Teach Yourself To Back A Trailer / Caravan in 5 Minutes

[@grahamep8635]

Like other commenters, I have been backing box trailers, campers, single and dual axle caravans for a lifetime. While I appreciate your approach with the video technique, and everyone should use the technique that works best for them, I recently changed my long time approach to one I saw on, where else, KZbin. Is very simple.....place both hands on the bottom of the steering wheel and leave them there while reversing. If you want the van to move towards the driver side in the rear view mirror, move the wheel in that direction. If you want to move the van towards the kerb side, move the wheel in that direction. When enough turn is achieved, restraighten steering wheel. No thinking required..move the steering wheel in the direction you wish to point the van. Even works with my little box trailer. If you can see it, you can reverse it! Appreciate your work, thanks.

[@L2SFBC]

That's essentially what I show here, except not the bottom of the wheel part. If that works for people, use it, but I think it has limitations when you need to spin the wheel a fair bit.

[@bradralph4668]

Fantastic video you made it soooo simple and it works !!! Can’t believe I’ve been struggling for so long.

[@Theprofessor1212]

I’m glad my dad taught me when I was young. One of the most valuable lessons is that if you know that you are going to reverse on a busy road or small driveway, ask for help and use a spotter. A lot of people don’t wait and just come in the way especially small kids. My dad also taught me to keep a high vis in the back of the car for the spotter.

[@TOYOTA.Overland]

As an occasional truck driver I can say it's great video for logic and understanding. But the fastest and most accurate is if you stick your head out of the window and look back. Observe tires from the trailer on your side where they are going and turn the steering wheel just subconsciously. Don't forget to check the other side in the mirror from time to time. And remember, there's no shame to get out from the car and check the situation. Sometimes it looks a little different than you thought from the car.

[@L2SFBC]

Agree no shame in getting out, but modern cars and short people mean heads-out is hard, and wouldn't want to do that in the rain anyway. Better to use mirrors.

[@fishingwiththomas]

I showed my mate this technique 2wks ago after I watched him struggle to reverse his boat. He couldn't believe no one had showed him before. I teach people how to reverse airport baggage trailers at work. It throws everything you know about trailer reversing out the window when you have two pivot points.

[@off-roadingexplained8417]

As always, tackling the most difficult questions in life, like how to back up a trailer. Sometimes I think this is one of those things that you're sort of born with. Some people are just kind of naturally good at it and other people have to work at it. This video was very helpful for me because I have never heard anyone explain it this way and it is crayon simple!

[@michaelsecomb4115]

Good tips. Keeping the hands on the bottom of the wheel means hands move in the desired direction of the caravan.

[@brentonpaterson7047]

On the rare occasion I have tried to reverse a trailer my mistake was going too fast and not stopping before turning the wheel. So easy to keep turning left and right without going straight. Thanks for this.

[@michaelhermans4753]

I’ve been reversing boat trailers for 40 years and this video is spot on, if slow doesn’t work try slower😊

[@silknfeathers]

Have to say, that's brilliant! More caravan, turn that direction, how simple! All those rambling about different trailers behaving differently are simply adding complexity. Using this method anyone can (slowly) learn the basics, THEN go on to master complexities. Well done.

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks please share

[@200mphgt40]

I learnt the keep hands at bottom of steering wheel technique. Move hands in direction you want trailer to go. But this technique of yours equally good i guess. And yes, go real slow is the best advice. Low range in a manual if you can to keep clutch happy. I always try to arrange it so i dont have to reverse up a steep incline...like my long driveway, the one with a chicane in it!

[@markfarr2514]

Thanks Robert, always stressful when trying to reverse the caravan into spot, this will help tremendously 😊

[@L2SFBC]

Happy to help and more to come..

[@Allwasahome]

Really really appreciate this video in this one video I now understand reversing a caravan. Thanks so very much, am looking forward to seeing the other videos.

[@brunobruno5763]

Great video that looks simple ?? a video on reversing a van into a bay or drive way would be helpfull keep up the great video

[@L2SFBC]

Coming soon!

[@mickcoz1995]

Good explanation, looking forward to some pointers on backing a van into a location.

[@traceybjorksten4445]

Great explanation. I look forward to the next installments and hope you'll cover reversing in an arc - we have a circular driveway with a central island, which doesn't allow for much straight line travel.

[@L2SFBC]

Yes will cover an arc and whatever else people want 👍

[@sliedude]

Excellent explanation as always. Thanks!

[@kellstat]

Good stuff as usual!

[@Excitedtobehere]

I’ve found trailers have different reversing dynamics depending on their geometry. My 7m caravan is easy (including previous 2 vans). Last 4.5M narrow track boat trailer was easy, my current wide track boat trailer is a pig to reverse, need to take it slow, stop and roll 1m forward when it won’t follow the inputs.

[@peterstaggs1956]

Great video Robert. We have a 20’ van and I dread having to reverse 90 park on left side in a caravan park. Another difficult manoeuvre is shifting the van sideways to fit onto site better. Any advice would help me and probably others. Cheers

[@L2SFBC]

Will cover that

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Great tip thanks. One thing I stuggle with is reversing my box tailer with my 4WD where I cannot see the trailer because it is narrower than the car. However I think this technique should still work.

[@L2SFBC]

Back it in a circle - that's coming up

[@i.m.peterrific]

Put some long PVC poles at the back of the trailer for visual indicators if can't see it, or some that extend our sideways will also work.

[@pabichpawel]

Awesome idea! I always struggle with 90 degree reversing when the road from which I start is very narrow. I would you to cover this scenario.

[@L2SFBC]

Yes will cover that

[@pabichpawel]

@@L2SFBC thanks!

[@operation4wheelz]

Yeah this is the easiest way to learn to back a trailer. Exactly how I taught myself. Once you’ve got this method sorted. The rest is easy.

[@MiniLuv-1984]

I've noticed my camper and my box trailer behave quite differently in reversing. The camper has a longer A frame and the wheels are quite far back, the box trailer has a shorter A frame and the wheels are closer to the middle of the box section. The box trailer is a lot more controllable at the extreme angles by using plenty of steering input, whereas the camper you have to move forward to straighten it - there is a point where there is no correcting it and it will damage the vehicle if one proceeds.

[@johnherron4638]

My tip is most tow with a 4x4, put into low range and give yourself more time to think!

[@L2SFBC]

Only if no risk of wind-up.

[@petermurphy2167]

Trouble on left = left hand down Trouble on right = right hand down Try and find a kerb or line marking to run parallel to

[@geoffgeoff143]

Do everything in slow motion and make corrections early.

[@nigelmaxwell5751]

Fundamental question is WHY does the trailer / caravan veer off if the steering wheel hasn't moved. Understanding this might just help the recovery process.

[@L2SFBC]

I'm not sure it'd help. Just knowing it does and what to do is enough.

[@markh6676]

slow is the go.

[@AquaMarine1000]

The confusion of right and left was solved with port and starboard as used in marine situations. Cheers

[@L2SFBC]

Not really, as then people need to know port and starboard, and it's not the terms "left" and "right", it's the concept of one side or the other regardless of name.

[@AquaMarine1000]

@@L2SFBC Maybe, but port and starboard stay fixed regardless of your direction of view. Surely the concept of port and starboard is no harder to understanding than righthand and lefthand or forward and reverse. In fact forward and reverse are fixed directions as is port and starboard. Cheers

[@L2SFBC]

The problem is telling one from the other not the names.

[@AquaMarine1000]

@@L2SFBC I can agree, some people don't know their right from their left, let alone P&S. Cheers

[@cooperken11]

Just hold the BOTTOM of the steering wheel!!! If you want the trailer to go more to the drivers side the bottom of the steering wheel goes that way. If you want the trailer to go towards the passenger side with your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel just turn the wheel towards the passenger side. It’s so simple it’s crazy. No thinking backwards as you would have to whilst holding the steering wheel normally. A longer trailer is easier to learn on as it reacts more slowly to any driver input. It’s so simple I can’t believe you didn’t just do the whole video on that. 🥴🥴🥴

[@L2SFBC]

I have heard of the bottom of steering wheel advice. I don't think it's the best way to learn. Hence this approach.

[@cooperken11]

Do a video on it and let the comments decide. Anyone can see in their mirrors which way the trailer is going but most have no idea how to correct it first go. The bottom of the steering wheel method works every time.

[@L2SFBC]

Did you watch this one?

[@placestosea]

@@L2SFBC the reason the bottom of the steering wheel system works for me, is you are generally reversing on an angle (eg: caravan into a site) so one of the mirrors will very quickly be useless. Also moving the wheel too much will be like driving forward and swinging the wheel from left to right ( something you don't usually do) eg: just a steady very small movement from the bottom of the wheel, similar amount of movement to driving/towing at highway speed, is what I find works.

[@ianmac2963]