Full Prove Method for Easy Way Backing Up Boat Trailer Where You Want It
It's easy to romanticize the boating experience - from the gentle breeze, to the calm waters. There's really nothing like a day on the lake. But then again, we often forget the logistics which can be anything but soothing. If you're new to boating, backing up your trailer into the water might be one of the most anxiety inducing steps of the process.
No doubt, it's not easy to figure out how to backup a boat trailer right off of the bat. Fortunately, you can always just refer to this guide if you feel like you need a little extra instruction on how to do it.
A Step by Step Guide on Backing Up Your Boat Trailer
The tricky part about backing up is that you have to consider how your trailer moves. Attaching to your car via a tongue, the trailer is free to veer from side to side at this pivot point. So unless you're doing it right, you could end up backing your trailer into hazards along the way, or you could miss the ramp entirely.
Here's how to back up your boat trailer:
Keep Your Mirrors in Proper Adjustment
Your side and rear view mirrors will be of utmost importance during this process. Make sure that you've got a good view of the rear, including the trailer and the ramp itself. If you feel like it would help, you could roll down your windows and stick your head out to get a more accurate view of the trailer and where you're headed.
As a general rule, you should be able to see your pontoon boat trailer via the inner sides of your side mirrors. The outer half of the mirrors should provide you enough room to see the immediate areas around your boat, including any potential hazards.
Take It Slow
You might feel tempted to just backup as you normally would while driving your car. But having a trailer hooked to your tail adds a ton of extra danger and potential for damage. Don't worry if you have to crank your speed to bare minimum if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Another thing about taking it slow is that it gives you more time to react should anything go wrong. Backing up too fast limits your reaction time and makes it harder to respond and adjust in case of potential accidents.
Observe How the Trailer Responds
As you back up, you're going to have to make a few adjustments so that the trailer is perfectly centered. What you'll notice is that when you turn your steering wheel to the left, the tail end of your trailer will also point to the left. The tongue end which connects to your vehicle will then point to the right.
Alternatively, turning your steering wheel to the right will cause the tail of the trailer to point to the right, and the tongue to point to the left. Understanding this basic relationship between your vehicle and your trailer will help you figure out how to adjust your car so you can keep the trailer centered on the ramp.
If you see that your trailer is getting too close to the left edge of the ramp, you can simply turn your wheel to right. The opposite applies if your trailer gets too close to the right-hand edge.
Eat, Sleep, Repeat
Don't expect to get it down the first time around. It can take a whole lot of practice to really master the skill of backing up a boat trailer. If you feel like your boat might be in a hazardous position, you can always just move forward and pull out of the ramp to readjust your vehicle and your trailer.
Lots of boat owners take months to really master the skill. But with time and constant practice, you should be able to back up into a ramp like a pro.
How to Backup a Boat Trailer Down a Ramp Video
Here's a great visual tutorial for backing up the trailer on a boat ramp:
7 Tips for Backing Up a Boat Trailer
The steps laid out above give you a basic understanding of what you should do. But if you need a little extra guidance, try to take these boat trailering tips with you the next time you find yourself having to back up your boat trailer.
1. Call a Friend
It can be tough to estimate things on your own, so it could help to have a friend outside to guide you. Sometimes, marina personnel will also offer to help you back up your trailer, especially if you assert yourself and ask.
This person will function as your eyes on the outside. They can give your car a slap on the side in case you're moving out of alignment. If there isn't anyone to help, you can always just hop out of the car after backing up every few inches just to make sure you're doing it right. Hey, better safe than sorry.
2. Don't Over Turn
Turning your steering wheel all the way to the left or right might help make quicker adjustments, but that also spells danger for your trailer and car. Exaggerated turning can cause you to jack knife, pushing your trailer up against your vehicle's side.
This won't only damage the tongue, but may also cause damage to your vehicle's attachment hardware.
Whenever you're trying to get your trailer to move a certain way, remember that small movements can be more than enough. A small turn of the wheel can make big changes in the direction and position of the trailer. So don't overdo the turning and stick with minute movements first, to avoid anything going wrong.
3. Set a Practice Date
Lots of boat owners have actually done this. While it helps to practice at the actual marina ramp, there's no harm in practicing elsewhere. Choose a day of the week where there's little traffic, and head to a local parking lot. If there's enough space, you can backup your trailer into a driveway.
Set up a few empty milk jugs or other makeshift marker and try your hand at backing up. Practicing frequently lets you further understand the physics of backing up a trailer, making it easier to perform when you're faced with the real thing.
4. Opposite is Key
One of the most confusing parts of backing up a trailer is figuring out how the trailer would respond to your turning. If your trailer starts to drift, turn your wheel the opposite way to correct it. For instance, if you notice your trailer starting to move its tail to the right side, turn your wheel to the left.
This basic principle makes it a whole lot easier to measure out where your trailer should end up. Don't try to rush things and take it slow if you feel like you're still having a tough time applying the principle during the actual process.
5. Return to Center
Again, to correct your trailer, you're going to have to turn your steering wheel left or right. But for most first time pontoon boat owners, it can become confusing since the trailer might seem to over compensate during correction.
To prevent your trailer from moving too far to the corrective direction, return your steering wheel to center the moment you see it respond. Keeping your steering wheel turned even after the trailer moves back to center can cause it to drift too much to that side, which would only mean that you'd have to turn all the way to the other side all over again.
6. Turn On Your Hazard Lights
There's really nothing to be embarrassed about if you're not used to backing up a trailer just yet. The last thing you'd want is to cause any accidents or damages while you're trying to back up into the water. So to prevent that, make sure you turn on your hazard lights.
This should tell other boaters in the area that you're moving back into the ramp. They should take that as their warning so that they don't obstruct your path or get in the way of the process while you go.
7. Practice For Turns
Backing up into a ramp isn't the only time you'd have to back up your boat. Sometimes, you might find yourself in a situation that you'd have to back up your trailer through a turn. In this case, the physics become a little different.
As your trailer's axel passes the turn, turn your wheel. Go slowly and don't exaggerate your wheel movements lest you end up jack knifing your trailer and vehicle. Again, once the trailer starts to respond, slowly bring your wheel back to center.
Backing Up Like a Pro
One of the things no one really teaches you when you buy a boat is how to backup a boat trailer. And while the mechanics might be a little different from driving a car, it's definitely something you can learn. Make sure to dedicate some time to practice, and don't be embarrassed if you have to take it slow. We all started somewhere, but you should be able to master the skill and backup your trailer like a pro in no time.
Source: https://www.pontooners.com/how-to-backup-a-boat-trailer/
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