Marine deputies cannot back a boat trailer

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I bought my first 18' car trailer when I was 19 years old. I had never driven or backed up a trailer prior to that. I learned quickly that going to a large parking lot at night and practicing backing maneuvers was a worthwhile activity. Take your time, make small steering adjustments, and take your time. Even if people are watching and waiting - take your time. It's really tough when your trailer is empty, and you can barely see it behind your truck. For most people, having a trailer hooked to your rig is a situation you only experience a handful of times a year. So, it takes a while to "get it". Fortunately, it's kind of like riding a bike, once you "get it" you pretty much have it.
 
The hardest trailers for me to back up were.
1. Little trailers for the snowmobiles those suckers jacknife quick!

2. The big "skid" or sled we towed with the skid steers. When we first built it, it didnt have skegs on the skids and there was almost no way to make it go where you wanted. You had to "over drive" all the movements to get it to respond. After I added about 3 feet of 1/2"x3 steel to the rear of the skids it was night and day difference. Then it would ketch the rear and turn vs just pushing any way it wanted.

I did kacknife our dual axle dump trailer one time. We use to have a very small yard that we shared with another guy. So lots of expensive equipment in a very tight area. Our trailer lived in between the 6 wheel and the backhoe. Backing in was done on "the blind side" and you had to be good. Well i wasnt always that good. The flat bed under rider bar on the F450 made quick work of destroying the battery box, batterie and hydro pump before i realised what was happening...


Oops... nothing a little fire, hammering and some cash couldn't make right.

:)
 
Vertex_Jeff said:
I bought my first 18' car trailer when I was 19 years old. I had never driven or backed up a trailer prior to that. I learned quickly that going to a large parking lot at night and practicing backing maneuvers was a worthwhile activity. Take your time, make small steering adjustments, and take your time. Even if people are watching and waiting - take your time. It's really tough when your trailer is empty, and you can barely see it behind your truck. For most people, having a trailer hooked to your rig is a situation you only experience a handful of times a year. So, it takes a while to "get it". Fortunately, it's kind of like riding a bike, once you "get it" you pretty much have it.
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The biggest thing to remember is Steer the Trailer and not the vehicle. Once you catch on it's a piece of cake.
 
I was taught to push the bottom of the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. That worked pretty good until "I learned"
 
I was fortunate growing up on a farm. Expectation was being able to back up tandem gravity grain wagons hooked to a tractor. At probably 12 years old. Teaches you a lot real fast.
 
Someone mentioned short trailers/ short tongue. Another issue that affects quick steering is how far the hitch is behind the axle, along with how short or long the wheelbase of the two rig is.
 
The pussification of America. It's gettin so nobody knows how to do anything anymore. Kids caint even drive a manual transmission anymore...what's more they don't give a ****. A lot of them don't even care about havin a car. I remember when I was 10 or 11, it's all I thought about. I had two cars already when I was 13. Times are a changin.
 
RustyRatRod said:
The pussification of America. It's gettin so nobody knows how to do anything anymore. Kids caint even drive a manual transmission anymore...what's more they don't give a ****. A lot of them don't even care about havin a car. I remember when I was 10 or 11, it's all I thought about. I had two cars already when I was 13. Times are a changin.
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If they drove a standard they'd have to put the i-pad down.
 
Have you seen the Family Guy episode?


When I was about 22, I had never towed a trailer anywhere. I had a buddy with a JetSki call me up, and ask me to bring the work van to pick him up down at the beach because the JetSki broke down. There was a skinny access point, but no boat ramp. That skinny little JetSki trailer was completely invisible behind that van. After a few attempts, we just got a few guys together and rolled the trailer down to the water and back.
Short narrow trailer, damn near impossible to back up, compound that with not being able to even see it even looking out the back window.
 
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I’ve live on a lake and have backed many a boat. That was me the first time. Once I backed the boat far enough in that the wheels went off the underwater concrete slab. It was cold as hell. I’m had to strip down and and untie the boat then pick the trailer up off the slab while my buddy pulled with
His truck. I missed a few days work because of hypothermia. The worst part:
The Dr told me that once you get a cold injury you are way more susceptible to another one. And if that happened again I was done being out in the cold for very long. Three strikes your out !!!
 
Vertex_Jeff said:
I bought my first 18' car trailer when I was 19 years old. I had never driven or backed up a trailer prior to that. I learned quickly that going to a large parking lot at night and practicing backing maneuvers was a worthwhile activity. Take your time, make small steering adjustments, and take your time. Even if people are watching and waiting - take your time. It's really tough when your trailer is empty, and you can barely see it behind your truck. For most people, having a trailer hooked to your rig is a situation you only experience a handful of times a year. So, it takes a while to "get it". Fortunately, it's kind of like riding a bike, once you "get it" you pretty much have it.
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Exactly, small adjustments !!
 
One of my favourites is the guy with the 50’ motor home. Trying to launch his boat with it. Most boat launch’s around here any way can hardly support a supercab 1/2 ton never mind a motor home. Then add the fact that the biggest thing he ever drove before was a 1/2 ton and the fact he can’t backup make for a great scene in a Chevy chase movie. Definitely not my idea of a holiday
 
I had a 14 ft runabout and the boat launch was a steep drop off. I backed it down perfect and unhooked it and away we go.
When we got back my wife decided to back the trailer into the water. She wasn't bad at it really.
The steep slope really messed her up and after several attempt I said "Put it in park."
This trailer wasn't real heavy but heavy enough. So I walked to the back and grabbed the back end and lifted it up and straightened it out.
One guy was watching and said "I've never seen it done that way before".
 
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