Using PT to turn tandem trailer in place

[Charlie_Iliff]

Turning trailer

Tracdoc:
I have little to add to prior posts except a comment to the link you listed. If pushing your trailer straight sideways will roll a tire off a rim or bend the rim or suspension, you need new tires, rims and suspension (or a new link on how to turn a trailer.).
With the ball on the quick attach plate on my 1845, I routinely turn boat and horse trailers in their length, lifting the tongue and pushing straight sideways. The front tires scrub, but not hard, and it takes little power to push the trailer. I also routinely push trailers backward, but with a big trailer, visibility is a problem. With the truck's mirrors, you see around the trailer better than from the centered seat on a pushing PT, but you can make quick corrections with the PT, and can move at slow speed just watching the edge of the trailer and the side of the road.
And any neighbors will watch your PT in awe

 

[tracdoc]

Thank you all

I have a case of the TBN/PT Forum withdrawal jitters. After I posted my question, as you know, the whole site went discombobulated with the server change, and I am just now able to log back on!

What a plethora of thoughtful replies from everyone!!!

I am not yet a pro at maneuvering the enclosed trailer, so Spiffy's idea of backing it home got a big laugh from the good Mrs. The drive is some 800+ feet long. Like bbanineau's, it's narrow, down an incline, but no bridge, then up an incline. It's curvy, too, just to add to the challenge. It is located in SW Virginia, so I think Gravy knows exactly the topography I'm talking about.

The key concept I've identified from my fellow PTers input as detailed by Clint is that I should be able to make a tandem axle trailer temporarily into a single axle one by unloading either the front or rear axle. I am going to try that maneuver out this weekend in a parking lot and get a feel for how that might work, before I try it for real.

Kent, I like your idea a lot, too. There is an open area at the head of the drive by the street, and I think I could do exactly as you outline---unhitch from the truck and then hitch the PT, and drive 'er in like a bumper-mounted hitch on a truck would do. The only issue, like Charlie points out is seeing around the "front" end of the cargo trailer from the operator's seat of the PT. Then again, since the good Mrs' race car is often in the trailer, I think I could easily cajole her into guide work.

Charlie, thanks also for your insightful comments on the webpage I attached to my original post. Reading that for the first time really got my attention, but you certainly put their cautions into proper perspective.

What a great bunch of folks my fellow PTers are! Once I get this trailering thing under my belt, I'll post more on our upcoming move, and the second "biggie" which is the steep lawn terrain. I'm going out there tomorrow with a level and tape and camera to get some actual figures for slopes.

Thank you all again.