Backing a Trailer

[Smitty Werben Manjensen]

Are there any secrets to backing a camper trailer with the trike into a back in camping spot? Handlebar mirrors don't cooperate, and turning my head 180 degrees hurts -- I can barely turn my head 90 degrees.

Thought you all might have a good suggestion (be kind).

 

[americanbadass]

Here's what I was told...put one hand on the bottom of the wheel...then using the mirrors, turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go! I really am the world's worst trailer backer...I have no patience and don't like people watching me do it! I think some people are just not meant to do it-me included.
Hope some pro truck drivers will chime in so I can figure it out with you Smitty.....where's Bigdog when you need him?????:Shrug:

 

[lboos]

if your talking about a small trailer that you tow with your bike, and your having trouble backing it,
why not just unhook it and push it into the spot :Shrug:.
how big is the trailer, wt....?

 

[americanbadass]

if your talking about a small trailer that you tow with your bike, and your having trouble backing it,
why not just unhook it and push it into the spot :Shrug:.
how big is the trailer, wt....?

BEEN THERE DUN THAT!!!:gah:

 

[slick rick]

if your talking about a small trailer that you tow with your bike, and your having trouble backing it,
why not just unhook it and push it into the spot :Shrug:.
how big is the trailer, wt....?

:Trike1: ....I owned and operated big trucks for thirty years,but before I would fight it that's what I would do......NO SHAME IN MY GAME:Shrug::Shrug:

 

[Smitty Werben Manjensen]

if your talking about a small trailer that you tow with your bike, and your having trouble backing it,
why not just unhook it and push it into the spot :Shrug:.
how big is the trailer, wt....?

It's a small trailer that weighs maybe 450lbs max. And I tow with my trike. Some of the camping sites have back in, they are usually gravel, sometimes uphill, so unhooking and pushing are not my favorite thing, but I can do it. Got a bad back and other problems, so trying to see if there are any tricks that could be used -- probably not, but had to ask.

I've looped over the grass before, but the parks usually tell you to stay off the grass, so ---.

Sorry I didn't make it clearer, but everyone that knows me understands THAT problem.

 

[slick rick]

Sorry didn't understand, for what it's worth line it up as straight as possible before backing up. There are no real tricks just a lot of practice, have somebody direct you from the front, go slow, back a little farther than you need, straighten trailer as you pull forward. That may be to much info but hope it helps.

 

[slick rick]

Are there any secrets to backing a camper trailer with the trike into a back in camping spot? Handlebar mirrors don't cooperate, and turning my head 180 degrees hurts -- I can barely turn my head 90 degrees.

Thought you all might have a good suggestion (be kind).

LET ME ADD backing your 8, 10, or whatever ft trailer is a lot harder than a 40 ft dump or 48 ft dry box, so any chance you get to make a circle or any other way to make it easier ,GO FOR IT.....GOOD LUCK RICK

 

[RSW]

The biggest problem when backing a trailer is waiting to long to react to what the trailer is doing. In other words, you have to stay ahead of the trailers actions. As Rick said, backing a little trailer is alot harder then a big one and that is the reaction time of the trailer is quicker. Try making littler maneuvers and stop and pull back up once you see the trailer over reacted. This makes the pull back up distance less. What you are trying to do is not easy even for people that has backed trailers for a long time.

 

[grigglybob]

I'm a truck driver for years--if it,s just one trailer you turn your wheels opposite of the way you want your trailer to go. if it is two trailers unhook your trike trailer and unload your trike .. use your trike to put your little trailer in the spot .. then back your big trailer in .. it is almost impossible to back two trailers at one time ..
hope this helps ..
have a wonderful day and practice ..

p.s. when you pull or back two trailers you have to many pivot points.. ask any truck driver that pulls doubles ...

 

[grigglybob]

I'm a truck driver for years--if it,s just one trailer you turn your wheels opposite of the way you want your trailer to go. if it is two trailers unhook your trike trailer and unload your trike .. use your trike to put your little trailer in the spot .. then back your big trailer in .. it is almost impossible to back two trailers at one time ..
hope this helps ..
have a wonderful day and practice ..

p.s. when you pull or back two trailers you have to many pivot points.. ask any truck driver that pulls doubles ...

 

[cscsonny]

If you have some free time before your next camping trip,hook up the camper and take it to a parking lot and practice backing using only the mirrors.Best way to back a trailer.
A little confusing because the bike will have to turn the opposite direction from the trailer in order to guide it backwards.
A little practice and it will become easy.Most riders don't pull a trailer often enough to be good at backing.
Practice first,then go camping.

 

[John Luciano]

That is an awful lot to ask of that reverse gear on the trike.. Personally I would never do it. Too bad you can't hook up something on the front of the bike. I saw a guy that had a hitch on his front bumper. I asked what it was for? He said when I get to a camp ground I unhook and turn the truck around Re hook it up and push it in.

 

[slick rick]

That is an awful lot to ask of that reverse gear on the trike.. Personally I would never do it. Too bad you can't hook up something on the front of the bike. I saw a guy that had a hitch on his front bumper. I asked what it was for? He said when I get to a camp ground I unhook and turn the truck around Re hook it up and push it in.

......JOHN....Bet that would be hard to do with a fifth wheel camper.

 

[oahe]

I learned as a kid to back 4-wheel trailers so a 2-wheeler is a snap. Except when it comes to those little short bike/trike trailers! Frustrating to say the least. If pushing by hand is impossible, I recommend a U-turn. Doesn't take much room and the owners will usually say OK if you ask.

 

[Frang]

maybe one of those little trailer dollies would work if you have some way of strapping it to the trailer and taking it with you.I use one for my boat trailer to get it into tite spaces and it works the nuts.

 

[Smitty Werben Manjensen]

maybe one of those little trailer dollies would work if you have some way of strapping it to the trailer and taking it with you.I use one for my boat trailer to get it into tite spaces and it works the nuts.

That got me to thinking -- I could also get a lightweight swing down adjustable trailer jack for the tongue.

 

[Frang]

That got me to thinking -- I could also get a lightweight swing down adjustable trailer jack for the tongue.

Trouble with those trailer jacks is they usually have a small narrow plastic type wheel that will sink into gravel.The dollies usually come with 2 wheels that are rubber and wider.I saw a dolly advertised that was even motorized.

 

[slick rick]

maybe one of those little trailer dollies would work if you have some way of strapping it to the trailer and taking it with you.I use one for my boat trailer to get it into tite spaces and it works the nuts.

....Now that would be the best option yet.....

 

[Smitty Werben Manjensen]

Trouble with those trailer jacks is they usually have a small narrow plastic type wheel that will sink into gravel.The dollies usually come with 2 wheels that are rubber and wider.I saw a dolly advertised that was even motorized.

I'll look into it. Last time I saw something like that, it was used to back large heavy trailers into garages, etc., and I got scared by the price of those particular ones, but they were motorized and super heavy duty.

Is this what you mean.

 

[slick rick]

ThumbUp I think it's the perfect solution , should be easy to store, mount, or build a bracket for it . GOOD LUCK....pepper..pepper

 

[Frang]

I'll look into it. Last time I saw something like that, it was used to back large heavy trailers into garages, etc., and I got scared by the price of those particular ones, but they were motorized and super heavy duty.

Is this what you mean.

yup,that's what i use.My boat and trailer way about 800-900 lbs and that pushes it around nicely,even on my gravel driveway.The small 600 lb one may be all you need.I think i paid something like 60 bucks for mine a few years ago.

 

[Shriner Jim]

if your talking about a small trailer that you tow with your bike, and your having trouble backing it,
why not just unhook it and push it into the spot :Shrug:.
how big is the trailer, wt....?

yea, what he said.

 

[screwball]

You can buy a collapsing tongue wheel for about 20 bucks, that trailer mover is 100 and you have to store it somewhere when riding. If your trailer is too heavy to push by hand, to is definitely too heavy to tow. In either case you have to unhitch to move it.

 

[Frang]

You can buy a collapsing tongue wheel for about 20 bucks, that trailer mover is 100 and you have to store it somewhere when riding. If your trailer is too heavy to push by hand, to is definitely too heavy to tow. In either case you have to unhitch to move it.

600 lb rated trailer dolly. $46.05. Amazon.com

 

[oahe]

If you've got a big enough trike trailer to hold a trailer dolly you might as well get one a little bigger, load the whole thing and pull it with the pick-up! :xzqxz:

 

[Smitty Werben Manjensen]

If your trailer is too heavy to push by hand, to is definitely too heavy to tow. In either case you have to unhitch to move it.

My problem isn't the trailer weight or it being too heavy, but my back and, should I say, I think I'm working on a hernia. Every time it calms down, I decide to lift something 40-50 lbs and back it comes. This old age sucks!

 

[ScottUSN]

I am a DAV that uses a wheelchair, so I pull a trailer behind my trike. Of course the mirrors are useless since they are handlebar mounted. But, as others have said, slow and easy does it. If you allow the trailer to turn too far: STOP and pull forward to straighten out the rig. They do not correct from too much angle while backing. I've tried.
A succession of smaller, slow turning while "following" the trailer works real well. But be advised, the small trailers behind a MC love to jackknife; I really do not want to find out how much damage that could cause.

 

[Lunchbox1983]

Just a suggestion. Pull straight in to you spot, then all you need to do is spin the camper 180 by hand. Then if there is any backing it is trike only. Most camp sites I have been on would fit your trike and unsetup camper side by side no worries.

 

[RcSuD]

After 30 odd years of pulling and backing up boats with an assortment of vehicles, I got pretty good at it. Depending on the size of the boat, sometimes I could only see a little in my mirrors, or not see it at all, which is a good thing. I think a bike trailer might be similar. If you can't see it in your mirrors, that means its straight behind you. If you start to see it in one mirror, steer towards it to make it disappear. Turn your mirrors down and in until you can see it when it starts going sideways.