3 ms·

Trailers are a huge pain in the ass, have you ever backed up with one? I've done my fair share of trailer towing and given the choice between a trailer and a

Trailers are a huge pain in the ass, have you ever backed up with one? I've done my fair share of trailer towing and given the choice between a trailer and a pickup, I chose the pickup every time. Trailers have a capacity advantage though. Sometimes the shit you're moving simply won't fit in a large pickup truck. In those cases though, having a truck with sufficient power to tow that trailer is still handy...

jessaustin 8y ago
This is an advantage of driving tractors as a child. Backing up a trailer is second nature for me. I can back around corners, between obstacles, whatever needs to be done, often without taking a hitch. One time I was driving a U-haul pulling a car on a dolly, so there wasn't one but two pivot points. I stupidly pulled into a gas station that didn't have a way to pull through, but I was still able to back out of it rather than suffering the ignominy of unloading the car. My grandfather scoffed when he heard about it; apparently county fairs used to have contests in backing up "four-wheeled wagons" which had similar configurations. The only thing you need is practice. The next time you use a trailer, take it to a big WalMart parking lot during a slow time and play around with it a little bit. You'll get a feel for where the "fulcrum" is, and start using your mirrors to steer. This isn't an impossible task. All the semi truck drivers you see on the road have to get really good at this in order to pass their CDL, and lots of them never backed up a trailer before they took the course.
- darkpuma 8y ago
  Every year when I was a kid I got the 'privilege' of driving around a leaf vacuum (https://woodgears.ca/misc/with_trailer.jpg https://woodgears.ca/misc/with_trailer.jpg) Unloading it always meant backing it up down a path in the woods to the leaf pile. I can back up a regular two-wheel trailer without jack-knifing it, but even with experience it still takes my full concentration. I'm sure it becomes like riding a bike eventually, but it's annoying enough that I don't really care to attempt it frequently. My main point though is mass market trailer rental to the general public will probably never be very popular. Most people have never attempted to back up a trailer before and at least the first few times they attempt it the chance they'll jackknife it is pretty high.
  - JoeAltmaier 8y ago
    You think that's hard! Try backing up a grain wagon with an articulated hitch! That means the front wheels steer with the direction of the hitch (long rod from the front of the wagon to the tractor's drawbar). Going forward its great - the wagon follows around curves instead of being dragged around, which is important with tons of grain in the wagon. But backing up! Its like pushing a rope. And I had to get the rear of the wagon within 1ft of the target - an old tire with a grain auger's business end in it, so I could unload.
rypskar 8y ago
>have you ever backed up with one Yes, every time I park it. It is much easier to learn how to back with a trailer than to learn how to drive
benj111 8y ago
Roof racks then? Sheet materials and long materials up there no problem, everything else in the boot.

jessaustin 8y ago

This is an advantage of driving tractors as a child. Backing up a trailer is second nature for me. I can back around corners, between obstacles, whatever needs to be done, often without taking a hitch. One time I was driving a U-haul pulling a car on a dolly, so there wasn't one but two pivot points. I stupidly pulled into a gas station that didn't have a way to pull through, but I was still able to back out of it rather than suffering the ignominy of unloading the car. My grandfather scoffed when he heard about it; apparently county fairs used to have contests in backing up "four-wheeled wagons" which had similar configurations. The only thing you need is practice. The next time you use a trailer, take it to a big WalMart parking lot during a slow time and play around with it a little bit. You'll get a feel for where the "fulcrum" is, and start using your mirrors to steer. This isn't an impossible task. All the semi truck drivers you see on the road have to get really good at this in order to pass their CDL, and lots of them never backed up a trailer before they took the course.

darkpuma 8y ago
Every year when I was a kid I got the 'privilege' of driving around a leaf vacuum (https://woodgears.ca/misc/with_trailer.jpg https://woodgears.ca/misc/with_trailer.jpg) Unloading it always meant backing it up down a path in the woods to the leaf pile. I can back up a regular two-wheel trailer without jack-knifing it, but even with experience it still takes my full concentration. I'm sure it becomes like riding a bike eventually, but it's annoying enough that I don't really care to attempt it frequently. My main point though is mass market trailer rental to the general public will probably never be very popular. Most people have never attempted to back up a trailer before and at least the first few times they attempt it the chance they'll jackknife it is pretty high.
- JoeAltmaier 8y ago
  You think that's hard! Try backing up a grain wagon with an articulated hitch! That means the front wheels steer with the direction of the hitch (long rod from the front of the wagon to the tractor's drawbar). Going forward its great - the wagon follows around curves instead of being dragged around, which is important with tons of grain in the wagon. But backing up! Its like pushing a rope. And I had to get the rear of the wagon within 1ft of the target - an old tire with a grain auger's business end in it, so I could unload.

rypskar 8y ago

>have you ever backed up with one Yes, every time I park it. It is much easier to learn how to back with a trailer than to learn how to drive

benj111 8y ago

Roof racks then? Sheet materials and long materials up there no problem, everything else in the boot.