Backing a trailer

37chief · Nov 30, 2019

I was out with my dog, and came upon someone trying to turn around at a dead end street. I offered to help. The trailer was a single axle box rented trailer. The hitch was around 3 ft from the ball. I told him to turn the car wheel like I do on my tractor hauler double axle. It wasn't working. Finally someone else came along that got it turned around. I have never backed a single axle trailer as far as I know. Do they move different than a double axle? Stan

jimg.allentown · Nov 30, 2019

The shorter the wheelbase, the quicker they turn. It does not take long for it to jack too far to be able to get back under it. Quick turning can be a good thing, but at the same time, you really need to stay with it or it gets away quickly.

grizz02 · Nov 30, 2019

nope, just quicker

ldj · Nov 30, 2019

(quoted from post at 20:22:06 11/30/19) The shorter the wheelbase, the quicker they turn. It does not take long for it to jack too far to be able to get back under it. Quick turning can be a good thing, but at the same time, you really need to stay with it or it gets away quickly.

Never heard of wheelbase on a trailer. Are you speaking of distance from hitch to wheels, if so I wouldn't call that wheelbase. I don't actually know what I would call it

T.R.K. · Nov 30, 2019

Yes. Measured from the hitch to the axle.

I moved the axle back about a foot on my 8' trailer and it sure backs a lot easier now.

David G · Nov 30, 2019

Longer the vehicle and shorter the trailer, harder it is.

Russ from MN · Nov 30, 2019

Longer trailers are the best, doesn't matter single axle or tandem. You should see my wife back our boat trailer in the water, lots of guys are jealous! I have a little short trailer that I pull behind my 4-wheeler, it's a tough one to back up!

Janicholson · Nov 30, 2019

Same idea, just much quicker on the steering. A 4 wheel wagon with independently steered wheels with the tongue is pretty tough. Jim

john in la · Dec 1, 2019

I hook and unhook pup trailers every day.
It is hard for me to back up my pickup without a trailer because I am so use to backing multiple trailers.

showcrop · Dec 1, 2019

I know that there is no way that I could back any trailer with the ball three feet from the hitch, LOL.

Blackhole49 · Dec 1, 2019

Blackhole49 · Dec 1, 2019

The methods the same, but, the shorter the distance from the hitch to the axle, the harder it is to keep the trailer from jackknifing.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 1, 2019

Stan,
A single and double axle back the same way.
Each backs a little differntly, length of trailer, length of truck, length of hitch, distance ball is from truck axle, many things. Just takes a little time getting used to it. Backing my dump trailer with Farmall is much easier than with truck. I was told backing a semi is the same way. A short tractor is needed to get trailer into tight places.
Geo.

timcasbolt · Dec 1, 2019

(quoted from post at 03:49:51 12/01/19) Same idea, just much quicker on the steering. A 4 wheel wagon with independently steered wheels with the tongue is pretty tough. Jim

Yep. We had an old manure spreader with the mechanisms removed that we used as a utility wagon. Was one son of a gun to back up.

tim s · Dec 1, 2019

The biggest mistake when backing anything is "Over-Steering".....

Adirondack case guy · Dec 1, 2019

Good thing that I have short fingernails or my head would be bleeding. Short trailers
have smaller/tighter turning radiuses, but back-up the same as a 53' OTR trailer.
Loren

ztrmowers · Dec 1, 2019

no just small trailer the quicker they are to move ,backing procedure is same thou

Ozlander · Dec 1, 2019

I read all the replies, the real answer is; the tandem axle trailer wants to go straight. Push one by itself and it will go straight away from you, you have to force it to turn.
Backing the single axle trailer is a whole new ball game, you have to keep it in view at all times.

showcrop · Dec 1, 2019

(quoted from post at 11:19:43 12/01/19) I read all the replies, the real answer is; the tandem axle trailer wants to go straight. Push one by itself and it will go straight away from you, you have to force it to turn.
Backing the single axle trailer is a whole new ball game, you have to keep it in view at all times.

Sorry Ozlander, your answer is not the real answer. While it is true that it takes more effort to make a tandem turn, we are usually turning it by pushing with our truck not with our back, so unless you have an extremely small truck it will make no difference whatsoever.

Brian G. NY · Dec 1, 2019

(quoted from post at 14:46:37 12/01/19) The methods the same, but, the shorter the distance from the hitch to the axle, the harder it is to keep the trailer from jackknifing.

Oh.....so that's why I have such a hard time backing my log splitter.
The fact that I can't see it back there probably contributes to the difficulty. LOL

Backing a trailer

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