Can you reverse a trailer?

SusanC10 · 25-04-2021 01:07PM

Yes, I can although I haven't done it in a very long time. My Dad taught me when I was 18/19.

ml100 · 25-04-2021 01:38PM

frosty123 wrote: »

So basically double axel trailers then ?

Do many people avail of it? or is it mostly work related?

As said above, the number of axels has nothing to do with it, it's the weight the trailer is designed to carry.
One very big reason for the license is insurance, if you have an accident without having the correct licence your insurance company won't cover you.
Most new 8x4 trailers from any of the major manufacturers will require a BE license, so we're not talking about larger trailers used for plant, machinery etc.

Gorgeousgeorge · 25-04-2021 02:36PM

Can reverse up a 40ft no bother but have a little single axle for behind the car and its a nightmare to reverse

fryup · 25-04-2021 08:34PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

having it on the normal test would force drivers to have higher driving skills and be better able to drive.

never going to happen it'll take too much time & effort, also i can imagine driving instructors & examiners across the country pulling their hair out in such scenarios

guil · 25-04-2021 09:17PM

con747 wrote: »

Try doing that with a 40ft container. Yes all sizes.

Bigger the trailer the easier it is...

vintagevrs · 25-04-2021 09:25PM

Try and reverse one of the trailers on the kids tractors, see how smart you are then. Blink and it'll have ye.

guil · 25-04-2021 09:32PM

Believe it or not, a lot of truck drivers are hopeless at reversing

TrailerBob · 25-04-2021 09:38PM

<<< see username

My proudest one was reversing uphill through traffic with a 14ft box trailer in Monaco a few years ago.. had 2 policemen on bikes looking at me the whole time.. no pressure like..

Sharpyshoot · 25-04-2021 09:41PM

A outright ban on having a tow bar on a suv as 99.8% of owners can barely drive them forwards not to mind reverse them with a trailer. Any school run will confirm this and the I own two spaces in the parking lot with my important suv.

Wildly Boaring · 25-04-2021 10:22PM

guil wrote: »

Believe it or not, a lot of truck drivers are hopeless at reversing

Ah most are handy.
Some right terrible ones our there though.

I remember working on a grain farm in the late 90s.
We used have a couple trucks a day in and we'd load the drier wheat/barley in with the telehandler.
Majority were great.
But one fella used come in about twice a week.
He'd hop out on the weighbridge and me or the boss would just take the truck into the shed for him.
He openly admitted he was ****e at reversing and didn't care.

An Ri rua · 25-04-2021 10:30PM

fryup wrote: »

C'mon now own up...who here can do it??

I can't i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i've tried and i just can't master it...,i can drive forward no problem but when it comes to reversing and parking in a specific spot with a trailer..i can't fekin do it, i usually end up getting out and doing it by hand.

Born on a farm. Easy peasy.

A trailer with the axle back further would suit you better. A small car trailer is tough to back as it reacts so quickly. Likely what's doing you.

An Ri rua · 25-04-2021 10:46PM

fryup wrote: »

i've noticed nearly all the tuition videos start off by say "just use one hand and keep it on the base of the steering wheel"

hmmm must try that next time before i make a hames of it

One arm around the back of the passenger seat and one hand on top of the wheel. Now you're suckin diesel man.

John_Rambo · 25-04-2021 10:49PM

Gorgeousgeorge wrote: »

Can reverse up a 40ft no bother but have a little single axle for behind the car and its a nightmare to reverse

^^ This, although I've never reversed a 40 ft... Used to tow a small yacht. I found the smaller the trailer the harder it was. I can do it not very well... but, like everything, if I was doing it every day I'd nail it.

ratracer · 25-04-2021 10:49PM

An Ri rua wrote: »

One arm around the back of the passenger seat and one hand on top of the wheel. Now you're suckin diesel man.

Door open and head stuck out too!

An Ri rua · 25-04-2021 10:49PM

vintagevrs wrote: »

Try and reverse one of the trailers on the kids tractors, see how smart you are then. Blink and it'll have ye.

Interesting. That's how I learned to reverse a tractor, with Britain's Tractors (literally steering), before I graduated to the real deal and reversing trailers at 13 upwards.

fryup · 26-04-2021 10:32AM

yamaha4life wrote: »

You need to add just about to the poll!

no, you either can or you can't....when reversing a trailer there's no in between

Zimmerframe · 26-04-2021 10:38AM

ratracer wrote: »

Door open and head stuck out too!

A lot of the newer yokes put an end to that, when you open the door it stops.

opus · 26-04-2021 10:43AM

I could when I was 12 as grew up on a farm driving tractors with large loads, now I'm not so sure whether it would come back to me or not.

fryup · 26-04-2021 11:19AM

you were driving machinery at the age of 12 ???

opus · 26-04-2021 11:23AM

Last millenium so very different times, I'd imagine similar for anybody of my vintage from a farming background.

The Continental Op · 26-04-2021 11:30AM

fryup wrote: »

no, you either can or you can't....when reversing a trailer there's no in between

There is an in between. I can reverse most large trailers like horse boxes but I've a trailer (Halfords) that is a total nightmare to reverse. The Halfords trailer is so light and easy to move by hand (max 500kg load) that it saves time and energy just to unhitch it rather than look a total tit doing a 50 point maneuver just to reverse out of a parking space.

As pointed out many times in this thread the closer the trailer wheels are to the vehicle the more difficult it is to reverse.

Colliewollie · 26-04-2021 11:53AM

I learned to reverse trailers on my uncle's farm when I was 12/13.. Always supervised by him until I got confident. Much easier to back a double axle rather than a single axle cow box (with a car) imo..

Have no problem reversing quad bike trailers or large 30foot ones for moving cattle with a tractor.

Haven't practised in a while being honest.

obi604 · 26-04-2021 12:25PM

opus wrote: »

Last millenium so very different times, I'd imagine similar for anybody of my vintage from a farming background.

exactly, different times
no real car seats for kids back then either etc

the_pen_turner · 26-04-2021 01:42PM

fryup wrote: »

you were driving machinery at the age of 12 ???

Yes. And earlier most kids from farming families would be out on the tractors.
We were often sent out picking stones or fixing a bit of fencing on our own
I remember driving cars and jeeps in fields or the big and having g to move forward to reach the clutch

vintagevrs · 26-04-2021 01:52PM

I gave my eight year old a driving lesson at the weekend, think it's good for them to start young and understand the mechanics a bit too.

garv123 · 26-04-2021 02:06PM

5x3.5ft single axle car trailer is a pain in the back side!!
Its gone wrong before you can see it in the mirrors.

8x4ft double axle trailer isn't too bad. youv'e much more control with the longer trailer and double axle it seems.

fancy pigeon · 26-04-2021 03:55PM

Yes. Once parallel parked in the middle of Navan (Kennedy road outside what used to be Lally's if you're curious, Iveco Daily, Ifor Williams 14ft plant trailer)

Mostly worked with twin axles, single axles are a slippery hoor at best

twowheelsonly · 26-04-2021 04:20PM

I used to be pretty good at it, towing boats, but haven't had to do so in a long long time. As others have said, those small single axle are the devils spawn.

On a diving weekend in Union Hall a long number of years ago I went straight to the pub to meet the lads who had gone down earlier. I was towing a 5.5mtr RIB with a Ford Escort. I ended up getting langers (as did everyone else) and drove to the place we were staying, reversed in the boat and off to bed. Got up in the morning and we couldn't figure out how I got the boat and car in where I did. Had to actually uncouple it to get it out as the space was so tight !!!
Different times....

fryup · 26-04-2021 09:06PM

fryup wrote: »

you were driving machinery at the age of 12 ???

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Yes. And earlier most kids from farming families would be out on the tractors.
We were often sent out picking stones or fixing a bit of fencing on our own
I remember driving cars and jeeps in fields or the big and having g to move forward to reach the clutch

is it any wonder why there's so many accidents on farms??

the_pen_turner · 26-04-2021 09:45PM

fryup wrote: »

is it any wonder why there's so many accidents on farms??

you dont want to hear some proper stories.

a lot of farm accidents with kids are kids that didnt grow up on a farm and dont have 'street'smarts.

Can you reverse a trailer?

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