Good deed for the day...

[Pat K]

I've spent the last hour and a half at the school parking lot helping my neighbor learn how to back up his new to him boat.

I can't say I taught him anything because he does it totally different than I do, but he backed it up about 100' into a parking spot 3 consecutive times so he should be golden tomorrow morning!

I won't get walleye fishing 'till Wednesday because of work, but I hope all of you have a safe & productive weekend fishing!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Nice work, I can remember my dad teaching me to back the boat and trail at an empty lot.

Easiest way for me at the time, and still is, put you hand on the bottom of the stearing wheel, whatever way you want the trailer to go you turn the wheel that way.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Nice work, I can remember my dad teaching me to back the boat and trail at an empty lot.

Easiest way for me at the time, and still is, put you hand on the bottom of the stearing wheel, whatever way you want the trailer to go you turn the wheel that way.

Very Nice!!!

[Chode2235]

Ahh. Thanks so much. As someone whose mind will probably never naturally grasp the concept of backing up a trailer, I really appreciate people like you.

... and the kind people at the ramp who have patience and understanding.

If you think it is clumsy, you should have seen me 5 years ago...

[RiverFish]

Let us know if performs under pressure

[chris63]

Don't u mean at the top of the steering wheel?c63

[Ed Carlson]

No he is correct, you steer from the bottom.

From the bottom of the steering wheel you turn the wheel left (front wheels on tow rig turn to the right making the tow rig swing right at the hitch), the trailer will then go left...and visa-versa.

Don't try to over think it, it works.

Another tip, is to set your mirrors so they look more downward and wider. Learn to trust your mirrors.

That way at the tip point you have a good field of view. Most mirrors are set improperly on the road for backing up into ramps. A few trips and you will know the right positions to set them for this purpose. Vehicles that have multiple pre-sets on there mirrors make this easy, set it as pre-set 2 once you dial it in.

[chris63]

I still disagree.........depends if your facing back or using your mirrors.As far as right is it would be to your right as your sitting facing forward in the vehicle.c63

[Eric Wettschreck]

I remember dad trying (key word is trying) to teach me how to back up a trailer when I was but a young lad. It didn't go well. Many years later I've taught both my boys how to back up a trailer. Life goes full circle.

Good job helping out your buddy.

[cavalierowner]

I wish I had someone like you to teach me when I was young. Good for you helping someone learn. I had to teach myself and I still put my hand on the top of the steering wheel.

BTW, I thought I was pretty good at backing a trailer until I was in the army in the early 70's and had to back up a jeep trailer attached to a jeep. Think very short tounge on the trailer and very short front to rear distance on the jeep. THAT was a humbling experience!!

[Pat K]

I've always placed my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and used the mirrors. My neighbor looked back over his shoulder and felt more comfortable with his hand on top of the steering wheel.

It all comes down to your comfort level and getting the boat in the water and out of everybody's way in as short amount of time as possible.

[Hoffer]

after awhile you just get the hang of it - the practice idea with your neighbor was a great idea.

I would just say to someone new to backing up - go slow and downt oversteer!

i think thats the biggest problem I see when people are new to backing in. A little nudge of the wheel in either direction is plenty!

also if you have a van or an ATV where the reer door flips up - or the windows flip - do that before you start backing down. You can see much better and in my instance i can actually easily see way down to where the trailer tires are so I know how far back I am. Especially useful for loading it back on.

[bobber_down_1979]

"I can't say I taught him anything because he does it totally different than I do,"

This sounds funny to me. Does he steer with his feet or something:o)

[BTL]

I do it like your neighbor does. Also I have to put my right hand on the back of the passenger seat or it just doesn't feel right. Like you said, it's all about comfort level.

[TR21HP]

And lets all consider, as we are waiting for someone to put in and he or she is having a little trouble ,to remember we were all there at one time or another and show a little patience or offer to help if you are so inclined.

[Chode2235]

Its a confidence thing for sure. When it looks like people are waiting and angry at you, it all goes downhill quickly...

[TooTallTom]

I'm another wheel-bottom guy. Hand on the bottom of the steering wheel goes whichever direction you want to put the back end of the trailer.

[kg2]

Practice as Ed stated using your mirrors. You may have to help someone out or you may get a different vehicle and at some point you won't be able to turn around and see your trailer. Learn to use your mirrors!

[art321]

I only use the mirrors and which ever way the bottom of the steering wheel goes is the way the trailer is going to go. Very easy to remember that way.

[Jarrod32]

When I learned to back up a trailer, it was on an old cabless tractor with an old trailer. I could look down behind me and see the hitch/pivot point. That was important...I could see how the trailer reacted to the slightest steering adjustment, and how easy it was to 'oversteer', and how you only needed to make the slightest steering adjustment to get the trailer moving in another direction. It has served me well over the years...

[bobbymalone]

I pretty much suck at backing a trailer, but am getting better. Definitely one of those guys that people on here complain about. It's weird, sometimes I can just do it no problem and sometimes it's back and forth 10 times. There is no consistency.

It's nice that my wife is a pro trailer backer (her old man used to make her do it) but it does lead to getting a ton of carp from the guys at the launch when I tell her I am giving up and she needs to take over.

I always just tell them, "Yeah, she can cook too. What can your wife do?"

[jalberg]

I was at a Mpls lake and had to parallel park my rig. Got it first try, but I think I got lucky.

My buddy is moving away and wants me to teach him to back up a trailer. The hand on the bottom of the wheel thing is a good tip.

[kg2]

I had an ex-GF that could back the trailer in. I tried to have her drive the bassboat, but she preferred to drive the SUV. We could load and unload in seconds.

[TooTallTom]

I always just tell them, "Yeah, she can cook too. What can your wife do?"

Some guys have all the luck...

[cvikes80]

I had my GF at the time, now wife of 12 years "try" to back in the empty trailer to load the boat once......."ONCE" We got caught on the water with the wind shifting and blowing at 25mph right at the ramp. It was either her trying to land the boat with 3 ft rollers or her backing in the trailer.....So I went with the latter since she said no way was she going to do the boat part.

Well once the trailer was nearly hopping against the drivers door of the pick-up i realized that i should have just anchored the boat and swam to shore and then swam back once the trailor was in place.

Talk about a helpless moment, doesnt matter how hard you yell noone can hear you with waves smashing and the wind screaming like that..

New bumper and some tubing getting straigtened and all was well but the heat of the moment really tests your ability to understand...