How to Back Up a Trailer Perfectly!

Backing up a trailer is an important skill, and with some “know-how” and a bit of practice, you can master this skill.
#trailer #trailerbacking #backatrailer
In this episode, DirtFarmerJay reveals a few insider tips on trailer backing, as well as showing you WHY the tow vehicle and the trailer being towed behave as they do when backing and turning. You’ll also see how “jack-knifing” occurs, how to avoid it, and how different sized trailers behave differently.
When backing, you can either use your mirrors or turn your head and look directly back at the trailer and where you are backing. Both work - but we find using our mirrors is most convenient. We also use a hand-placement “trick” for the steering wheel to make it easier.
When backing a trailer, you are in reality pushing the trailer from its front. That means if the trailer tongue goes to the right, the rear of the trailer will go left, and vice-versa. This is why turning the tow vehicle’s front tires to the right causes the trailer rear to go to the left - and why steering, when backing the trailer, seems “backward” or “reverse common sense.”
Once you understand how backing works, you’ll need to practice a bit to master the technique. We suggest an empty parking lot, with no spectators. This allows you to relax and not be put under any “pressure to perform.” This is the time to learn, develop needed “muscle memory” - and the time you invest will pay you dividends for years to come!
With a couple of practice sessions, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how quickly you become proficient and confident in backing your trailer. Now that you have skills, when the need arises, you can JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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[@salgiordano9937]

Best advice I was given: whichever way the back end of the trailer needs to go, make the nose of the truck go in that direction.

[@angelamonk716]

Question please don't think it's stupid. So make the nose of the truck POINT in the direction you want the trailer to go ? You know being it's going in reverse, right? I'm in CDL classes and having hard time back up and being a female, in getting shunned big time. Any help would be very appreciated in reference to your advice you were given in past. ty

[@salgiordano9937]

@@angelamonk716 Yes, if I'm understanding you correctly. Imagine you're looking down at the truck and trailer from above, when you're turning they will make a v-shape with the rear end of the trailer and the front end of the truck being the tops of the v and the pivot point at the hitch being the point. I hope that makes sense, this is hard to put into words!!! Good luck!

[@angelamonk716]

@@salgiordano9937 I think I get it! Ty

[@Robmancan1987]

I just make my vehicle follow the trailer. In my head I'm driving the trailer and trying to make the vehicle stay as closely behind it as possible. Sometimes you need your trailer to go in a direction that looks crazy before you ever get under it with your vehicle to follow it on around.

[@dancindavey1515]

@@angelamonk716Being a female is not a problem. For some reason, backing a trailer can boggle anyone’s brain. Wait till you’re in your 70’s. Something really this simple gets harder. Just keep practicing. A light bulb will come on over your head eventually.

[@amypletcher4411]

Thank you sir for this lesson of backing up. I had to back up a lawn trailer for the first time all by myself. 😢 I was quite concerned but very confident to learn. My husband was at work so i just took my time and keep calm. I did it and finally after maybe an hour I managed to get it down half our driveway and into my back garage. Short story,( I drove in forward and made a loop, then started the backing up.) It is definitely muscle memory😊 and i have a lot of practice to still make it smooth but i was pretty impressed with myself!!

[@louislandi938]

DFJ, You always have practical lessons. No rambling on and on. The shorter the trailer, the harder it is to back up. I have a short utility trailer for my garden tractor. I get as close as I can to the garage overhang, unhitch (It’s empty at that point) and push it back in. Since it has to fit between other equipment, this is the quickest way for me.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks my friend. Best to you, DFJ

[@rzmonk76]

It looked so easy until I tried it. Thanks for sharing.

[@jacebmace]

Will have to give the mirror approach a try the next time I’m backing a trailer. Thanks, Jay!

[@luisonofre3394]

Thanks really helpful!

[@dancindavey1515]

I bought a toy truck with a trailer carrying a bulldozer. Practiced with it on a table and was really proud of my back- up ability. When I backed up my boat in my pickup… I must have jackknifed five times. Like getting hit with a mass confusion syndrome. Figured out…want boat to go left, butt of pickup goes right, and Vice versa. And I’d still screw up a couple of times.

[@lindabradford9591]

Lol. And just when you thought you had it. That's a cute story! I just heard that you "hold the top of the steering wheel to drive forward and the bottom of the steering wheel to back up the trailer." I'm gonna try that also.

[@toddsmith9598]

Outstanding! Thank you very much. I’ve been backing up a trailer for years and I learned alot in this video.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks Todd Smith. Best, DFJ

[@lawntiger8923]

Sound advice and so helpful. Thanks!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

So glad!

[@huanengneng]

best video for this topic

[@kikibrewer6571]

Best video, thanks

[@mareyananan9533]

Good demonstration. Helped a lot,

[@bobbertc4932]

Loved this. Seeing steering wheel, vehicle AND trailer in one view was very helpful. Thumb-pointing is also a great tip. Thanks!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You're welcome!

[@imablank9701]

Just seen your truck at tractor supply. New subscriber. Glad to have someone in my area taking about gardening and other stuff.

[@jayneweathers]

Thank you so much for making this easy to understand!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kasperaquatics]

Loved the video, solid no nonsense advice as usual. Just maybe, I can learn to park a trailer before I leave this earth. Thanks for the great tip.

[@lindabradford9591]

Thank you for sharing

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You're welcome.

[@codeman3564]

You're absolutely right when you said you don't need an audience or someone telling you go left no go right I didn't get it really down packed until I did it by myself getting that muscle memory like you said

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Indeed. It isn't helpful getting that type of advice or pressure.

[@brucebabin4137]

I think what was meant to be said, was that if you want the back end of the trailer to go in a particular direction. Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and the direction your hand goes is the direction the back of the trailer will go. 20 years driving tractor trailer and I didn’t get it wrong once. Thank you for the video. 🙂

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

that is much clearer!

[@richardprice5979]

😊😊😊

[@arnoldndukidinsimba1924]

super easy to learn.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@israelnemitz8323]

Great video!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thank you!

[@johnnyplair8532]

Great information

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you liked it. Best, DFJ

[@silverdragontaylir8252]

Thank you

[@gregmaxfield4405]

Thanks DFJ, will try the mirror technique next time I move my Camper Trailer. 🙂🚜🐻 Bear Queensland Oztralia

[@FrantasticFacials]

Learning how to back up a trailer hitched to a 1 ton truck when I was in the Air Force was a challenge. Great demonstration and I like the looking in the mirrors much better. Would love to see you do a 2nd video in an actual vehicle. 😁

[@daisylee298]

Thank you Jay , can I use the same instructions for driving a truck?

[@charlescoker7752]

Just take your time. Move slow. Watch the trailer like a hawk. If it heads in the wrong direction , stop , and adjust.

[@DebSeymourMusic]

THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU! I just spent the last two days learning to back up...and while I managed, if I had only know the bottom-of-the-steering-wheel-thumbs technique, I would have acheived my goals more smoothly.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it helped!

[@vaughanscott7308]

Great advice old timer 🍾

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you think so!

[@darrenrichards4840]

Thanks for this and a great explanation. I remember the first time I drove with a trailer as a 17 year old and was about to reverse it just the same way I would the pickup when my father said 'you know you reverse the opposite way' I just replied 'WHAT' in disbelief 😅

[@alidjillali7450]

Bonjour 🇩🇿🌹🇩🇿 Merci pour l'explication Salutations

[@mykelbaurle5758]

The easiest and less confusing way is to turn the bottom of the steering wheel the direction you want your trailer to go.

[@nickrhiley5416]

You are awesome thank you for the video. I was taught to hold the bottom of the wheel and it's still how I do it. I jacked-knifed my first trailer after knowing how to back it up, 5 years later. the walls blew apart on the highway I immediately pulled over and instantly forgot I had a trailer backed up and crunched my rear end. Luckily, I owned that truck anyway I'm always trying to better myself to ensure I don't destroy company property, or my future property.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching and writing. Sorry to hear of the damage to your vehicle. I'm sure that won't happen again. That lesson was hard learned and now is yours. Best, DFJ

[@allanc.finnical4445]

Great advice. Definitely make small corrections and go back to center. Buddy worked on Mack trucks that hauled trailers loaded with coal. He always knew the trucks without power steering because the drivers backed up their trailers easier and quicker. Also, if you can start out with vehicle and trailer straight you're better off.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good insights, Al! Best, DFJ

[@Corndogryn07]

We’ve got a tiny 10ft camper that wants to jackknife at any chance- thank you for advice!

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good morning from Southeast South Dakota

[@slimwantedman6694]

Being a retired truck driver. (No I don't mean a pickup/suv). I have almost just as many miles forward as I do backing up. Try backing down multiple blocks at the meat market in Chicago. Enjoy your video's keepem coming

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks Slim WantedMan. I always enjoy your comments as well! Best, DFJ

[@predictiveprogramming3760]

Do the people in northern South Dakota ever feud with the people in southern North Dakota?

[@slimwantedman6694]

@@predictiveprogramming3760 No We have East River and West River issues. The Missouri River is the dividing line.

[@Garry-nf2dx]

Does that mean your backing up from norwest north Dakota 😊

[@willbcat1]

When talking about using a mirror - is that the rear view mirror, or a side mounted mirrors?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

We use both, whatever gives us the clearest view and angle. Both work well, depending on the situation. Best, DFJ

[@epiphgd4302]

@8:10 you said ‘to the left’ but you put your hands to the right? Bit confusing that bit

[@jencarlson]

Thank you DirtFarmer Jay! You made backing out a rental trailer a breeze!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great to hear! Be careful about letting people know that you can back a trailer well. Before you know it, you'll be asked to help on all sorts of projects! Best, DFJ

[@codeman3564]

Those tiny adjustments is a big key in backing a trailer

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You are correct. The shorter the trailer or the tongue, the more those little adjustments make a difference. Best, DFJ

[@Inisfad]

I’ve learned to put my hands on the bottom of the steering wheel of my car, so that my hands go in the direction I want the trailer to go. But I still need to learn how not to jackknife it….lol

[@DirtFarmerJay]

That's a great technique, you'll get it and then the jack-knifing will go away.

[@fishlanding]

I have always wanted to be better at this....

[@yvonnejocks4042]

Thank you for the reminder that we're working to establish muscle memory :-)

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Right on.

[@robertbrandywine]

I find this left and right terminology with reference to a steering wheel confusing! I can only make sense of clockwise and counterclockwise. And another thing, talking about your trailer going left or right is also confusing. It's easier for me to think in terms of the trailer "appearing" and moving more in the passenger side mirror or driver side mirror. Example: If I want the trailer to appear more and more in the driver's side mirror, I *always* move the steering wheel clockwise regardless of where I place my hands on the wheel.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks, Robert for both watching our video and taking time to write! It's likely that we'll be doing another episode on this topic and your concepts are great ones to incorporate into that video. Thanks again. Best, DFJ

[@robertbrandywine]

Thank *you*!@@DirtFarmerJay

[@jkyontz]

So that's how you do it.

[@akulinamackenzie4492]

👍 ruined a car once like that......ouff 😄

[@johndennis3181]

Turn towards trouble.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Indeed, that's a great memory cue. We are going to do another episode using the actual trailer and truck and we'll make sure to include that. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@shawnlanders2034]

If you want your trailer to move to the RIGHT, you turn your wheel to the LEFT. If you want your trailer to move to the LEFT, you turn your wheel to the RIGHT. It's always the opposite to the way your wheels are turned. If you want to go straight backwards. Keep the wheel straight.

[@NancyJohnson-kq2rf]

I, myself, never understood why people could not back up a trailer. Maybe it was the farmer in me.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Probably so!