How to Back Up a Utility Trailer
Backing up a truck or car with a utility trailer is no small feat. While some have a natural ability to make it look easy, most don't. Under ideal circumstances use a "co-pilot" to serve as a spotter and follow his or her explicit directions for backing up the trailer. If no co-pilot is available, it is best to try and back from the driver's side so you can get the best view on where the trailer is headed.
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Instructions
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Perform a thorough inspection of the area behind and on either side of where you will need to back up. Look for obstacles, including hanging tree branches or even debris from your cargo.
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Fix the rear and side mirrors to try and get as wide a view of the back and sides as possible, and start the engine.
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Place your left hand at the bottom, or at six o'clock, on the steering wheel, and drape your right hand over the back of the seat.
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Place your foot gently on the gas pedal. You do not want your vehicle to move more than five miles per hour.
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Choose which way you want the back of the trailer to turn, and turn your steering wheel in that direction. In other words, if you want the trailer's back to go left, turn the wheel slowly to the left. If you need the back of the trailer to turn right, turn the wheel to the right. Don't turn the wheel if you need the back of the trailer to follow a straight line.
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Tips & Warnings
Learning the skill of jacknifing is helpful when you do not relish the idea of backing down a long stretch of road. When jacknifing, you turn the steering wheel so that the truck and the trailer are as close to a "V" position as possible. Once you've achieved the "V," simply turn off the car, unhook your trailer, and drive around it to the other side. Once you've rehooked the trailer, you are ready to drive forward facing down the hill.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to backing up utility trailers. It is best if you don't try to back up without having practiced, so that you are familiar with the nuances of your particular vehicle when hooked up to the trailer and without someone to help serve as a lookout or a spotter.
Resources
- Photo Credit www.ebay.com
