Reversing the car can sometimes be a stressful experience. When you have a trailer attached to the vehicle, then the situation becomes even more unnerving. However, it's not that hard to pull back with a trailer, especially if you've already had some practice. As long as you understand how the truck will react to your maneuvers, the process is pretty straightforward.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Prepare to Drive in Reverse with the Trailer
Step 1. Plan a strategy
Know that maneuvering a trailer in reverse requires a preventive movement of the towing vehicle, in order to direct the truck in the right direction. It is necessary to establish in advance a path to follow, taking into account the direction of the towing vehicle and the trailer, the presence of each object in the immediate vicinity of the maneuvering space and the movements of all the elements involved.
Step 2. Practice in an empty space such as a parking lot
Purchase some orange traffic cones to allow other drivers to locate your "practice space". Try to learn with a long trailer first and then switch to a shorter one. Regardless of the medium you are using to learn, remember to take your time. Short trailers are more maneuverable and responsive to vehicle maneuvers, but for this very reason they are also more difficult to manage. Long trailers allow you a few mistakes, but it is more complicated to "turn" them around a corner.
Step 3. Ask someone to assist you
A helper proves to be very useful, as there will be another pair of eyes to observe what you, as the driver, cannot see behind the truck. You can even consider buying a pair of walky-talkies. This will make it much easier to communicate than to yell or try to see your assistant.
The helper must remember to look up! It is very common to worry so much about obstacles on the ground that you forget about tree branches and cables overhead. Always pay attention to plants with drooping fronds, as it is important to avoid the trunk, but if there is any branch hanging towards the cart, this could detach a portion of the trailer roof
Step 4. Adjust the mirrors
It is really crucial to be able to see what is happening behind you, as you are about to perform a reverse maneuver with a large tow attached to the van. Make sure the rear view mirrors are properly adjusted so you can see the rear of the trailer.
Step 5. Try to position yourself in such a way as to perform the maneuver towards the driver's side of the vehicle
By doing this you will be able to see the trailer and the surrounding space much better through the driver's mirrors and you can also turn around to look over your shoulder. For example, if you have to go around the campsite in a ring to be able to approach your pitch from the left side, then don't hesitate to do it!
Step 6. Place one hand on the steering wheel and rotate your body and head back to observe the trailer
Put your right hand on the underside of the steering wheel (at 6 o'clock); by doing this you are ready to maneuver by simply moving your hand in the direction you want the tow to go! Give it a go! If you keep your hand in this position, you will be able to perform any maneuver except turning the wheels in the wrong direction as you back off.
Method 2 of 2: Perform the Reverse Maneuver with the Trailer
Step 1. Turn the steering wheel to the right to make the trailer go left (assuming you are looking forward)
If you want to find another way to consider this movement, think that the underside of the steering wheel determines the direction of the tow. Looking towards the rear of the vehicle you have a greater sensitivity when towing.
If you need to spin the cart around a corner, steer to the corner. Then you have to turn slightly in the opposite direction and keep the angle of the turn
Step 2. Try to perform the reverse maneuver on the driver's side (in Italy on the left) and not on the passenger side, because the view is worse
The most common backward movement is a right angle turn.
Step 3. Go past the point where you need to reverse as you approach and drive the vehicle to the right towards the center of the road
These indications assume that your vehicle is left-hand drive. Now turn the car at a tight angle to the left to form a corner with the road. This angle should be 180 ° less to the left, just as if you were trying to turn left while driving forward.
Step 4. Put your hands at 6 o'clock on the steering wheel
As you back up, correct the steering position to guide the cart in the right direction. Remember to go slowly. Don't be afraid to stop and get out of the vehicle to check your progress. There is no point in trying to park with a single maneuver to safeguard your pride if you eventually destroy the tow.
It is essential to avoid the trailer making a very narrow angle with the towing vehicle, so avoid tightening the curve too much. In theory, you should back up into the parking lot in one smooth motion. It will almost always be necessary to stop and advance the vehicle slightly to straighten the line of maneuver
Step 5. Back up and forward as many times as you deem necessary until the tow is well parked
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is put up with the gaze of the people who are watching you. Try not to get swayed if a lot of people control your maneuvers. They don't care how it turns out but you do, so stay focused.
Advice
- Don't be afraid to stop, get out of the car and observe your position. It is better to interrupt the maneuver several times and check, rather than spend money on repairing damage to your trailer / van or someone's property.
- Don't turn the steering wheel too fast.
- It is much easier to back up almost in a straight line, making small corrections. Avoid going into reverse at a point that requires a 90 ° turn. If possible, pull into a street side parking lot to maintain a straight direction. If there is enough space, try to make a large maneuver to enter the pitch straight.
- Proceed slowly! In the event of an unexpected event, stop the vehicle and figure out what you need to do before taking action.
- Long trailers are easier to maneuver in reverse than smaller ones.
- One way to understand the movement of the vehicle is to think that the rear wheels of the car are the steering wheels for the trolley (pretend that the trolley has four wheels and that the front wheels are actually the rear of the car). So, in order to move the trailer in the right direction, you need to make sure that the angle between its wheels and the rear wheels of the car is correct. First use the steering wheels of the vehicle to adjust this angle (turning the steering wheel in the "wrong" direction) and then change the direction to steer the whole vehicle wherever you want.
- If the trailer starts to turn at a very tight angle to the car, stop immediately. Go forward and try the maneuver again.
- Stop immediately if the trailer goes where you don't want to go. In this case you need to proceed forward and try again.
- Check the trailer hitch, safety chains, electrical connections for the headlights and the adjustable nose wheel of the trailer very carefully.
