Beep, Beep, Beep, Backing Up…
The most feared trailer maneuver for novices is backing up. But it’s really not that difficult. Like anything in life, you just got to jump into it and as Nike said so eloquently “Just Do It”. Here are four pointers to get you through the procedure.
- Before backing up, look at the steering wheel in front of you. Grab the wheel with one hand at 6 o’clock. Whichever way your hand moves is the direction the trailer will move.
- Once the trailer starts to jackknife, turn the steering wheel the opposite way as you look behind you to guide your car behind the path of the trailer.
- It’s easier to back to the left, where you have greater vision, than to back to the right. When backing right, try to station someone behind you to shout directions. If necessary, get out and look before you back.
- Pull ahead of the parking spot and point the car on a right angle when backing left, and on a left angle when backing right.
Trailer driving does not take exceptional driving skills. Its takes practice. Like every new driver, start out by practicing in a vacant parking lot and you will get the hang of it faster then you would believe. Plus, whenever you challenge yourself to something new like this – it is a giant confidence builder. We know you can do it.
