Tips for pulling the BIg A$$ Trailer

[CanteringCarrot]

I drove a gooseneck many years ago, then moved overseas and drove a 2H European trailer attached to…not a big truck. Now I’m back with a truck and gooseneck. I guess the biggest things, as others have said, are wide turns and the delay when backing up.

I just make sure to swing it wide, and I can see the trailer/it’s wheels in my mirrors to know where it’s tracking if needed. You just have to go straighter for longer into the turn, if that makes sense. I think the delay when backing up makes people want to over correct, or something like that, because they don’t see the trailer move or react as much as a BP would.

It just takes time behind the wheel. Try to practice as much as you can.

[Leather]

@endlessclimb

And let me be clear on a fact. Back in the day, maybe you’d have a point. But today’s modern vehicles, with front CV joints and 4wd that can be engaged without manually locking the hubs, there is negligible difference. I was being generous with the foot estimate. It’s less than that.

Agreed - with older trucks you’d definitely notice a difference, especially if you made the mistake of leaving it in 4WD on pavement and it would start to buck and barely move! But last weekend I had my truck in 4WD to get out of where I was camping and forgot to put it back into 2WD and drove halfway home before I noticed the light on. I had done multiple turns and a few and roundabouts and never felt a difference.

[Leather]

I happened upon a Youtube video that I thought had some good visuals for towing/turning a 5th wheel, which also applies to a GN.

Driving a 5th Wheel - Tips from a Pro

The takeaway is “don’t drive in the middle of the road (your lane) when turning.”

This is how GN/5th trailer wheels track vs your truck wheels on a turn - there is about a 2-3 foot difference. (A BP much more closely follows the path of your truck tires.)

I thought these were handy visuals for where to position your truck tires when turning to the left and right:

[Cowgirl]

Thanks! I love this!

[Nancy2]

You will get it. I started with a gooseneck and I hate backing bumper pulls. Take corners wide and slow. Bet you will love it after you get more used to it.

[red_mares]

I’ve driven a truck and trailer once. I was lucky in that I was with my 80-something trainer/friend. As awful as he could be giving riding lessons, he was fantastic telling me how to drive the truck. When we pulled into a parking lot or wherever, he told me exactly what to do to put the trailer where it needed to be.

A couple years ago, I drove through NYC in Friday night rush hour traffic - with a stick shift. At one point I was getting myself a little freaked out. I literally took a deep breath and told myself that this was stupid. I’ve driven that car in bumper to bumper traffic a zillion times (Beach Traffic! to /from the barn) and this was no different, just different scenery.

[Joyrider]

I am a good backer too and I get nauseous too sometimes with where I have to put trailers! One time I went inch by inch slow and had to remind myself to breathe! Lol.

[Cowgirl]

Breathing is important!!! I took my two youngsters to winter camp (a lovely trainer with an indoor) about two hours north of me today. Lots of highway and lots of backroads and some city roads. A friend of mine, who is an experienced hauler of goosenecks came with me and coached me all the way and all the way back. It was fabulous. I think I need more experience, but this was great.

What I learned about the gooseneck today: take the electric wire down so it is loose in the truck bed and has enough play to turn without pulling out of the plug (yes, happened in front of my house). LOL. I am still on the learning curve, but making progress.

[Annie10]

If you are on Facebook there is a man named Dwayne Russell who posts. He hauls all over the country with his huge trailer . He also posts all sorts of videos and how tos for the big trailer and there’s a really good one he posts about how to adjust your safety chains and breakaway cable for your gooseneck so that they operate correctly

[Foggy]

I had an oversized horse, 18.2 hand large fellow, and finally had the opportunity to purchase my own trailer. I went with the 2 horse Hawk gooseneck with extra high, extra wide, side ramp with a tack room. When I went to pick it up, I just about died. It was so much longer than it seemed when I was looking at it.

I made it the hour drive home and then parked it at the back of the farm. Went to bring it up to the barn to set it up and organize prior to the first show. Didn’t even make it around the turn to go up the farm lane. Hit the fence corner post and damaged my running board and rim. Had a brother there to witness my mishap. Other brother was really happy it happened to me as he was worried he would be the first one to do something to the trailer.

I have almost taken out the right running board and fender a few times since. I get comfortable driving and forget to turn wide, usually at the worst times.

I have made the mistake of not dropping enough of my electrical wire and breaking the plug.

It was a complete change from driving a bumper bull, but I must say I love this trailer and I still don’t profess to being always comfortable backing up, but as long as I remember to take my time I can get it where I want it.

I did go to a big parking lot and would pick random spots and figure out how to get it into those spots.

[IPEsq]

You can get a plug installed in the truck bed. I did this. It’s so much easier especially with our winds not worrying about the cord getting caught or pulled off the plug when running out to the bumper.

If your trailer is parked at your new trainer’s place, I’m happy to help with some additional driving coaching while it’s nearby!

I can totally vouch for the reversing in from the left vs the right comments above!

[sorrelfilly721]

I learned to haul a trailer when I was 16 and it was a 6 horse gooseneck. My “coach” told me when turning right, head toward the guy in the turning lane. When his eyes get big as saucers, you’re clear.

[Leather]

Bumping this back up as I happened upon a youtube channel of a CDL instructor and thought he had some good videos teaching students to maneuver their rigs out on the roads, especially turning with explaining wheel placement.

Instructor Mike CDL

[hey101]

I had OP exact situation- went from F150 short bed and 2H BP to a 3500 GMC dually long bed with equispirit 2+1 GN 30.5’ hitch to bumper. Like go big or go home!

Before I sold the old rig, I drove the new one around empty for like 2 weeks. My property has a long windy reverse to park the trailers with many trees in the way, with old rig I could drive in straight and turn around, not so with the new rig.

Hub used to do all the parking with our old 6H but I forced myself to learn it with my new rig. First time it took me an hour and a lot of shouting at the hub LOL. Now I can do it in 10 min.

One thing I did struggle with for awhile- the “glutes” on the dually blocked the sides of the trailer so sometimes it was tough. I got out a lot to see where my sides were in relation to those damn trees haha

Same as everyone else has said- make a way wider swing than you think to turn right. Keep an eye on the back tires of your rig- I’ve definitely bumped up over the curb a few times with the back of the trailer

One thing I bought that was worth every penny- a magnetic extendable attachment with a little plastic ball that goes right on the ball, extends up by about 2’, all you have to do is literally is reverse until the hitch knocks over the plastic ball, perfect hook up every time. Costs $25 on amazon. I gifted one to all my GN-hauling friends that Xmas!

One thing I still have not brought myself to do is pull in with that rig to a small gas station like my local down the road . I always have a full tank if I’m going local, fill up the night before, I know the “good” gas stations for places I go to a lot, and on a road trip I’d be using the trucker stops anyway.

[endlessclimb]

One more tip - if you’re in a situation where hitting a curb is inevitable, it’s better to get on the curb and drop it off (slowly!) than it is to ‘kiss’ the curb. Kissing curbs bends axles.

[Cowgirl]

That is great advice!

[equest]

@Djones

Go straight longer than you think you need to, then turn.

This was helpful from my friend who taught me to drive my trailer.

Practice, practice, practice. Use your mirrors (and make sure your truck mirrors are fully extended.)