Is it just me that hates trying to reverse trailers ?

[John Gryphon]

pin up for the moaners lol

 

[Tim.243]

I have never understood why people make small trailers with such short draw bars on them, it just makes the whole process so much harder. When I lived in NZ pretty much everyone who lived in an environment similar that which most of us do had one like this. Additional material costs in manufacture would be minimal & the benefits to users so much greater.

View attachment 472230

The tiny trailer going to the "tip" makes me when I see them, mind you I did fit a ball hitch to the trailer Dad and I used for building work and towed his "fast tow mixer" behind it to save a journey as went for sand at the pit called home hooked up the mixer and went to site!
LWB Land rover sand dust and mixer in one hit.. much more fun back then.

 

[Frank Homes]

The easiest way to reverse a single axle trailer by and large,is to unhitch it and push it.

 

[stoker150]

Could this be the answer Land Rover Defender 110 models (2020 onwards) can self-reverse a trailer using an optional feature called Advanced Tow Assist.

 

[webley701]

Whether it's a big trailer or a small on on a quad it's a pain in the ass ! No matter which way you try to turn it's always wrong

From personal experience, I can sympathise with you.

 

[John Gryphon]

The easiest way to reverse a single axle trailer by and large,is to unhitch it and push it.

And Frank if it has a ton of firewood in it?
Imo the easiest way is simply to learn how to operate the tow vehicle.

 

[Frank Homes]

And Frank if it has a ton of firewood in it?
Imo the easiest way is simply to learn how to operate the tow vehicle.

That's why i qualified it with 'by and large.'

 

[Heym SR20]

If you don’t know how to reverse a trailer get some tuition. It takes time, you are totally discombobulated, but then suddenly, like all skills it suddenly all clicks into place.

These days, unless you are of a certain vintage, you need to get a trailer endorsement on your license and there are a number of driving schools that do teach trailer driving.

 

[paul o']

Practice in a field or carpark few markers as boxes its like anything practice will overcome the weave.

 

[WalkedUp]

These days, unless you are of a certain vintage, you need to get a trailer endorsement on your license and there are a number of driving schools that do teach trailer driving.

I believe that may have changed again in 2021, so it is a free for all again with small trailers and below 3,500kg max overall weight.

 

[shbangsteve]

You're not alone. Even pro drivers struggle.

 

[Skogsmannen]

Put a tow ball set up on the front and steer it in, sited lots of very long holiday homes with the Land Rover using a front draw bar set up.
Easy as you are looking fwd not in the mirrors watching someone who "Previously" worked on a racecourse as a bookie lol

I've only ever had a try with a front mounted set up a few times and couldn't get on with it at all.

I believe that may have changed again in 2021, so it is a free for all again with small trailers and below 3,500kg max overall weight.

Yep, we had a couple at work who had not long done the trailer test and then shortly after it got changed to not being needed, though it's usually 3500kg max trailed weight (subject to vehicle).


Agree with the longer drawbar for smaller trailers - I think the worst trailer ever to reverse is an MOD Sankey.

Also, a steering drawbar, like found on a lot of forestry trailers, is a game changer, in reverse or forwards.

 

[muddy42]

small trailers are hard, but the best practice is a quad and trailer in a large field. Try and keep it in a straight-ish line with small corrections, then try and turn round etc.

 

[NoIDeer]

Made myself look a dick at the boat ramp yesterday, why god only knows , done it heaps of times, prefer bigger trailers though.

Some of the best sport is watching a boat slip on a hot day, especially when your boat is nicely tied up alongside.

Oh how we laughed when my diving club launched the club boat and trailer, neither were connected to each other or a vehicle. The first dive of the day was to recover the trailer.

 

[Selous]

I had this advice, if you are reversing without a trailer put your hand on the top of the steering wheel and move your hand in the direction you want to go. If you have a trailer on put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. Simple but it works!

 

[B&W FOX]

Beware when reversing a boat trailer with a catamaran on it, as one of the hulls punches the rear side windows out.
Don't ask.

 

[Tim.243]

I've only ever had a try with a front mounted set up a few times and couldn't get on with it at all.




Yep, we had a couple at work who had not long done the trailer test and then shortly after it got changed to not being needed, though it's usually 3500kg max trailed weight (subject to vehicle).


Agree with the longer drawbar for smaller trailers - I think the worst trailer ever to reverse is an MOD Sankey.

Also, a steering drawbar, like found on a lot of forestry trailers, is a game changer, in reverse or forwards.

I used to use my SWB Nissan patrol in my friends yard and had a piece of tape in the middle of the rear tailgate window, the small holiday caravans windows were in the middle so I looked at the tape and the middle of the window in the mirrow, it took a long time before Peter twigged how I could land on the tow hitch each time lol

 

[Tim.243]

Some of the best sport is watching a boat slip on a hot day, especially when your boat is nicely tied up alongside.

Oh how we laughed when my diving club launched the club boat and trailer, neither were connected to each other or a vehicle. The first dive of the day was to recover the trailer.

Try a beach landing the dive boat in Mozambique make sure the twins are set up to trip, get lined up and go for it!
Hit the beach, cable on the tow eye down the tipping trailer drag it up the beach a bit then winch it on

 

[opticron1]

Some of the best sport is watching a boat slip on a hot day, especially when your boat is nicely tied up alongside.

Oh how we laughed when my diving club launched the club boat and trailer, neither were connected to each other or a vehicle. The first dive of the day was to recover the trailer.

In a similar vein......try watching caravan owners on their first run out of the season - hours of entertainment!
Closely followed by watching them on the NC500 and when two of them come up against each other on a single track road
On the flip side, a pal of mine used to run a plant business and it was a real joy to watch him manoeuvre large and small trailers(loaded and unloaded), excellent skill and put the rest of us to shame...

 

[nic531]

If you don’t know how to reverse a trailer get some tuition. It takes time, you are totally discombobulated, but then suddenly, like all skills it suddenly all clicks into place.

These days, unless you are of a certain vintage, you need to get a trailer endorsement on your license and there are a number of driving schools that do teach trailer driving.

thought they had stopped the E licence and it was only ever for trailers over 750kgs