I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle
and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing
what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

I have major problems reversing my simgle axle trailer behind my
Discovery - mainly because I can't see it ! It's slightly narrower
than the car and lower than can be seen through the rear window. My
solution was to fix two 3 foot long vertical lengths of white 20mm
plastic conduit to the rear corners of the trailer so no at least I
can see when it starts to jacknife.

AWEM

Andrew Mawson wrote:
"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle
and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing
what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

I have major problems reversing my simgle axle trailer behind my
Discovery - mainly because I can't see it ! It's slightly narrower
than the car and lower than can be seen through the rear window. My
solution was to fix two 3 foot long vertical lengths of white 20mm
plastic conduit to the rear corners of the trailer so no at least I
can see when it starts to jacknife.

AWEM


I have had my small trailer for a number of years, have4 not yet
mastered reversing, a little better perhaps. The answer might be to go
to an empty car park and practice, practice practice. No easy answer
methinks.

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?

That's what I do with small trailers. I did once try fitting a couple of
vertical indicators, as suggested by Andrew, but found that, even though it
let me see the trailer was going off course, it didn't help me correct it.
They simply react too quickly. I use a 1400kg double axle van trailer these
days and that gives no such problems.

Colin Bignell

I can just about reverse a small trailer with my Volvo 740 - but that has a
very good steering lock.

Small trailers will turn off line very quickly and once they are off line
they are almost impossible to get straight again.

The only way I can manage is to go very slowly, swing the front of the car
as far as possible as soon as possible, and be prepared to ease forward
again if the trailer goes off line.

Long vehicles don't reverse short trailers well.

You would have a much better chance in a Mini, for instance, because it
takes a lot less time (and distance) for the front wheels to move from being
well right of the trailer to well left of the trailer.

Human beings have a very short wheelbase and so can move from side to side
very quickly - this makes reversing a trailer much easier than using a car
;-)

The distance from the pushing point (towing hitch) to the pivot point (axle)
makes a lot of difference - if you had a 6 foot extension between the tow
ball and the hitch I think you would find it a lot easier to reverse in a
straight line (but harder to turn).

Cheers

Dave R.


"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.
--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

The message
from Broadback contains these words:

I have major problems reversing my simgle axle trailer behind my
Discovery - mainly because I can't see it ! It's slightly narrower
than the car and lower than can be seen through the rear window. My
solution was to fix two 3 foot long vertical lengths of white 20mm
plastic conduit to the rear corners of the trailer so no at least I
can see when it starts to jacknife.

AWEM


I have had my small trailer for a number of years, have4 not yet
mastered reversing, a little better perhaps. The answer might be to go
to an empty car park and practice, practice practice. No easy answer
methinks.

You need to be able to see the trailer in order to control it. I haven't
had a towing hitch for over 10 years (the trailer has been rotting
quietly in the garden since) but when I had I found I could get at least
a glimpse of it by opening the 5th door and that was enough if I took it
really slowly. I think something like Andrews solution is essential if
otherwise you can't see where it is. It is no good guessing because it
will have jackknifed well before it is visible in the side mirrors.

--
Roger Chapman

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way.

It's a well known phenomenon!

Get someone to stand outside the car, wave his arms about and shout. It
won't be any easier but you can blame him :-)

Mary.

Mary Fisher wrote:


It's a well known phenomenon!

Get someone to stand outside the car, wave his arms about and shout. It
won't be any easier but you can blame him :-)

Mary.



Lovely!

May I show this to my wife as encouragement next time I try to persuade
her that it would be useful if she could back our trailer ;-)

In actual fact she _should_ have no trouble with it as it 8' x 12' and
thus reverses quite happily with none of that instantaneous jackknifing
that afflicts toy trailers as discussed above.


Richard

"Richard" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:


It's a well known phenomenon!

Get someone to stand outside the car, wave his arms about and shout. It
won't be any easier but you can blame him :-)

Mary.

Lovely!

May I show this to my wife as encouragement next time I try to persuade
her that it would be useful if she could back our trailer ;-)

There's no reason she _couldn't_ if it's 12' long. Whether she _wants_ to or
even _should_ (why bother, when there's a man around?) is a different
matter.

I can and occasionally do but I let him think he's superior at it, there has
to be something .... :-)

Mary

Mary Fisher wrote:


There's no reason she _couldn't_ if it's 12' long. Whether she _wants_ to or
even _should_ (why bother, when there's a man around?) is a different
matter.

I can and occasionally do but I let him think he's superior at it, there has
to be something .... :-)

Mary



Indeed there is no reason why should couldn't nor is there any reason
why she should. I'm only trying to encourage her to acquire another
skill that she may have to exercise when she doesn't have the time to
practice. There are lots of things she does better than me, or so she
tells me ;-)

Richard

"Richard" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:


There's no reason she _couldn't_ if it's 12' long. Whether she _wants_ to
or even _should_ (why bother, when there's a man around?) is a different
matter.

I can and occasionally do but I let him think he's superior at it, there
has to be something .... :-)

Mary



Indeed there is no reason why should couldn't nor is there any reason why
she should. I'm only trying to encourage her to acquire another skill
that she may have to exercise when she doesn't have the time to practice.
There are lots of things she does better than me, or so she tells me ;-)

She's right.

There will be far too many to list.

She might even know the difference betrween practice and practise :-)

Mary

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

The size of the wheels is irrelevant.
Its the distance between the tow hitch and the rear axle and the distance
between the hitch and the trailer wheels that matters.


So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.

Practice, practice and more practice.

"dennis@home" wrote in message
...

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle and
13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

The size of the wheels is irrelevant.
Its the distance between the tow hitch and the rear axle and the distance
between the hitch and the trailer wheels that matters.


So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.

Practice, practice and more practice.

When you only use the trailer every few months it's not worth the time.

If you're using it frequently that gives you practice.

Mary

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Mary Fisher wrote:

"dennis@home" wrote in message
...

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double
axle and 13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

The size of the wheels is irrelevant.
Its the distance between the tow hitch and the rear axle and the
distance between the hitch and the trailer wheels that matters.


So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing
what I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then
re-attaching it? Thanks
Alan.

Practice, practice and more practice.

When you only use the trailer every few months it's not worth the
time.
If you're using it frequently that gives you practice.

Mary

Small trailers are much more difficult to reverse than long ones because,
once they're out of line with the towcar by more than a few degrees, there's
nothing you can do to stop them jack-knifing - other than going forwards
again. If you can't actually *see* the trailer until it appears in your door
mirror, you've *no* chance!

If you're interested in a technical explanation, I developed the maths a
while ago, and posted it at http://www.mills37.plus.com/Jack-knife.pdf

--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

Mary Fisher wrote:



She might even know the difference betrween practice and practise :-)

Mary



Probably as she is a professional word-smith AKA a solicitor!

Richard ;-)

"Richard" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:



She might even know the difference betrween practice and practise :-)

Mary



Probably as she is a professional word-smith AKA a solicitor!

So she does know something you don't :-)

Although, in my experience solicitors aren't always as good with the written
word as they are with the oral.

Mary

Richard ;-)

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Mary Fisher wrote:

"dennis@home" wrote in message
...

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double
axle and 13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

The size of the wheels is irrelevant.
Its the distance between the tow hitch and the rear axle and the
distance between the hitch and the trailer wheels that matters.


So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing
what I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then
re-attaching it? Thanks
Alan.

Practice, practice and more practice.

When you only use the trailer every few months it's not worth the
time.
If you're using it frequently that gives you practice.

Mary

Small trailers are much more difficult to reverse than long ones because,
once they're out of line with the towcar by more than a few degrees,
there's nothing you can do to stop them jack-knifing - other than going
forwards again. If you can't actually *see* the trailer until it appears
in your door mirror, you've *no* chance!

If you're interested in a technical explanation, I developed the maths a
while ago, and posted it at http://www.mills37.plus.com/Jack-knife.pdf

I know the reason, I wasn't disputing it :-)

The first time I drove it was on a tractor, with a trailer, I was taught how
to reverse. I was ten.

It was much later that I learned about short trailers. But it really isn't
all that important if you don't tow them often. Reversing into our drive is
done by unhitching and wheeling up manually. It's not a big deal. We reverse
the caravan (12+towbar) with no problem.

Mary



--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

Mary Fisher wrote:


So she does know something you don't :-)

Although, in my experience solicitors aren't always as good with the written
word as they are with the oral.

Mary


Company-commercial specialist - not a litigator. So an expert drafter
of contracts.

Richard ;-)

"Richard" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:


So she does know something you don't :-)

Although, in my experience solicitors aren't always as good with the
written word as they are with the oral.

Mary


Company-commercial specialist - not a litigator. So an expert drafter of
contracts.

Good for her - and rather her than me!

Each to his own, keep reversing the trailer yourself :-)

Mary

A.Lee wrote:

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing what
I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then re-attaching it?
Thanks
Alan.

:¬)

I have an Ivor Williams 6' x 4' trailer with high sides which is a
breeze to reverse behind my old discovery (providing as others have said
you can actually reverse in the first place) however.... when I reverse
onto our drive from the road, the drive is at a fairly steep angle which
means as teh trailer stars to descend the axle comes closer to the ball
hitch and the smallest adjustment in steering sends the trailer right
off course.

I would suggest taking the smallest of steering movements followed by
instant straightening of steering line even befoer the trailer has
apparently started to deviate.

I would expect there to be a much greater amount of steering wheel
movement compared to a slightly longer trailer.

Easier to unhitch.
After all, the max weight you could load would never be un-manageable to
move by hand.

Pete
--
http://www.gymratz.co.uk
LifeFitness equipment with a 10% discount (if you ask!)

"A.Lee" wrote in message
...
I've driven with trailers before for work, and never had any real
problems when reversing - these were big trailers with a double axle
and 13" wheels.

I've recently bought a 4'x3', 8" tyred trailer for behind my van.
Can I reverse it?
No way. Even in a straight line it wants to go one way or another.
My mate says they are near impossible to reverse, as the axle is too
close to the rear of the vehicle, and little wheels make it harder.

So, any tips to reverse such a trailer, or do I just carry on doing
what I'm doing, by unhooking it, reversing the van, then
re-attaching it?

That's what I do with small trailers.

Me too - they're impossibly twitchy, compared to the double-axle car
transporter I used to pull all over the place.