Hitching HB506 trailer on your own advice? Mirrors?

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Rmarshmallow

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Hi
I have an IW HB506 and wanting to go out and tow on my own. The only problem is with hitching up myself it is really hard to reverse accurately up to the trailer. I have seen bolt on mirrors that you can attach to the trailer but they all say not suitable for HB506, I assume because of the larger window panel at the front. Has anyone got any suggestions? Help desperately needed so that I don't have to keep dragging my Dad out!
Thanks
 
Although its not a cheap solution, if you have an iPhone or iPad you could get hold of a GoPro camera and feed it wirelessly to show a live feed. You could mount it anywhere around the rear of your vehicle or front of the trailer which would then show the positions of the hitch and tow ball as you line up.

Have a look at my other thread about using this set up as an internal horsebox camera, also in a HB506. This is the link http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...trailer-camera-Pics-and-Video&highlight=gopro

One advantage is that if you use the iPhone or iPad and a GoPro, you could then use it as a horsebox camera as well as having a GoPro for general use.

If you do decide to go down this route, do some research on which model of GoPro cameras will successfully link with specific iPhone and iPad models.

(You have given me an idea now, I am going to try this on my car and HB506 when I next hitch up!)
 
I just give it my best aim then wiggle the trailer into place!! I do have it parked next to a wall, so its not too bad to line up to!

I also have a hitching mirror on the trailer but I don't tend to use it as my Dad's truck has a back on it, so you cannot always see out of the back!
 
Darbs ideas are spot on but this is one area where training can really help. Paying for a couple of hours can turn it from a misery into falling-off-a-log stuff.
 
When hitched, pop a strip of duck tape vertically on the front of the trailer to mark the centre below the window in the trailer, such that you can easily see it when reversing. Sit in the car and look at it through the rear view mirror and then go back out and at a reasonable point on the vertical tape you can add a horizontal piece to make a cross. Also pop a sticky dot in the centre of your rear screen level with the centre of the cross when looking in your rear view mirror as sat comfortably and normally as possible. (Enlist a child to position this from the back seat).

Then next time, line up so when looking in your rear view mirror the dot on the rear window lines up with the centre of the vertical tape on the trailer, and keep going back straight till the dot meets the centre of the cross. First few times you'll have to stop and get out a few times to see how you're doing but you'll soon get an idea of how far back you need to go. You can then just pull the trailer into place if it's slightly out.
 
I have a 506 and my Ifor Williams dealer (the ones who sold it to me, new) fixed a camera to the front of it, just below the window panel. It works a treat. I line it up using the centre light on the roof of the car and the Tow ball which I can see in the camera.
 
I've got an IWT HB505, and on that trailer you can easily fix a hitching mirror.

For your trailer what about buying a detachable rear view mirror which is attached with a suction cup (lots on Amazon) which should give you the visibility you need - and just take it off before you drive off.

Also, I find that if you get a brightly coloured/white tow ball cover, then when you are reversing back using the mirror, you can more easily see the tow ball clearly in the mirror.
 
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My suggestion of a GoPro camera and wireless link does seem a bit of over-engineering after reading some of these very sensible ideas! (A typical bloke response, although I am disappointed that I didn't build duct tape into my solution!)
 
I've got a 505 but when I'm hitching up, I look in the rear view mirror and line up the base of the rear wiper (which is in the centre of the rear screen on my car) with the middle of the trailer in between the two handles at the front. It works every time. I then just jump out a couple of times to check how close I am.
 
I have a 505. I roughly line up a dot on my rear window (series 1 Freelander) with the midpoint of the two pulling handles on the front of the trailer. But instead of reversing the car, I pull the trailer to meet. It's perfectly possible on your own, and much easier to bring the trailer to the car.
 
Dubsie said:
When hitched, pop a strip of duck tape vertically on the front of the trailer to mark the centre below the window in the trailer, such that you can easily see it when reversing. Sit in the car and look at it through the rear view mirror and then go back out and at a reasonable point on the vertical tape you can add a horizontal piece to make a cross. Also pop a sticky dot in the centre of your rear screen level with the centre of the cross when looking in your rear view mirror as sat comfortably and normally as possible. (Enlist a child to position this from the back seat).

Then next time, line up so when looking in your rear view mirror the dot on the rear window lines up with the centre of the vertical tape on the trailer, and keep going back straight till the dot meets the centre of the cross. First few times you'll have to stop and get out a few times to see how you're doing but you'll soon get an idea of how far back you need to go. You can then just pull the trailer into place if it's slightly out.
Click to expand...

This 😁
 
I also have a IW 505 and had a mirror attached to it. This is fitted just below the window and I have used it successfully with several different towing vehicles. I think I paid about £15 from ebay a couple of years ago and had it fitted at the yard by the YO's husband. Best idea ever.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice and love Dubsie's idea! I have had some lessons not too long ago as I only passed my trailer test a couple of weeks ago. I think it's still a bit of a case of practice makes perfect so I'll try and give it a go each time before I leave the yard at night to try and get it spot on and try some markers.
Thanks again everyone!
 
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