Trying to back a trailer is no fun

[qni51]

Especially if you are elderly and have restricted neck motion.

For my 2305 I got a 12" 1/4" 4" x 4" angle iron and a receiver adapter from harbor freight called step bumper receiver 97019-1VGA @ 19.99.
Bolt the angle iron up or down on the front quicktach bar and the step bumper
receiver on top or bottom depending it you want the receiver low or high,

Sure can push a trailer into a tight spot much easier than backing it in behind the tractor.

This attachment does not interfere with the 200cx loader

 

[kcprecision]

You can even back a four wheel trailer that way. In fact that is the only way I can back a four wheeler.

 

[rdbrumfield]

Maybe not fun, but sure fun to watch my wife go into spasmodic fits trying back a trailer with her quad. I have to go hide, my ribs hurt too much watching.
Also fun to people watch at the boatlaunch.
There was a fellow and wife that were moving and tried to take a 1ton truck pulling a cartrailer through a burgerking drivethrough. There was no other way out and he tried to turn it around in the lot. Oh my, what a show. His wife out back waving her arms like Helen Keller at a cattle auction. After a bit I went out and asked if he needed any help. The poor fellow was totally drenched. He just about jumped out as he had had it. As he had it jacknifed it took three times of pulling and backing to straighten it out. Then backed it out of the lot and got him headed out.
He never came in for a burger.

 

[alltoys]

My poor wife can't back anything up let alone the car by itself. Putting something behind it would be a disaster. She tried pushing a trailer backwards with a ball in front of the tractor still didn't work. Spring time will be here soon and the trailer backing up antics will be in full force. I should buy a video camera.

 

[Sherweld]

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

 

[Soundguy]

I put trailer balls on the front bumpers of some of my tractors.. makes good trailer 'tenders' when needed..

soundguy

 

[rox]

My poor wife can't back anything up let alone the car by itself. Putting something behind it would be a disaster. She tried pushing a trailer backwards with a ball in front of the tractor still didn't work. Spring time will be here soon and the trailer backing up antics will be in full force. I should buy a video camera.

I am in the same boat as your wife. My only saving grace is that my husband is no better and probably even worse. We had a pop up camper that used to literally take us one hour or more to back up onto a 20 foot driveway and then make a 90 degree angle into a parking pad adjacent to our driveway. We only did that a few times and then rented a permenent campsite so we did not have to do it any more. We have never rented a trailor for moving either always rented a truck just so that we would not have to pull a trailor. It was good that we learned that when we were young so that we just never ever bought or rented a trailor and probably saved ourselves from disaster. if oyu ain't got it you aint got it adn I take my hats off to everybody who can drive a big rig, drive a bus and pull a trailor as surely that is an acquired skill and valuable one. I still remember telling my hsuband he ws going to hit the mailbox adn he insisted that he wasn't and oh well you can guess the ending. We would each take truns trying with the other person directing until we would become so frustrated and excited that we would jump out of the car and tellt he other person to try it. It was HE double hockey sticks.

 

[Egon]

I should buy a video camera.

How well do you cook?

 

[weedpharma]

Many years ago when I owned a boat, I was given a handy piece of advice on reversing. Rather than trying to remember to reverse steer (moving wheel to right to make trailer go left), put your hands on the BOTTOM of the wheel and move it in the direction you want to turn the trailer.

This is the same effect as moving the top of the wheel the wrong way but is more intuitive.

Weedpharma

 

[MikeInEburg]

Also fun to people watch at the boatlaunch.

I learned to back a trailer many years ago - we lived in FLA and had a small boat. The old men would gather at the ramp for the entertainment value of watching folks like me "attempt" to back to launch. It was an EXCELLENT incentive to quickly improve my skills... However, I still can't back a live axle wagon without pushing it.
Mike

 

[sandman2234]

The shorter the wheelbase, the harder it is to back. Backing a 53' trailer is easy, once you get the basic's down, as long as you have plenty of ROOM!!!
David from jax

 

[Scotty370]

Weedpharma stole my thunder! Learned that in Boating class! Still revert to it if I get discombobulated. Nice addition qni51, especially useful tucking trailers in tightly for storage! ~Scotty

 

[Willl]

entertainment value of watching folks

I'm guilty of this. It's almost better than TV.
Add a six pack, a lawn chair and a few babes in swimsuits and it IS better than TV.

 

[wwalkersd]

Also fun to people watch at the boatlaunch.

I call this "The Launch Ramp Follies". Lots of fun. Easy for me to say. I started launching boats when I was 14, and I think I've made all the mistakes at least twice. Now my bro-in-law and I can usually get the boat in or out of the water in less time than it takes most folks to back down the ramp. A LOT less, in some cases.

 

[dirt ditch]

Willl, you come up with some of the neatest stuff. Is that a dedicated hitch or have you made other attachments to fit it, like a shovel or boom pole perhaps?

 

[Ridgewalker]

Add me to the list of those who can't back a trailer. I can do fine IF I can look over my right shoulder and see the trailer but if I have to use my mirrors I am toast. It's so bad my friends just tell me to get out of my truck and they do it for me.

 

[Soundguy]

The guy's at the feed coop tested me pretty heavilly last year. The stored all their rounds up on the raised concrete floor of the barn ( 4' off ground ).. their ramp for the forklift was finished.. but no concrete pad was poured at the end. thus the forklift couldn't drive downt he ramp to load your trailer at the bottom... you had to back up the ramp... now here's the deal... I don't know the exact width of the ramp.. but I've got a 16' car hauler that is 7' between the wheel wells... It took me 3 shots to get up that ramp.. and when i did, my tires overhung 2" on each side of the concrete.. IE.. the ramp was too narrow.

I see now this year they poured 2' wings on each side... about time!

soundguy

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I'm in the group that using the mirrors just Bozo's me up. If I can watch the trailer through the back I am fine. I was always fine backing my 25' Sailboat with a long trailer down the ramp up and down the launch. So I wasn't much amusement there. Trying to get my chipper and the truck with the sideboards on for chips into a tight area is a whole other story. My buddy that works tree's with me can back it right in with the mirrors.
Put me up in a tree swinging from a rope and I have coordination...Maybe it's because I am left handed and too logical???

 

[jayste]

It takes lots of practice. I second the wheelbase comment. Longer trailers are easier if you have plenty of room, they respond slower. A guy gave me some good backing advice once when I was trying to learn to back 48' and 53' trailers using only mirrors. He said to, "steer towards the trouble". What this means is while you're looking in the mirror, if the tail end of the trailer is getting out of line, steer towards that direction. If the trailer is starting to veer left (in the mirror), steer left. It's worked for me for years.

 

[Scotty370]

Gee Willl, just where have I seen that JD Quik Tach bracket before? Let me think.........Let me think......... Scotty

TV? TV? Since I stumbled on TBN, What is this, of what you speak? ~S