Terrible at backing boat down ramp, thinking front hitch

PRACTICE.

To add to the hand on the bottom of the wheel.

Go slow
Pull forward and reset. Get the truck and trailer straight. Once the truck and trailer are in line and pointed correctly, keep it that way.

 

It doesn’t matter what technique you use. Be consistent in your routine. Practice. I’ve been towing trailers of various sizes for almost 50 years. Every spring before race and fishing season, I take the trailers out and practice for depth perception and angles..
After you gets lots of experience YOUR STILL GONNA SCREW UP....


Oh to add to your misery,
I backup Hands on top.....lol

 

Also, you just have to be a dick.
You will stop traffic, you will irratate people because they had to stop to let you back your trailer into the drive.

They have 2 choices. Hit you or wait. I've never been hit. I live on a busy road.

Backing into your own drive under pressure will make backing down the boat ramp a breeze.

 

This helps, had a jet ski with short trailer and it was hard to see in till i had it sideways, put some of these on to see the back of the trailer, helped a lot.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. Sooner or later he's going to get boxed in at a gas station or something and will need to back the trailer up. Might as well just practice until you have it down.

 

That's when you walk to a guy with a trailer and hand him a six pack. Please help me out. Because you are fawked!

 

I have my hand...anywhere, usually on top I guess. As long as there’s nothing in the bed I can watch out the back window and drive the trailer in reverse almost as easily as going forward. If visibility is blocked at the boat ramp I’ll just hang out the door while backing down to see where it’s at in the water. I had to parallel park the boat into its spot on the Street last summer on multiple occasions. once you do it enough, you just realize that your steering input is basicially tripled in effect on the trailer. So you either use it to your advantage or adjust as to not over correct when going straight

 

I almost got into a fight after pulling our boat out of the water and we were putting stuff up and organizing stuff. I pulled off the main road on a dirt side street and of course some jackass wants to cut through where I was instead of just going down the street. I basically cussed him out and said he had enough room to get by if he absolutely had to.

 

It's like riding a bike too you won't forget. I learned when i was mowing lawns when I was 16. Now I'm pretty just good without doing it for years but it doesn't bother me to do it

 

THIS right here folks is the secret to backing up a trailer if you’re not particularly good at it. It’s how I learned.

To the OP: watch some YouTube instructional videos. Practice somewhere you can’t hurt anything. You’ll be fine I promise.

 

Agree with above, practice intensely until it becomes second nature. It isn't something you'll "get" right away, but will get better with practice no doubt. And DON'T overthink it.

 

I wonder if this thing could help the untrainable?

 

You need to practise and learn to backup properly before being out on a public road/ramp. At some time you will be required to drive in reverse at some point, can't avoid it forever.
I had a lawn buissness starting at 10. My dad knew as soon as I had a license I'd want to expand beyond just the neighborhood and trailer my mowers.
My dad hooked up a lawn cart to the lawn tractor and made me do laps around the yard in reverse. Because of this most of the techniques people tell others seem odd to me. I learned on a flat wheel vs vertical of a truck so hand position is different, and no mirrors.
It's all about practise and repetition. Find what works for YOU and do it.
Always funny when a stranger asks for help at the ramp.

 

I was bad at backing up too. Practice.
You might want to get pole flags for the back of the trailer to help see when it begins turning.

Or if the launch ramp is large enough and Really Really Long & somewhat empty. I'll drive down till the front wheels about touch the water, Make a U turn and then back in and launch.
Lake Powell in Arizona has REALLY LONG boat ramps when the water level is low.

 

This feels like an April fool's joke

 

Gain back your man card and learn to back up a trailer

 

Another trailer/towing tip I found useful:

You trailer axle is the point of turning.
Start your maneuvers based on that position relative to where you want to go. Small adjustments and if you have to start making huge ones then you should be closed to finishing the move- if not pull ahead and start over.

 

What do you do if it's a busy weekend day and all 3 lanes are being used?

 

Not to scare you off rear trailer hitches - My neighbor had a buddy drop off his trailer so he could borrow it. I live on a cul de sac dead end road, that is basically at the end of an easement that cuts through someone else's property. It is the only way in/out for me and another resident. I was minding my own business and doing yard work (mowing) while watching/listening to the amusing conversation that was occurring over the parking of the trailer. This guy took about an hour to parallel park the trailer on the side of the road, however it took him many tries. I am not sure what was more impressive, my neighbor cheer leading his buddy for an hour "you can do it!...use your mirrors!...you got this!" or taking an hour to park a trailer on the side of the road. lol.

 

I know I considered it a joke.