NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

On 6/1/2013 11:18 AM, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 10:46 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 6/1/13 8:33 AM, iBoaterer wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

I was fortunate to start towing boats around my dad's boat yard at a
pretty young age. He made me start with a jeep and an empty trailer, and
some empty outboard motor boxes as markers. But it was easier then
because boats were smaller and you could see what was behind them as you
backed up. Trailers for 14' to 18' or so boats, no sweat. Tandem or
larger boat trailers are more difficult.

When we got our 25' Parker, which was about 32' long, overall, with the
bow pulpit and motor bracket, it took me a couple of times, despite my
decades of experience to get the hang of it. You couldn't see much on
either side of the boat when it was on the trailer and of course, you
couldn't see anything to the rear of the boat. The bow towered over the
tow vehicle.

Interestingly, my wife figured out backing up with a boat trailer almost
instantly when we got our first outboard boat in Florida, and she was
far better and more efficient at it than I ever was, no matter the size
of the boat.

She probably has an analytical mind and a good memory which you probably
lack.. Pivot point and overhang swing radius of the trailer are critical
things to be aware of. Trailer pivot point to tow vehicle connection
point distance is another factor that affects tendency to jackknife
especially with a receiver hitch on a long overhang to vehicle. 5th
wheels are probably the easiest to maneuver, owing to the fact that the
tow vehicle pivot point is at the axle and not some distance behind it.

Oh, as if backing a trailer wasn't hard enough, multiple trailer axles
present another problem. Care to guess what it is?

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

On 6/1/13 12:05 PM, wrote:
On Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:46:53 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

The most challenging rig I have had was my 20' pontoon behind "Moby
Dick" a stretch bed E-150 panel van. The trailer ball was almost 5'
behind the axle. Easiest is pushing the trailer behind my golf cart.
That is almost like backing an 18 wheeler.


I never drove an 18 wheeler. Loaded plenty of them, though, about 50
years ago. I assume the full rigs had 18 wheels back then. Never counted
the wheels.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

In article ,
says...

On 6/1/13 8:33 AM, iBoaterer wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

I was fortunate to start towing boats around my dad's boat yard at a
pretty young age. He made me start with a jeep and an empty trailer, and
some empty outboard motor boxes as markers. But it was easier then
because boats were smaller and you could see what was behind them as you
backed up. Trailers for 14' to 18' or so boats, no sweat. Tandem or
larger boat trailers are more difficult.

When we got our 25' Parker, which was about 32' long, overall, with the
bow pulpit and motor bracket, it took me a couple of times, despite my
decades of experience to get the hang of it. You couldn't see much on
either side of the boat when it was on the trailer and of course, you
couldn't see anything to the rear of the boat. The bow towered over the
tow vehicle.

Interestingly, my wife figured out backing up with a boat trailer almost
instantly when we got our first outboard boat in Florida, and she was
far better and more efficient at it than I ever was, no matter the size
of the boat.

I grew up backing things up, no biggy. It's actually quite simple, but I
guess to some it comes naturally, never had a problem.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

In article ,
says...

On Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:46:53 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

The most challenging rig I have had was my 20' pontoon behind "Moby
Dick" a stretch bed E-150 panel van. The trailer ball was almost 5'
behind the axle. Easiest is pushing the trailer behind my golf cart.
That is almost like backing an 18 wheeler.

You should try my lawn tractor with it's wagon hooked to it. Wagon is
maybe three feet from pin to axle. Turn just a tad backing up and you've
lost it.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

On 6/1/13 12:34 PM, iBoaterer wrote:
In article ,
says...

On Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:46:53 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

The most challenging rig I have had was my 20' pontoon behind "Moby
Dick" a stretch bed E-150 panel van. The trailer ball was almost 5'
behind the axle. Easiest is pushing the trailer behind my golf cart.
That is almost like backing an 18 wheeler.

You should try my lawn tractor with it's wagon hooked to it. Wagon is
maybe three feet from pin to axle. Turn just a tad backing up and you've
lost it.


I tried hooking up our cats to a yard wagon. No, I didn't, but I've
thought about it over the years.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

On Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:22:44 -0400, Hank©
wrote:

Oh, as if backing a trailer wasn't hard enough, multiple trailer axles
present another problem. Care to guess what it is?

===

Tire scrubbing?

At least with a triple axle, some of the tires just about have to be
moving sideways.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
m...

On 6/1/13 8:33 AM, iBoaterer wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer
up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I
grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice
is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a
substitute.

-----------------------------------------------

It's easier to control the direction of a large, longer trailer than a
short one when backing.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

On Jun 1, 11:51*am, "Eisboch" wrote:
"F.O.A.D." *wrote in message

m...

On 6/1/13 8:33 AM, iBoaterer wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer
up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I
grew
up on a farm.

I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice
is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a
substitute.

-----------------------------------------------

It's easier to control the direction of a large, longer trailer than a
short one when backing.

I'd agree. With my 1990 Merc. station wagon, I hated backing my 18 ft
Chris Craft on a single axle EZ-load trailer. couldn't steer straight
back for spit.

However same tow vehicle I didn't have a problem with the 23' Marquis
on a dual axle Shoreline. I did prefer to have plenty of room to
turn and back because of the trailer flexing and tire skidding,
though.

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

On 6/1/2013 11:22 AM, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 11:18 AM, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 10:46 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 6/1/13 8:33 AM, iBoaterer wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

I was fortunate to start towing boats around my dad's boat yard at a
pretty young age. He made me start with a jeep and an empty trailer, and
some empty outboard motor boxes as markers. But it was easier then
because boats were smaller and you could see what was behind them as you
backed up. Trailers for 14' to 18' or so boats, no sweat. Tandem or
larger boat trailers are more difficult.

When we got our 25' Parker, which was about 32' long, overall, with the
bow pulpit and motor bracket, it took me a couple of times, despite my
decades of experience to get the hang of it. You couldn't see much on
either side of the boat when it was on the trailer and of course, you
couldn't see anything to the rear of the boat. The bow towered over the
tow vehicle.

Interestingly, my wife figured out backing up with a boat trailer almost
instantly when we got our first outboard boat in Florida, and she was
far better and more efficient at it than I ever was, no matter the size
of the boat.

She probably has an analytical mind and a good memory which you probably
lack.. Pivot point and overhang swing radius of the trailer are critical
things to be aware of. Trailer pivot point to tow vehicle connection
point distance is another factor that affects tendency to jackknife
especially with a receiver hitch on a long overhang to vehicle. 5th
wheels are probably the easiest to maneuver, owing to the fact that the
tow vehicle pivot point is at the axle and not some distance behind it.

Oh, as if backing a trailer wasn't hard enough, multiple trailer axles
present another problem. Care to guess what it is?

Never thought about it.. is there only one pivot point between the two
trailers?

NOW Backing up a boat trailer.
 

In article ,
says...

On 6/1/2013 11:22 AM, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 11:18 AM, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 10:46 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 6/1/13 8:33 AM, iBoaterer wrote:

There isn't a whole lot of things to know about backing a trailer up! I
never could understand the troubles people have, but then again I grew
up on a farm.


I disagree. It takes practice, trial and error, and more practice to
back up a decent-sized trailer with accuracy. Best place to practice is
an empty parking lot and bring along some traffic cones or a substitute.

I was fortunate to start towing boats around my dad's boat yard at a
pretty young age. He made me start with a jeep and an empty trailer, and
some empty outboard motor boxes as markers. But it was easier then
because boats were smaller and you could see what was behind them as you
backed up. Trailers for 14' to 18' or so boats, no sweat. Tandem or
larger boat trailers are more difficult.

When we got our 25' Parker, which was about 32' long, overall, with the
bow pulpit and motor bracket, it took me a couple of times, despite my
decades of experience to get the hang of it. You couldn't see much on
either side of the boat when it was on the trailer and of course, you
couldn't see anything to the rear of the boat. The bow towered over the
tow vehicle.

Interestingly, my wife figured out backing up with a boat trailer almost
instantly when we got our first outboard boat in Florida, and she was
far better and more efficient at it than I ever was, no matter the size
of the boat.

She probably has an analytical mind and a good memory which you probably
lack.. Pivot point and overhang swing radius of the trailer are critical
things to be aware of. Trailer pivot point to tow vehicle connection
point distance is another factor that affects tendency to jackknife
especially with a receiver hitch on a long overhang to vehicle. 5th
wheels are probably the easiest to maneuver, owing to the fact that the
tow vehicle pivot point is at the axle and not some distance behind it.

Oh, as if backing a trailer wasn't hard enough, multiple trailer axles
present another problem. Care to guess what it is?

Never thought about it.. is there only one pivot point between the two
trailers?

WHAT "two trailers"?????