new eXmark!

[mikeklein]

Picked up my new 48" metro today,cuts like a dream!I am using a 6X10 open trailer being pulled by a mazda 4cyl.It does alright for now until I can afford that new F250 diesel.I am not very good at manuvering the trailer though.I am terrible at backing it up.Any tips?I friend told me just steer in the opposite direction you want the trailer to go,but that doesnt always work.Alot of my accounts are in narrow street suburbs,where alot of times you cant find room to park even a truck.My only idea was to put a velke on the mower,park the truck@trailer in a suitable spot and drive the mower to the home!I am seriously thinking about a LWB flat bed trck with ramps.I guess i just need practice with the trailer.

[Phishook]

:dizzy: :dizzy: It's always a treat to watch someone back a small trailer up. Double axle's are much easier.

[Richard Martin]

It takes a little time to learn and be confident about backing up a trailer. My first trailer was a 4X8 behind a 4 cylinder Chevy S-10 and it could be a doosy to back up. Just be carefull and take your time.

[65hoss]

The shorter the trailer the more interesting it becomes. Keep practicing, you'll get it.

[wriken]

A longer trailer is alot easier to back up then a short one. do you use your mirrows, or look out the back window. easier to look out the back window, just the pro truckers will laugh at you, but who cares better than wrecking the back of your truck, LOL

[dfor]

You will eventually get the hang of it. Like the others said, small trailers aren't easy and practice. It will become second nature. When I back up without the trailer, I will sometimes turn the wheel as if the trailer is there.

[Tony Harrell]

Practice. Go to an empty parking lot and set up some cones or something. Trust all of us, you'll get the hang of it and wonder to yourself what the big deal was.

[heygrassman]

Try putting your hand at the bottom of the steering will (6 O'Clock position) and steer the trailer the way that you want it to go.. It did not work well for me because I am too used to steering opposite of where I want to go. Might work for you if you do not have a steering habit.

Practice...Practice... Practice..

It took me about 3 months and there are not many situations where I am concerned now.

Good Luck!!

[MikeLT1Z28]

i've got a 6x12 single axle that i was using a 4cyl ranger to pull with, till it died that is. now i have a 1990 f-150 4x4 with a 351 :D

do you use mirrors to back or do you turn your body to face out the back window.

[jpzink]

Thirty two years ago I started pulling horse trailers and have had to pull all makes since at work and play. Practice always makes perfect. Truckers use their mirrors, because they usally can't look out the back window. Even if they could, they wouldn't. Using the mirrors puts you in complete control of the rear as well as the front of the vehicle. Take your time when you back up and do not make sharp or sudden turns. Turn the truck wheels in the opposite direction of the way you want the trailer to turn before you begin to back up, then back slowly until the trailer begins to turn, then begin turning the wheel slowly back the other direction and start following the trailer. Take your time, you will get it. Check around for someone who is good at backing and ask him for some hands on training. Good luck.

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

Originally posted by dfor
You will eventually get the hang of it. Like the others said, small trailers aren't easy and practice. It will become second nature. When I back up without the trailer, I will sometimes turn the wheel as if the trailer is there.

I do that all the time! At least I know I'm not the only one:p

[scottb]

Practice Practice you'll get the hang of it. I can back my double axle with my rear veiw but when I switch to the signle axle it take a few minutes to adjust.

I started out learnining to back hay wagons with a tractor talk about a humbling experience,just when I got the the hang of it we switched to trailers.
Good luck

[mdb landscaping]

I strongly suggest learning to back up using your mirrors. I started out with a 5 by 10 open trailer, and just looked out the back window to back up. I jumped up to a 8 by 14 enclosed trailer last year, and it was like learning to back up all over again. Now the only way to back up trailers for me is looking in the mirrors, wether it be an open or enclosed trailer. Practice makes perfect.

[Cutter1]

Like they all said, it takes practice!!! When using a little trailer it is especially hard. I have a 16 ft trailer and when I go to move my waverunner trailer, big difference!! All I can say is don't over compensate, use as little steering as possible.