Audience while backing up

[Jim Bennett]

Yesterday at the dump, I helped a distraught housewife reverse her "tent converted to utility" trailer, to the lift. She had assumed she could drive alongside and throw things off, but this was not possible. She asked the City workers to help, but they were not allowed to drive the public's vehicles, so when she saw me whip in, came over to ask. I was glad to be her knight in shining armour, though that short little trailer sure did like to cut hard.

[LatLongJohn]

Originally Posted by sunrisetrucker

When I watch drivers back up with their hand on the bottom of the wheel they are usually holding it with their palm facing down and gripping the wheel with their fingers. As they turn the wheel left or right it twists their arms until it reaches the top of the wheel and then they have to let go and reposition their hand,usually to the bottom again. When you start at the top you don't need to grip with your fingers. You just apply enough pressure with the palm of your hand to turn the wheel. And as you turn the wheel your hand is able to stay in a more natural position. This gives you more freedom to quickly respond to necessary corrections. I know it feels counterintuitive when you first start but with practice it works.

Hi - Here's my idea (just a theory, not tested yet): I purchased a steering wheel spinner knob so I don't have to reposition my hand on the steering wheel as it turns. This particular brand by AutoMuko clips on with no tools. I just need to put it on the bottom of the steering wheel of my Tundra when I'm ready to back up. I just purchased it on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and am satisfied with the quality and fit for my Tundra. It should work in the application we need for backing up a trailer by the method being discussed here. I'll let you know for sure when we finally get our 5.0 TA.

[cpaharley2008]

We used to call those "suicide knobs" as they would catch your sleeve opening and restrict your turning.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

We used to call those "suicide knobs" as they would catch your sleeve opening and restrict your turning.

I thought that they were outlawed. Maybe that is just in some regions. I remember Dad having one as a kid, but he only had one arm and needed it with "Armstrong" steering.

[gbaglo]

When reversing, you won't be making large adjustments of the wheel. If you do, you'll just have to start over.
I also thought those knobs were outlawed.

[currinh]

Originally Posted by LatLongJohn

.....I purchased a steering wheel spinner knob so I don't have to reposition my hand on the steering wheel as it turns. This particular brand by AutoMuko clips on with no tools. I just need to put it on the bottom of the steering wheel of my Tundra when I'm ready to back up. I just purchased it on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1).....

I love the Amazon "Frequently Bought Together" items for this spinner. The pack of unfiltered Camels fits right in. Roll them up in the sleeve of a tight fitting white tee and you're back to the 50s.

OK, fess up. How many of you clicked the link to check if this was true?

Thanks.

[CADreamin]

Gbaglo is right in saying, whatever you do, do it SLOW. We have more problems when "the driver" makes sudden moves while hitting the gas pedal while in the reverse direction.

I will always remember trying to back into a spot on the Oregon coast. After more than a few tries, several choice words/phrases being bandied about, we got it in and received a standing ovation from our neighbors for "providing them more entertainment than they had seen in a while". And we continue to entertain people to this day ...

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

I am going to give this a try next time with hand at the top of wheel . You are right about having to reposition your hand at least for me . Thankyou for another way . Pat

I have no problem backing trailer up on the majority of situations . Again , mine is at home only . I live on a hill . I have to back trailer up on a hill , 45 trailer into the driveway , going between iron rolling gate that has 2 block pillars on each side . Then back trailer up again on a incline . Usually have to go forward a few times to straighten up truck and trailer then back up again until it is lined up , where it needs to be in driveway . It would be a lot easier if roadway was ___flat and not a hill for that 45 degree turn . That is my stressor . Otherwise ,backing up is pretty easy and I have learned that . I am going to try hands at top of wheel next time . Any little tricks I am willing to try . Pat

[float5]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

I have no problem backing trailer up on the majority of situations . Again , mine is at home only . I live on a hill . I have to back trailer up on a hill , 45 trailer into the driveway , going between iron rolling gate that has 2 block pillars on each side . Then back trailer up again on a incline . Usually have to go forward a few times to straighten up truck and trailer then back up again until it is lined up , where it needs to be in driveway . It would be a lot easier if roadway was ___flat and not a hill for that 45 degree turn . That is my stressor . Otherwise ,backing up is pretty easy and I have learned that . I am going to try hands at top of wheel next time . Any little tricks I am willing to try . Pat

Sounds as if you have the worst situation for home parking. We had a somewhat bad situation when first had our 19', up a short incline and had some gravel to slip on. Since we were newbies it was bad news to us. Yours is much worse but you know what you are doing to get all the way back in there!

Now we have a pull-through. We expect, however, to be going back to a backing in situation. Ugh!

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by tractors1

I have to back around a corner to tuck my 21 into a 14 ft wide storage bay in my shop. I lay down pvc pipes aligned with the side walls as a guide to get things lined up before I commit to backing into the space. Makes for an easier process in spite of having the rear view camera, which I do use once the rear end of the trailer has entered the bay - I have a target mounted on the rear wall of the shop to aim at with the camera once the trailer has made it through the doorway.

Hi Charley got a solution for you . Make a back door and then just drive through . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by float5

Sounds as if you have the worst situation for home parking. We had a somewhat bad situation when first had our 19', up a short incline and had some gravel to slip on. Since we were newbies it was bad news to us. Yours is much worse but you know what you are doing to get all the way back in there!

Now we have a pull-through. We expect, however, to be going back to a backing in situation. Ugh!

Hi Cathy . Yup it's a pain . Sounds like you understand what my stress is . The only good part is trailer is behind a iron gate . Luckily the driveway is concrete and not gravel like you had to deal with . But from all the marks in the street and driveway , the wheels are really scrubbing . I have looked into trailer movers but no one can assure me they can handle the hill and incline . So I am always looking for tips to try . Thankyou for your understanding . Pat

[float5]

According to reviews, the trailer movers often have a problem even with the slightest incline, Pat.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by float5

According to reviews, the trailer movers often have a problem even with the slightest incline, Pat.

Thanks Cathy what I thought . Probably why I can't get a straight answer . Pat

[LatLongJohn]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I thought that they were outlawed. Maybe that is just in some regions. I remember Dad having one as a kid, but he only had one arm and needed it with "Armstrong" steering.

I'm not sure about that, but that's why the spinner I mentioned (clips on and off easily) would only be used while backing the trailer. Otherwise, you just throw it in the glove box or center console until needed.
John

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Hi Cathy . Yup it's a pain . Sounds like you understand what my stress is . The only good part is trailer is behind a iron gate . Luckily the driveway is concrete and not gravel like you had to deal with . But from all the marks in the street and driveway , the wheels are really scrubbing . I have looked into trailer movers but no one can assure me they can handle the hill and incline . So I am always looking for tips to try . Thankyou for your understanding . Pat

Any chance of sinking an anchor and using a winch to pull the trailer up backwards using the rear receiver with a ball in it? A small electric winch isn't very expensive. I use a small hand crank winch as on a boat trailer for pulling some loads around.

1500 lb. Capacity 120 Volt AC Electric Winch

[cpaharley2008]

Would he not need a winch with at least the weight of the trailer as capacity, say 5000#

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Would he not need a winch with at least the weight of the trailer as capacity, say 5000#

Only if the intent is to pick it straight up - on a mild incline there isn't much weight or the trolley thingies wouldn't be able to move a trailer. It's more about not having to worry about traction with the winch.

[cpaharley2008]

The link for the 1500 lb winch states 1500 weight horizontal pull, not vertical. I have never used one of these and I'm sure the rolling resistance is less with wheels versus a dead pull, so it may work. Brian, where are you??

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The link for the 1500 lb winch states 1500 weight horizontal pull, not vertical. I have never used one of these and I'm sure the rolling resistance is less with wheels versus a dead pull, so it may work. Brian, where are you??

On a reasonable road/driveway surface, 1500 pounds would be far more force than needed to move any Escape. The slope acts like a wedge, allowing the trailer weight to be lifted with much less force than lifting it straight up.

You have to lift the weight of the trailer up the hill, but as Charlie noted you're not pulling it up vertically. If your driveway rises (for instance) 15 feet over a 150-foot run, that's a 10% grade (steeper than any major highway), so pulling a 5,000 pound trailer up that slope needs (approximately) 10% of 5000 pounds to overcome the weight... that's 500 pounds of pull.
(It's actually 500 pounds horizontally for a 10% grade and 5000 pound trailer, or 502.5 pounds parallel to the slope, but that's just getting silly.)

You also have to overcome rolling drag, but rolling drag is much less than the force needed to overcome a 10% grade, so the total isn't a problem.

If your driveway is so steep and rough that it resembles a rock crawling competition course, or you let your driveway turn into a mudhole, then all bets are off!

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

I have looked into trailer movers but no one can assure me they can handle the hill and incline . So I am always looking for tips to try . Thankyou for your understanding . Pat

I have a similar situation: a curving driveway uphill. And the fence posts for the gate are right where I need to swing the front end of my truck wide to position my trailer next to the fence. In my case, the top of the driveway flattens out a bit. So I use my truck to get it up the slope, then the Trailer Valet dolly to jack it back and forth to ease the trailer next to the fence. It is a pain, but it works. I do have to be careful not to let the trailer get too far downhill or the dolly does not have enough traction to overcome the slope. That happened once and I ended up using a come along winch attached to the back receiver hitch to get it back up the slope.

Oh, and I'm a former transit operator. I used to back up 60' articulated buses so sometimes it is the situation, not your skill level. Sounds to me like your skills are just fine. You just have a really challenging situation.