On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:09:03 +0800, Alan wrote:
On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:23:47 -0400, Wes wrote:
Too_Many_Tools wrote:

Thought you might find this discussion of interest.

In regards to metalworking, in your opinion what are the 25 skills
that every HSMer should know?

The List: How to...

Snip
6. Back up a trailer

Easy, have 3, smallest is hardest as it is 400mm narrower each
side of the Patrol and is off the line by the time it is visible in
the mirrors

Egad! You haven't learned the little secret of attaching a "sissy
stick" to a trailer? I thought you Aussies knew /everything/ about
towing trailers, seeing as you allow Road Trains (IMNSHO every one of
them a disaster waiting to happen) over there... _

Get a piece of wood or tubing and attach it to the rear end of the
trailer so it either sticks up high enough to see in the rear-view
mirror, or out to the side (use a spring as the base mount for WHEN
you hit things with it) enough so you can see it in the side mirrors.

Put a few streamers of bright colored flagging tape on the end of
the stick so people walking by don't impale themselves. That makes
backing short wheelbase little trailers a whole lot easier.

Oh, and if the stick starts gyrating or wiggling more than usual
while driving down the road, or it gets tilted to one side, or
obscured in smoke... Pull over and check the tires & bearings.

Take it from someone who puts a 3'x5' (~1M x 1.6M) utility trailer
(with the concrete mix bags on the way out and the trash on the way
back) behind a full-size van two or three times a month.

-- Bruce --