Problems hitching trailer

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Suzie1978

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Hi I'm a newbie on here, can anyone help me?
I'm having real problems hitching my trainer up to my Land rover. I can't seen to line them up properly and it takes forever for me to hitch up. Does anyone have any tips or advice on this? I know this sounds stupid but It's a complete nightmare!
 
You can buy a mirror that goes on the trailer & you angle it so you can see the tow ball in your rear view mirror. They're about £15 on eBay - I can't live without mine!!
 
I have a sticker in the middle of rear windscreen, I line it up with the jockey wheel handle and drive backwards in a straight line until the towbar hits the hitch, you might want to stop sooner though :D
Apart from that, it's just practice, practice, practice!
 
I have a mirror and I also have a small square of insulation tape on the trailer, and a matching piece on the rear window.

I reverse back towards the trailer, lining the two bits of tape up in my rear view mirror. As I get close to the hitch, I use the mirror to get the distance just right.
 
As Martlin says, practice, practice, practice :) oh and use your wing mirrors when it's hitched to judge what you can see behind. I don't have a mirror to use or a sticker but I am aware of where the car needs to be in order to line it up.

Happy hitchin!! :)
 
My friend has one of those mirrors:) I agree that practising works too, as I can normally judge it, then I get out the car to see if I need to back up any more.
 
Sorry I'm sure its all very good advice but I've never been very good at this.

My advice, jack the front of the trailer right up, so the front axle wheel are completely off the floor. Its then really easy to manouver manually.

Make a vague attempt to line it up and get it into the right place. Then pull the trailer (which is now very easy to do) into place

Simples
 
muffinmunsh said:
I lean a broomstick against the trailer hitch. Very low tech but works every time :-)
Click to expand...

That's a great idea!

I've got an angled mirror but the tow bar/ball is painted black and often on a gloomy day I can't see it in the mirror.

I keep thinking I should get a bright pink cover for it, or wrap a carrier bag round it, just so I can see it! But I just end up shunting!!!

I like the look of the Eze Hitch thing too. Great idea too
 
I use one of those mirrors, pretty cheap from ebay and makes hitching up a breeze. My tow hitch is dark so I stick a piece of insulating tape on it. I can manually move my trailer a couple of inches (IW510) which also helps and I manage unaided every time.
 
practice, practice and more practice!! some people swear by those mirrors attached to the trailer so you can see when the towball and hitch marry up.
Personally I just line up a particular letter on a sticker in the back window which sits above my towball with the little clip on the trailer that keeps the cables tidy when not in use, I go back so far then just hop out to see how far to come back, I'm so used to it now it takes me just minutes to hitch on- works for me!!
 
Hi Clannad

I was also wondering about the price and went back on their website today.
It looks like they must have updated it recently.
Internet price is £149.95 + VAT
My friend says his 'does what is says on the tin';)
 
Thanks for all of your clever suggestions, managed to persuade my hubby to buy me an eezehitch this morning :D It looks fairly idiot proof which is what I need LOL. It's coming tomorrow so I'll let you know how I get on with it.
 
rockysmum said:
Sorry I'm sure its all very good advice but I've never been very good at this.

My advice, jack the front of the trailer right up, so the front axle wheel are completely off the floor. Its then really easy to manouver manually.

Make a vague attempt to line it up and get it into the right place. Then pull the trailer (which is now very easy to do) into place

Simples
Click to expand...


second this. I just get vaguely close and then pull the trailer to the hitch. lots easier. (and I am not a big strong girl either!)
 
Practice makes perfect. Didnt personally get on with one of those mirrors. What worked for me was using my mirrors and just doing a lot of it. It does help to get somebody to direct you on, if anyone is available. I have also done the bit of tugging the trailer to the car, but that only works if you are on very level ground, or you end up with your trailer bashing your car. Also definitely recommend jacking your trailer up as high as it can go as well as it makes life so much easier.

However, I can highly recommend the ultimate in hitching up tools - my car has a reversing camera and its brilliant. Came with the car, which is a top of the range Shogun SWB. Works a treat every time, and I can hitch up with out it!

Honestly, it does take time and effort to get it right so just be patient. Now reversing - that is another whole ball game ......... yep I've mastered it, but boy did it take ages.
 
I bought an i4eye Hitching Mirror from
www.horsetrailershop.co.uk I spoke to them before I bought it and they were really helpful on the phone and gave me some good advice about fitting it. It was easy to fit and a high quality compared to a couple of others I had seen.
Best thing I ever bought for my 505 and has saved me so much hassle when hitching on.
There is nothing worse than jumping in and out of your car to see if you are in the right place, this has saved me all that and can now do it in one reverse!
I'm pleased with myself every time I do it....
 
Hey, just an update for you.
My ezeehitch came yesterday and got it fitted up today.
Super chuffed at how easy it was to use, managed to hitch up twice today on my own with no problem. Would deffo recomend to others!
 
Saw your post Suzie and your best to answer as you have bought one. I watched the video on the eezyhitch site but it does look like a bit of a to do and a bit antiquated and not as simple as reversing up to the trailer. What happens if your trailer is on a slope downwards towards your car how do you stop the trailer running forward and into your car? How do you go on if your trailer is on soft or muddy ground? surely the the little front trailer wheel will sink in? and it seems from the video you still have to be lined up in the first place? can you throw any light on this Suzie? I'm not knocking it as as we all prefer to do things in a different or our own way.
 
I think I can answer a couple of those for Suzie because I watched my friend using his yesterday.
You do not need to be lined up because the pull is always from the centre of the trailer and will always pull to the ball of the vehicle automatically
Unless you are in a complete bog the jockey wheel will cope with soft ground very easily.
 
In my experiance hitch up the day before you go between 1and 3 attempts.
Hitch up on the day between 6 and 15 attempts.
Hitch up with your OH watching between 15 and who knows how many attempts.!!
 
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