Hi, I have recently acquired a small (6x4) cage box trailer, and have never driven a trailer before. I have a fairly new towbar, and the electrics all connect fine, and it is simple to hitch. So far, so good.
I have managed to hitch it successfully, and drive it without losing it š, but I am completely muddled trying to reverse it!
Any good tips to help me out? I have read online and watched a few you tube videos, but some experts advice would be very welcome! Please be kind š³
Practiceā¦ and some more practiceā¦ and when you think you have itā¦ practice some more.
If you can, find a nice big open space that not many cars are around, like a shopping centre car park, perhaps on a sunday (and Iām not talking a Westfield.) and use the bays as guides.
Also remember that the car goes opposite to which way the trailer is going, so take note that you may need to steer in the opposite direction to what you want the trailer to go.
Lastly, get used to using your mirrors and be confident with them. Also, donāt back the trailer in if you canāt see it or around it, you donāt want to hit someone or something with itā¦
Oh, and did I mention āpracticeā?
I've towed a few caravans but honestly, I find small trailers so much harder to reverse - especially enclosed ones.
Given they're pretty light weight, I generally unhook and reverse them on foot where it's practical enough to do so.
Reversing in a straight line is much harder than reversing in an arc.
use your side mirrors and practise, heaps.
if you see trailer in left mirror turn right hand down, if you see trailer in right mirror turn left hand down
practise will see you right, and not going it like a bull at a gate
Hold the steering wheel at the bottom, and push it in the direction you want the trailer to go.
If it starts jacknifing and you have limited space, just go forward and straighten up, then try again.
When all else fails, just unhitch and wheel it where it needs to go.
Nobody who has ever reversed a short trailer will think any less of you!
..and push it in the direction you want the trailer to go.
I want it to go back. How do I push the steering wheel back? lol
btw.. isn't it the other way around? Assuming you're right-handed, If you're holding the bottom and "push" the steering wheel to the left (causing the steering wheel to go clockwise), wouldn't the trailer go to the right? And if you "pull" to the right, the trailer would go left.
At stopped If you want to go right spin the wheel left slightly. Then after in a few feet when the trailer turns right. Turn the wheel right and follow steer it through.
Don't steer to much your car is like a forklift steering is exaggerated 5X coming from the rear wheels.
Like most things, it takes practice. I have towed trailers quite a number of times over the last 3+ years and still have yet to pull off successfully reversing a trailer, I always thought I was a massive noob but it's somewhat relieving to know that it's not just me according to the comments in this thread.
For those learning, put a barrier of foam (or something) on your back bumper to prevent significant (or any) damage if you jack knife yourself…. I didn't think that far ahead when I was learning the 101 of towing a trailer and jack knifed myself, fortunately I drive a 20 year old car.
Slow movements. The trailer takes longer to react than you think, and then it will react too much!
Is there also a safety chain?
Great tips thank you! It feels very weird turning my steering wheel in the opposite direction that I want the trailer to go. Then my car is not going the way it should go. Aaagggh!
Agree, practice, practice. I feel pretty useless… with reversing sensors and rear view camera, I was thinking I should be able to nail it. Haha, yes at one point, I felt like unhitching it and hand pushing it to where I wanted to park it!
Thanks for the advice. Homework for the weekend. š
Steer opposite to start the ten, then follow. It helps to maintain where you are looking ie mirror or over shoulder. Mixing up mirrors and out the back window starts to confuse your steering with which way you need to go.
Just practice, I usually place a stick in the rear corner of ours when reversing otherwise I can't see the back of the trailer. :)
When I had a box trailer, I quickly found out that they are beasts to backup. Big problem is they are often below the sight of your rear vision mirror. What I did was attach a vertical pipe (about the height of the trailer sides) at the middle of the front and rear of the trailer. I used to stick a broom handle in each pipe. When I look through the rear view mirror and the broom handles are in line then I know that the trailer is running straight. After that it is much easier but still needs a bit of practice. Hope I explained that well enuff.
Its just a practice thing.
I drive road trains every day and reverse with multiple trailers on a daily basis, yet i still find a 6x4 box trailer a pain in the butt behind my carš
Once youāve figured out clearly in your own head how to steer it in reverse and had a bit more practice it will become like muscle memory and youāll be able to do it instinctively.
Word of warning though, pay attention to all areas around you when doing it, especially in tight areas as its easy to focus on where the trailer is going and not notice the front of your car about to sideswipe something.
Good luck.
its easy to focus on where the trailer is going and not notice the front of your car about to sideswipe something
This!
Maybe watch a few demo videos. As other have said, practice, practice, practice. Small adjustments to steering, not large. If it gets too far out of line, stop, pull forward a bit then reverse again. Once itās out of line too far itās really hard to recover.
Donāt assume that because itās small itās easier. Iāve had a large caravan for a while and can reverse it no troubles. Last time I borrowed a box trailer I had a hard time. It reacts so much more quickly than the much longer caravan. Took me about 4 goes to get it parked in front of the caravan and more goes than it normally takes me to back the caravan through a narrow gate.
Get a jockey wheel from Super Cheap or Repco, then you can unhitch your trailer & wheel it around like a 3 wheel trailer.
While U R waiting to get the jockey wheel, like 'mskeggs' said, place hand at bottom of your steering wheel, look over your shoulder so U can see out the back window & turn the steering wheel in the direction U want the trailer to go. Just turn it a little bit, then straighten up. The smaller they are the harder they are. Try backing a semi around a corner, it is easy compared to backing a little boxy. Just practice man, we have all been there
Buy a jetski then go to your local boat ramp for practice.
This is also a great way to make new friends.
Small box trailers are often a nightmare to reverse because most of them have a real short drawbar, so dont feel bad if you struggle with it…
(Things like car trailers and boat trailers tend to reverse pretty good because they have a long distance between the hitch and the axle)
All I can offer is: Find an empty carpark or open area and practice…