I thought I knew how to back a trailer.

I got nothing on this guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy0B7M03U-E

I've towed a trailer twice in my life so even backing a simple car trailer into a driveway is mostly luck and a couple of attempts.

So yes... I'm impressed.

damn... I almost expected to see the best parking job in the world (trailer next to the truck) but that was far better

I am usually good at backing big trailers, but I suck at backing my little HF tire trailer behind the e30. Even more fun since it's usually in bumpy grass at the rallycross course :)

This reminds me of when I'm at the marina - I've been boating for ~30 years and handle my boat pretty damn well, but I"m always impressed with the charter captains who come in fast and perfectly back into very tight slips with no clearance, no hesitation, and very limited turning area...

In reply to Toyman01:

I like to think I can drive/park/back a trailer pretty well too, but this guy is in a whole other league.

I remember my Dad once telling me a story from when he was in ag. school. They had some practicum where they had to back up farm equipment and he said the twin axle trailers like that were pretty much impossible to put where you wanted. Only guys who could do it grew up on farms and had been hauling them around since they were in diapers.

My g/f's father has a twin axle trailer and can move it around reasonably well after 40 years... but when he parks it under the barn he cheats by using one of the tractors with a ball on the front.

Nice job! Dealing with more than one point of articulation is super hard.

1. Um. Why not just pull it straight in in the first place.

2. I think that's more "Awesome trailer design" than "driver skill," no?

irish44j wrote: I am usually good at backing big trailers, but I suck at backing my little HF tire trailer behind the e30. Even more fun since it's usually in bumpy grass at the rallycross course :)

The shorter the trailer, the harder it is- try backing up one of the trailers for riding mowers, they take any confidence you have gained at backing a normal trailer, shove your face in a dog turd and laugh at you.........

airwerks wrote:

irish44j wrote: I am usually good at backing big trailers, but I suck at backing my little HF tire trailer behind the e30. Even more fun since it's usually in bumpy grass at the rallycross course :)

The shorter the trailer, the harder it is- try backing up one of the trailers for riding mowers, they take any confidence you have gained at backing a normal trailer, shove your face in a dog turd and laugh at you.........

Yeah, the wheelbase with the HF tire trailers is so short that they jackknife almost immediately. Fortunately they're light enough that you can just hook it and pick it up if you can't pull through. :)

Oh, I know the "why" of it....and yeah, I just get it basically where I want ti and then just move it manually, lol.

this discussion makes me think of this "Classic, and so true" ad from a few years back.....especially when he mouths "pitiful"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSbZ8LmwTds

Wow. I thought I had mad skills when I managed to parallel park with a double jet-ski trailer*. That wasn't diddly squat compared to this video.

*It happened in an era before “pictures, or it didn't happen"

No biggie. Short wheelbase truck, trailer designed for tight quarters. Give me a couple hours of practice and I'm there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJTCl0AV1p0

In reply to irish44j:

Yeah... I felt like the guy with the boat... although that's obviously exaggerated for effect (even I wasn't that bad). I'm sure I'd do better if I pulled a trailer more often.

airwerks wrote: The shorter the trailer, the harder it is- try backing up one of the trailers for riding mowers, they take any confidence you have gained at backing a normal trailer, shove your face in a dog turd and laugh at you.........

When I borrow my wife's uncle's 4'x8' trailer to tow with my van(no windows other than the front doors & windshield), and have to back it down the alley to park it when I'm done, I look like a complete fool. But the trailer is so short and so much narrower than the van, that I can't see it behind the van at all until it's starting to jackknife.

I usually end up opening the back doors & just turning around backwards(no mirror on the windshield, since there's no windows in the back). Unfortunately, the doors don't like to stay open while in motion, so that doesn't always work out so well.

Backing up a trailer is one thing, backing up a tow dolly with a car on it is another level. The front axle articulates like a kid's wagon. (tow dolly-car)

Hats off to this guy. I'll bet that wasn't his first trip on that road.

JohnyHachi6 wrote: I remember my Dad once telling me a story from when he was in ag. school. They had some practicum where they had to back up farm equipment and he said the twin axle trailers like that were pretty much impossible to put where you wanted. Only guys who could do it grew up on farms and had been hauling them around since they were in diapers.

That's true. I have no problems backing a trailer into a parking spot, but the last time we moved, we used two hay wagons, and there was no way I could back them up. My buddy (the life long farmer) did it like it was nothing.

One trick of backing a trailer is to put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. turn the wheel in the direction that you want the trailer to go. Works like a charm.

I had to back my trailer into a very tight car port.

Zomby Woof wrote:

JohnyHachi6 wrote: I remember my Dad once telling me a story from when he was in ag. school. They had some practicum where they had to back up farm equipment and he said the twin axle trailers like that were pretty much impossible to put where you wanted. Only guys who could do it grew up on farms and had been hauling them around since they were in diapers.

That's true. I have no problems backing a trailer into a parking spot, but the last time we moved, we used two hay wagons, and there was no way I could back them up. My buddy (the life long farmer) did it like it was nothing.

Yup. Double axle hay wagons are an instrument of the devil. Due to lack of planning on my part I had to back one up about 500' down a narrow tree lined driveway. Took me over an hour.

My granddad could back up two hay wagons in tandem. I've seen a few other farmers who could do it. I could handle one ok. The 360* turning radius of the trailer front axle makes it pretty maneuverable.

I had a uncle who hauled logs with a rig that consisted of the tractor, then a trailer, a "pup" and a second trailer. He brought it home every night after work and backed it into a spot beside the shed. He made it look effortless.

irish44j wrote: This reminds me of when I'm at the marina - I've been boating for ~30 years and handle my boat pretty damn well, but I"m always impressed with the charter captains who come in fast and perfectly back into very tight slips with no clearance, no hesitation, and very limited turning area...

Not trying to diminish the feat, but these charter boats usually have 2 props which makes it much easier.