Driving a Trailer...Hints and tricks

[Crazy4aOTTB]

So I just bought my first horse trailer YAY!!
I think this will maybe make my friends and family realize this “Horse” thing is not a passing phase and I’m in it for the long haul.

However I have never driven a trailer. My trainer will be giving me driving lessons and we will be taking it out without the horses a few times before putting precious cargo in there. I have Googled all about horse trailers but what advice can you give me?

Two of my biggest concerns are:

1. backing up the truck to the hitch…I thought about getting some of the magnectic hitch sticks http://www.hitchsticks.com/hitchsticks-classic-3/

2)and how to back up.

Any other sugestions hints or tricks from you experienced trailer drivers? How long does it take to get over the nerves??? I’ll have indentions in the steering wheel the first time I oull my horse!

[californianinkansas]

I’m in the same situation. I wish there was something like Driver’s Ed for horse trailers.

[sascha]

3 tricks for your 2 questions:

1. Hitching: Either get out a lot and check, or get those magnetic thingies. When I get out to check, I estimate the number of inches I need to back up. When I get back in the cab, I leave the door open and drop my left hand straight down. I choose some obvious little rock, piece of dirt, etc. that is directly below my finger tips and I back up leaving my arm straight down until my finger tips are the number of inches away from my little landmark as I estimated the ball to be from the receptor. Once you get used to it, it’s a helluva trick.

2. Backing up: Put your hands on top of the steering wheel. Whichever way you want the back of the trailer to go, use the hand on that side to pull the wheel down. So, if you want the ass end of the trailer to go right, pull down on the steering wheel with your right hand. Practice might not make perfect, but you’ll get the hang of it if you practice a lot. Don’t be afraid to pull forward and try again.

3. This is my biggest pet peeve about perfectly capable trailer drivers. Look in your mirror as you finish rounding a corner. Do NOT accelerate until the trailer is completely straight behind you. It will take a lot longer than you think it will, and it’s worth every second to not be yanking your horse in 2 directions (forwards and sideways) all at once. The only other person I’ve ever known be as conscientious about that as I am is a pro trucker who knew to avoid load shifts with inanimate objects for safety’s sake, and therefore, to avoid unbalancing the horse. Even when you think you’ve got it down, don’t stop checking those rearviews after turns, because I can guarantee you it’s the easiest thing in the world to hit the gas a little early.

ETA - read your trailer brake controller’s manual and play with it to know how to use it properly and how to adjust it for different load weights.

When trailering alone - to check your lights are all working after hitching up, use a brick or a heavy trailer chock/chunk of wood to check your brake lights are working.

When driving, know what’s behind you, but be more concerned with what’s in front of you. Chances are, if someone is tail gaiting you, they are in a car which is going to be able to stop quicker than you are. Don’t waste a lot of time growing grey hairs over those guys. What you need to watch for is the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. You can’t stop as fast as they can, can’t safely swerve around them, or do too many other avoidance manoeuvres. Your best bet is to give yourself as much room so that if something does come up in front of you, you have time to stop.

Good luck!

[cheerio280]

I started hauling my horses in a little 2 horse bumper pull when I was 17. I don’t think I was ever really nervous about it, but I always drive very very carefully with my horses (especially compared to how I normally drive :lol:). I did have some anxiety after being rear ended (not with the trailer!). So if there’s someone tailgating me, I like to turn on my hazard lights. Usually that gets them to back off.

Hitching really just takes practice. I always do it by myself, and after about the thousandth time, it only takes me 5 minutes. I try to use landmarks on the front of my trailer and the back window of my truck to line things up (ie. I try to center the window on the front of the trailer between the two head rests of my back seats). Once I’m 2-3 feet away, I get out, check my alignment, and then make any adjustments if I’m too far to one side or the other. Another trick I use - if I’m about 1 foot away from the hitch, I’ll leave my driver’s side door open, pick a point on the ground 1 foot back from the door hinge, and then watch till I reach that point as I back up so I know where to stop. Of course, until you get the hang of it, this whole process is easier and faster if you have someone on the ground to direct you!

For backing up the trailer, I have two main tips:

1. Get the trailer as straight as possible before you back it up.
2. Turn the bottom of the steering wheel in the direction you want your trailer to go.

Also when backing up, remember that it’ll take longer for the trailer to respond to the changes you’re making, so after you turn the wheel to straighten it out, the trailer will keep turning for a bit. Basically, you’ll probably just have to straighten the wheel a bit earlier than you think you need to. Don’t worry if you screw up a lot in the beginning, you’ll get the hang of it eventually!

[Blume_Farm]

When turning corners ALWAYS be looking in your side view mirrors or you will be driving over a lot of curbs, lawns, etc and potentially hitting a lot of signs, gas pumps, etc. Just because your truck cleared the obstacle does not mean your trailer will!!

The backing up thing is a PITA at first, but once you figure it out it isn’t too hard. While looking back turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. And make these adjustments small or you will be swinging the trailer from left to right. Don’t forget when turning and going backwards at the same time to watch where the FRONT of your truck is. Can’t tell you how many folks hit the front of their trucks because all they are doing is watching the back.

If you have a gooseneck remember lower your truck tailgate BEFORE unhitching and driving off! You’ll only make this mistake once:)

[SuckerForHorses]

My advice: Just do it.

People can tell you “how to” all day long but until you do it, you’ll never know which variation of their advice works for you.

[SuckerForHorses]

Whichever way you want the back of the trailer to go, use the hand on that side to pull the wheel down. So, if you want the ass end of the trailer to go right, pull down on the steering wheel with your right hand.

No.

While looking back turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go.

No. [caveat: this is only true if you keep your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel]

If you place your hand at 12:00 while backing, you turn the wheel OPPOSITE direction of the direction you want the trailer to go.

If you place your hand at 6:00 while backing, you move your hand to the same direction/side you want your trailer to go (and, as you do this, you’ll notice the top of the wheel moves in the opposite direction].

[saddleup]

I put my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, the 6:00 mentioned above. Works for me.

I got the magnetic sticks when I had a bumper pull and it made it so much easier since I always hitch up alone. Now I have a gooseneck, and I can hitch up in 30 seconds. Way easier.

Good luck and enjoy the freedom having your own trailer will bring. Practice, practice, practice. It’s always easier without an audience at first, too. Find a parking lot where no one’s there to judge you!

[jenm]

Drive as if you have a full glass of water on your dashboard with the goal being not to spill a drop.

Go someplace safe and have your trainer drive while you ride in the back alone. This way you will have a good understanding of how turns and stops feel for the horse.

For backing up, set up cones and practice backing up between them. It will take a lot of practice before it feels natural, so be patient.

When you feel ready to haul with your horse in the trailer, go with someone experienced and make it a short trip. Once you get that first haul under your belt, you will have more confidence.

Have fun, because having your own trailer gives you freedom to do what you want, when you want!

[sascha]

EEK! The silly thing won’t let me edit. I had mush brain and got my back up instructions written wrong. OPPOSITE HAND DOWN to what you’d normally do to back up a single vehicle … unless you’re driving the tractor, towing the harvester, towing the forage wagon … then what I said is correct. lol OMG, just go practice. You’ll catch on!

[lachelle]

I just bought my truck and trailer this past February. The second time I ever drove with the trailer loaded was to a show 3 hours away and over a mountain, in gusting wind. I got “broke in” to driving the trailer real quick. It’s not hard at all. But here are my tips:

If you can, spend the extra $150 and invest in an after-market back-up camera. You can get it right the first time, every time.

When backing up, place hand on the bottom of the steering wheel (6:00). Move your hand whatever direction you want the trailer to go.

Don’t assume that when you are backing up, and your truck&trailer are straight, that it will stay that way when you start backing up. It’s a HUGE pain to learn in the ins-and-outs of backing up. The best thing I could ever do was find a huge empty parking lot, and practiced backing into parking spaces.

Take it slow. The trailer drives different empty than load. I find it easier to control when there is weight in the trailer. But really, just get out there and do it. It’s not difficult at all.

Prepare to just now fully understand why people charge so much to haul :lol:

[sascha]

EEK! The silly thing won’t let me edit. I had mush brain and got my back up instructions written wrong. OPPOSITE HAND DOWN to what you’d normally do to back up a single vehicle … unless you’re driving the tractor, towing the harvester, towing the forage wagon … then what I said is correct. lol OMG, just go practice. You’ll catch on!

[airhorse]

Go find a big open parking lot and back some circles. Practice increasing and decreasing the diameter of your circles. Go slow, and stop if in doubt.

There is a point beyond which you cannot straighten out going backwards, this is usually followed by a dented bumper.

Watch out for light poles…

Yes, drive like there is a glass full of water, but know when and how to spill it.

[poltroon]

My best advice for hitching and backing up is: never let anyone rush you.

When I first started driving the trailer, I often got out of the trailer and looked at the obstacles myself. Sometimes this takes a while. If I felt pressure to hurry, I would remind myself that it would take even longer if I actually hit anything.

My friend and I had a rule: we never took advice about how to turn the wheel or what to do from ANYONE on the ground. Especially not a man.

(Now that I am more experienced, I do take advice more often, but mostly I only want to know how far away I am from an obstacle, ie “yell if I’m going to hit something.”)

Go slow, take your time, don’t be afraid to get out and look.

And enjoy!

[Foxglove]

Patience and practice -gee, just like riding a horse! I’d take some cones out to a big parking lot and make sure my turn radius was what I expect. Most trailers need more of a wide turn than the truck alone.

As to backing up, again, slow and steady. I like to have a spotter behind me (keep your windows down, and radio off) tell me when I’m about to hit something. Other than that, I always get out of my rig and walk to the back, the visualize how the trailer should back. Then I slowly try to make that happen.

One other bit of advice. Before you load, move, or drive away --EVERY TIME walk around your trailer. FIL was a pilot. Before EVERY flight of ANY plane, the pilot walks around the plane to look for --you name it. I look at windows, tires, hitch, chains, electric, lights, unstowed equipment, unfastened doors and anything else that needs fixing.

It is such a good habit to be in --you don’t want to be on the road and realize you have a dragging chain, a light out, or forgot to close the tack room door.

Oh, and rule of thumb, regardless of what time you need to be someplace, at 15 min for each horse you need to haul. At worst, you arrive 1/2 early some place, at best, you’re right on time because it ALWAYS seems to take longer than one expects to load a horse.

FYI I keep flares and orange cones in my trailer --we use them to practice patterns at shows (the cones, that is).

OH one other thing --if you are at a show and you MUST have access to your tack room in your trailer, use the cones to “mark” a spot outside your door --people will sometimes park so closely you can’t open your trailer door --not good. Put a cone there, and you’ll be able to.

Foxglove

[DancingArabian]

Some assorted tips…

Assume people will cut you off. They will. They will also sometimes cut you off then brake or slow down.

Give yourself way more space to brake than you think you need. It’s better to coast a little at a super slow speed than to suddenly realize you’re a few feet too short.

Signal all the time.

Make turns slowly and widely.

Some people do better backing up facing forward and using mirrors, some people like to turn around. If you have a big parking lot near you, haul the trailer there a few times and practice backing up and parking and maneuvering.

Check your mirrors an extra time or two because people in small cars, motorcycles, and bicycles tend to love to ride in a blind spot, for some reason. I don’t think they do it intentionally, but they do it. Not all of them, but enough of them.

Try not to slam on the brakes (Personally, I don’t ever slam on the brakes but I know some people don’t feel the same way I do.)

[One_Two_Three]

Any hints on interstate driving??? Currently me & BO avoid horseshows that take us on the interstate if her husband is working because we have such anxiety about merging onto and off of the interstate.

[joiedevie99]

Take 90 degree turns at 5 mph.

Never change direction and speed that the same time. That means that when you turn, you do not touch the gas until the trailer is dead straight behind the truck.

Stopping and accelerating should take 2-3 times as long as when you are driving your car.

Cross your safety chains. Then they will catch the hitch if it detaches unintentionally.

Check the air pressure in your trailer tires every single time. Underinflated tires create a really terrible ride for your horse.

After you hitch up, pull your trailer out (15-20 ft is fine) before you load. Take another walk around to do a safety check. This will allow you to catch hitching problems before you load your horse.

I prefer to trailer with the radio off and the window down so I can hear/smell anything going wrong.

In a 2 lane highway, I use the right lane, but watch carefully at entrance ramps. Everyone will cut you off.

In a 3+ lane highway, I ride in the second lane from the right. This avoids the entrance ramp problem, and still lets people pass on the left.

[jenm]

[QUOTE=One Two Three;7864658]
Any hints on interstate driving??? Currently me & BO avoid horseshows that take us on the interstate if her husband is working because we have such anxiety about merging onto and off of the interstate.[/QUOTE]

Merging really isn’t that difficult but be prepared for idiots who have no respect for or don’t understand vehicles pulling trailers. Just use your side mirrors a lot to keep an eye on the cars and understand most people will try to speed up so as not to get “stuck” behind you. As in any situation, be a defensive driver and assume everyone on the freeway is an asshat and always use your turn signals to make your intentions clear.

If the onramp is fairly long and visible, most people will be able to spot you long before you need to make the merge.

Exiting is much easier as long as you are prepared for it and ease off the gas pedal so you don’t have to brake hard.

You and your BO should go out with an empty trailer a few times. Once you have done it, most of your anxiety will be alleviated.

And don’t go out without US Rider! http://www.usrider.org/

The US Rider Hitch Up! magazine always has good tips and info as well:

http://www.usrider.org/HitchupPastIssues.html

[Tom_King]

Use the brakes as little as possible-as in when you know a stop is ahead, lift off the accelerator, and let the rig naturally decelerate as much as possible. Ideally, you want to come to that stop without having to use the brakes.

When you do come to a complete stop, operate the brake pedal so that you release the suspension pressure before completing the stop, so the horses don’t have to jump to compensate for the suspension recoil. Practice doing this all the time while just driving a car. Most people are so used to it that they don’t realize it exists.

If you get home, and have to wake the horses up to unload, you have done a good job.