Trailer reversing frustration!! :(

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cheekywelshie

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I am beginning to think I will never master the reverse! I had a few lessons but found myself getting massively frustrated so stopped as I didn't feel i was getting anywhere so stopped. Then decided to buy a trailer to practice with and while this has helped in terms of hitching unhitiching and towing , i seem to be getting completely muddled with the reverse (how much to turn the wheel , full lock or half turn, when to straighten up arghhhh!!!)and am getting to the point where I feel i will never crack it!

I do want to have more lessons before the test but want to make sure i can get my head around the reverse manoevre before spending more money as I felt i wasn't getting anywhere in the first few lessons and just got frustrated (and practicing on my own just costs diesel! - but is this a good way forward, just to keep doing it and hope one day my brain will click!!!?! )
 
Try just driving forward so it's all straight then practice going back very slowly and ease it either way.

It becomes second nature and I actually sometimes think I am reversing a trailer when I am not, now that is embarrassing :D:o
 
I found some one telling me what to do made it worse as did an audience, I'm not that good but I turned it round all camp week as mum couldnt reverse.

I was planning on taking my trailer test this summer, which I seem to have not got round to :o but the plan is to just do as much reversing before then and hope it becomes second nature.
 
Take your time with it is the main thing!

A good driving instructor should be able to teach you the technique without making a big deal out of it, my instructor used to get me to do a couple of reverses, then we'd drive for a bit to find a different place, so that I could chill for a couple of minutes between reverses. Once you know how to control the reverse, practice makes perfect! (but take breaks. :))
 
You can see the effect better if you practise with two match boxes on the table.

Practise is the answer, set up a couple of cones and start by reversing through them and then reversing through at an angle.

Remember that when the trailer starts to turn in the direction you want, to begin to straighten the wheel.

I have a lot of people come here and have trouble turning their trailer. If help is offered they say it makes matters worse but I will not turn it for them so they have to do it!
I will give directions nicely and tell them exactly when to turn the steering wheel and they do it easily.

Practise, practise, practise! (You do not want to know about my adventures reversing a trailer - or then if you did it would give you hope! LOL)
 
I used to be terrible, am still crap at it but am getting better. Somedays i can do it fine, other days, totally useless. My sister is very good now, but she was crap at the start. It's def practice makes perfect. xx
 
I think i am 'oversteering' and this results in the trailer going too far - by which point it is too late to do anything but go forwards! I am v confused about how much to turn the wheel and when to straighten and how quick to turn wheel - or slow! Is this something that comes with practice- judging by my efforts so far i think it will take a long time!!!
 
You will be over steering. That's why I suggest just working on getting it straight and gently easing it one way then straighten up and so on. Better with no audience.
 
The best tip I had is if the trailer is going too much one way, turn the steering wheel towards the side where there is too much trailer (hope that makes sense!) also when starting to turn, once the trailer is going make your truck follow it quickly! Keep the speed very slow and try not to over correct! Once it's clicked there'll be no stopping you! Good luck!
 
It took me a while to get it too. If I'm reversing straight I look for equal amounts of trailer in both wing mirrors. If you have more trailer in one wing mirror than the other - turn the wheel in the direction the mirror has more trailer in. More trailer in the left mirror, wheel goes to the left, then comes back to centre. Only turn a small amount then come back to central position.

If I'm turning & reversing I grab the bottom of the steering wheel, hands in six o'clock position. Holding the steering wheel move your hand in the direction you want your trailer to go. If you want your trailer to go to the right, move your hand to the right. The more you move your hand in one direction, the more the trailer will turn in that direction.

See if this helps :) :)
 
I could never do it, but my daughter was able to reverse a trailer before she even passed her car test :D (obviously she never drove it on the road, but round the farm she did, she was pretty good at it too) but I am sure with enough practice you will. Good luck!
 
Lot tie that's how I do it too! It's so much easier! Then once I have it right, I square up and turn my wheel as needed as now it just seems to come naturally. Thank god!
 
I have been crap at doing it for the last 30 years. I can do it eventually but only when the entire male population of wherever I am has had a laugh.

Finally think I might have sorted it :D I went to pick up a poor old lad for Hope Pastures and had to reverse into a drive, quarter of a mile down a narrow straight track and then round a tight bend with obstacles :D

Couldn't believe I actually did it without hitting anything.

There is always hope :D
 
Lotty said:
It took me a while to get it too. If I'm reversing straight I look for equal amounts of trailer in both wing mirrors. If you have more trailer in one wing mirror than the other - turn the wheel in the direction the mirror has more trailer in. More trailer in the left mirror, wheel goes to the left, then comes back to centre. Only turn a small amount then come back to central position.

If I'm turning & reversing I grab the bottom of the steering wheel, hands in six o'clock position. Holding the steering wheel move your hand in the direction you want your trailer to go. If you want your trailer to go to the right, move your hand to the right. The more you move your hand in one direction, the more the trailer will turn in that direction.

See if this helps :) :)
Click to expand...

Will give this a shot on Tuesday! - will let you know how I get on !
 
Some trailers are easier to back than others. I find quad trailers impossible but could reverse an Ifor Williams any distance.

Here's a tip that won't cost you a penny (though it might get you a black eye!:D). Borrow a child's truck and trailer and practice with that on a table top. Then you will get to understand what happens to the trailer when you turn the vehicle one way or the other. Keep that sequence in your mind when you back the real thing and it may make more sense to you. Worked for me!;)
 
Go up to an industrial estate with kerbs to practice at a quiet time. Line yourself 1 foot from the kerb. Use your mirrors and like another poster said hold the steering at the bottom and push in the direction you want to turn. Take it slowly. Only practice for 15 mins max and if it isn't working take a long break. I don't think lessons will ever make you learn - just practice on your own and eventually the penny will drop and it will come easy from then on.
 
I too have good and bad reversing days, but I always try to ... Go slowly; Allow as much room as possible (may involve getting to events etc extra-early); Breathe deeply/slowly; Don't panic; If it all goes pear-shaped go forwards and straighten up, deep breath to engage brain, then try again . Remember most people watching probably couldn't do any better ;) Good luck, it's great when it does go right!
 
I have always been good at reversing horse trailers, no idea why, just appeals to my brain. I taught a couple of friends to drive theirs, back in the days when i was allowed to. And it really is just practice and practice. I would take them to Tescos carpark on a Sunday afternoon, when the shop was closed and practice parking in bays. an hour or so doing that and the problem was cracked. I love having men watching me reverse a trailer, can wipe the floor with them all. And living where I do in Devon, I have to reverse on lanes all the time and would say that over half of people cannot even reverse a small car, so do not feel bad about struggling to get to grips with reversing a trailer.
 
What I found really helpful was we went to an industrial estate (where they take learner drivers) and practise reversing around the corners on here using the kerbs - no traffic and no audience ;)
 
If you have the space then go backwards on your own with nobody watching

When I say go backwards I mean just that - no set place to go or put it - just go backwards = have a play

No using the accelerator - clutch to control speed and other fot hovering over brake pedal in case you need to stop

If when having a play it all goes awry then drive forward until vehicle, trailer and all the wheels are in a straight line - then start playing again

Once you get used to what it does then, and only then, go for set planned moves

Although you cannot do this on test, get out every so often and work out what to do before you do it

If things start to go wrong then, without getting out, take a few seconds with your foot on the footbrake to think about it - that is allowed on test

Use both side mirrors and look out the window - that is allowed on test

When you get more confident you can then make it harder by using paper and masking tape to block out all the rear windows making it into a pretend van
 
You can get out at the end of the reverse on the test and check the distance from the point you are to finish in. I did this and was slightly short and got back in and went a bit further. Passed with no faults.
 
best advice is dont over think it (half turn wheel/full lock etc) just turn the steering wheel a bit and have a play. use your mirrors rather than looking out the window or over your shoulder.

my first tricky reversing was to get new tyres put on the trailer. i had to take it to an indoor garage off a main road so parked up outside and asked where they wanted the trailer and the bloke pointed at a corner of the garage and i thought holy c**p how am i ever going to do that?! but i knew i cldnt mess up infront of 5 grinning/sniggering mechanics and managed to reverse it perfectly and got out saying 'right, how long are you going to be?' ha ha it was great to see their faces!! they didnt have a clue that i hadnt done much reversing. i just went very slowly and was able to correct any mistakes before they caused a problem.

good luck it'll come!
 
Practise practise, although i can reverse my trailer wherever I need usually first time as soon as my OH arrives I seem completly incapable of getting it right !!!
 
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