Backing up trailer smoker......how do you do it?

yndio · BBQ Fan Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 274

I am trying to relearn how to backup since I used to use a trailer with bobcat attached that was about 24 feet long. I think I seriously got used to that since now with my fat 50 I cannot even get it in my house. My wife was so laughing at me. Do you guys have any suggestions or tricks or tips for me?

Yndio

DawgPhan · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 3444

Practice in your driveway. It took me a while, but I can finally do it alright. My tips would be turn the opposite, use your mirrors, and dont use big turns, but small adjustments. If you are cranking the wheel back and forth it is really tough. Just take your time and slowly turn the wheel.

EastTennQcrew · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject: ?

Dawg said it. Practice.

Just remember that with a very short trailer all your responses will be magnified. Make small slow adjustments when you back.

A little goes a long ways with a short trailer.

RandyE
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TOPS BBQ · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject:

It takes me a long while to get my trailer into my side yard. Embarassed

I have no drive approach and I only have about six inches on each side to get in. Pretty tough, but you have to be patient. Small trailers jack knife very easy. Not like a long trailer.

I better go...I have to get some more practice. Laughing

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Tater_68 · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject:

When I learned to drive a tractor trailer the guy I learned from taught me a good trick that makes it easy. Watch your mirrors and when you see the trailer filling up one mirror or the other turn the wheel toward that mirror and you can keep it straight. And whatever way you want the trailer to go turn the wheel the other way, you want the trailer to go right turn left and so on. Like was said above go slow and the smaller the trailer the quicker the response so make little corrections.

Jeff T · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject:

I got a third wheel for the bull dog jack.
Get her close and push.... Very Happy

Hell Fire Grill · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject:

Put your wife behind the wheel and see whos laughing then.

broncosmoker · BBQ Pro Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 717

Put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. When backing up turn your hand which ever direction you need the trailer to go.

Bedlam BBQ · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject:

Smoke on the Horizon · Posted: May 02 2008 Post subject:

Years ago when I first started backing my utility trailer which is 5x8 I just went to a empty parking lot and praticed back into parking spaces it is marked and you can take your time and not be nervous where if you are home your neighbors are all watching you.

If you can back into a marked parking space you can back through a gate or down the side of a building without any problem.

I just pulled up 90 degrees to the space and down about three spaces then started backing and using my mirrors do not look over your shoulder it is a bad habit.

You might want to start out backing in a straight line then make minor adjustment to learn how your trailer reacts to you moving the steering wheel before trying to put it into a space. Once you learn the reaction of the trailer it will become much easier and take your time and it will come to you.

Good Luck
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Reggae Q · Posted: May 03 2008 Post subject:

I had to learn with my boat but say you're backing into the driveway. Drive past the driveway but close to it and take the vehicle or whatever towards the middle of the road. Put in reverse and turn the wheel opposite. The smoker should have been lined up with the driveway

FATFRANK · Posted: May 03 2008 Post subject:

Big open parking lot to practice is the way to go.

yndio · BBQ Fan Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 274

greyoldchief · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Pensacola, Florida

Put a hitch on the front of your truck for backing purposes!

yndio · BBQ Fan Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 274

Harry Nutczak · Posted: May 04 2008 Post subject:

Some trailers back like a dream, other like a nightmare!!

The closer the trailer axle is to the tow vehicle, the more responsive (read difficult) it is to back up.

Maybe get a cheater hitch on the front of the truck??? then you can drive forward and put it anywhere you want it with no loss of depth perception due to mirrors!

We own a storage business, and I added a ball hitch to the bucket of our Bobcat loader to fit the trailers in tighter to each other, Space is money!!
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Chuck · Posted: May 04 2008 Post subject: subject

Harry did the same think with my bob cat, works good

Stilwell Chuck

1894 · Joined: 11 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Upstate NY

Caseyjoenz · Posted: May 06 2008 Post subject:

buroaks · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 74

You already have some good tips to work on. It's a matter of discipline and practice. Learn to back the trailer using your side mirrors only. Looking over your shoulder some of the time will make you dyslexic, no joke.

When at all possible back it up on the onside (using the driver's side mirror mostly. When you approach the drive, it should be on your left side. Swing the vehicle over to the shoulder and then dive the nose of the car into the drive. At that point, swing the vehicle back to your proper lane; take it to the shoulder and align it with the road way. When you look back through your left mirror you will notice that the rear of the trailer is at the end of the driveway and the rig will have approximately a 135 degree angle from the trailer through the hitch and the car.

Now you are set up for a successful parking job. Slowly backup and react to the trailer's movement. If the angle gets too sharp, stop, pull forward and get the trailer more inline.

You will have a more difficult time because the tongue is short making it kinda like pushing a chain.

Here's an idea:

http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

It may be more difficult if the trailer is appreciably narrower that the car, but you can make up some "curb feelers" so you can see early on what the rear of the trailer is doing.