prevent it pushing a car when going downhill and help at stop signs, which engaged each time he attempted to back up freezing the tires in place. I guess there is a pin mechanism to use when backing, but anyhow he either didn't know how or was too inebriated to realize it.
Anyhow before he was done he had pushed the trailer with squeeling tires into every ditch and all the housewives had called kids inside and us guys gathered in a driveway to "give advise" as the tire markes increased up and down the road. He moved shortly after that and rumor was his wife was too embarrased to continue living where her husband was the butt of all the driving jokes.

 

[Soundguy]

Reason #1 why I hate surge brakes....

soundguy

 

[Conservation]

I love this thread. I got to show off some this last weekend. We went to a material auction, and picked up some foam board. Some genius put the lines of materials in between the lines of telephone poles. So the poles were down the middle of the isle where you would drive. Anyhow, it's just me and the wife, and no way we are carrying the boards all the way to the end. We had my extended pickup, pulling a 28' box tag. When we came in the gate, I told the gaurd where we were going. I know he radioed the other yard men, because all eyes were on us. We did a 90 degree through the gate, around a semi trailer, down the isle, around one side of one telephone pole, and squeezed around another one. had to pull the mirror in on that one. No big deal getting in. Couldn't pull through. My wife asked me if we were ok getting out. I just said we would do the same action we did getting in. I would have had pretty bad pucker without her extra eyes, but we just eased it on out. The gaurd was mucho impressed. Good for the ego! Now, a hay waggon can snaggletooth me every time. Go figure!