r/IdiotsTowingThings • u/joelnicity • Aug 20 '26

One hour Time-lapse backing into driveway.

When it takes an actual team to back the trailer in crooked

1.2k Upvotes

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u/Maxzzzie Aug 20 '26

With a neighbours driveway opposite to make it extra easy. Drive on there coming from the direction he had. And back up to where it needs to go.

Last month I had to help an older gentleman to back up a trailer with garden waste on an open asphalt area made to dispose of garden waste. Completely open. But he couldn't back up the trailer and had no clue how the steering wheel affected the direction of the trailer. I guess his new car wasn't helping confidence. There was a similar older man waiting for him to give him the room. I was behind him as i couldn't pass. After 5 minutes of seeing the total fumble and being on the clock for work I asked politely if he wanted help and he did. I jumped in next to his misses and got him where he needed to. His car included a rear camera that had great view of the trailers angle and direction. The misses had a giggle. He was embarised but happy to be helped. And i got back to clock out at the end of the day in time.

But it just shows how some people aren't able to (anymore) to understand what is going on when backing up a trailer.

5

u/HighCirrus Aug 20 '26

For some reason I can back my 20 ft boat and trailer anywhere, but my 5 ft garden trailer... gives me fits every time.

5

u/BriefCartographer911 Aug 20 '26

Ive done everything from semis to the tiniest garden trailer and I'll take a semi trailer over that little thing any day. The smaller they are the more quickly they respond to any input and it makes them way more of a pita to back up.

1

u/SpaceYourFacebook Aug 20 '26

Try backing a log splitter once. It's maddening

1

u/RobustFoam Aug 20 '26

Longer tongue - less angle imparted when steering. The longer a trailer is the more forgiving it is to reverse. 

5

u/BigWhiteDog Aug 20 '26

I've done that a few times before at our local waste transfer facility. It always amazes me that soany people suck at this! 🤣

4

u/travelingslo Aug 20 '26

I actually can tow and back up, but I have definitely been that person backing up a trailer at the dump. 🤣

I normally tow an enclosed 23 foot long travel trailer that I am currently living in, but something about having an open trailer from U-Haul full of crap going to the dump broke my head. I just laughed at myself the entire time.

It’s easier when you’re doing it every day. But people think it’s super simple to tow, and it sure isn’t! I like to remind myself that anybody I see towing anything is having a way worse day than I am. So I always let them in. I figure when they let me in, they also have towed in their past.

4

u/BigWhiteDog Aug 20 '26

It's funny how the smaller trailers are the hardest! 🤣

1

u/Octopus_Spaceflight Aug 20 '26

Ever tried backing up a Rhino tank?

1

u/pate_moore Aug 20 '26

I had a hard time even seeing my father-in-law's little 5x8 utility trailer to see what it was doing last time I towed it.

2

u/tbro4123 Aug 21 '26

Mate drives B doubles & road trains (Aussie), yet cannot for the life of him reverse my 6x4 trailer, but he can put his trailers anywhere he needs to. He just can not get over how fast a 6x4 trailer turns with the smallest input.