Been driving 18 wheelers for 15 years. Stop worrying about hand positioning or turn left to make trailer go right or opposite. Watch your mirrors. If you see too much trailer in the left mirror turn I steering wheel to that mirror and now look for it to show up in right mirror. If there is too much trailer in right mirror. Turn the steering wheel to the right mirror and look for it to show up in the left mirror. Turn the steering wheel to the mirror that has too much trailer in it and it will start tracking other way. Use 1/4 to 1/2 turns. Most people over correct and get into trouble. Nothing wrong with pulling up a little to gain control again.

started semi truck driving today and i honestly was about the throw in the towel after today's backing lesson. your holding of the steering wheel at the bottom will save me. tysm for this tip!!!

The switching-hand-position tip at the beginning is absolutely brilliant. I have not seen this advice in any other other source so far. It turns the steering wheel into a "tiller"--if your hands "go right", the trailer goes that way. Beautifully simple, speaking to how the mind actually works when trying to figure out this mystery. Top shelf!

I worked in a tire shop for 20 years and was amazed how many times pro semi drivers could not back their trailers into the shop! I used the steering wheel trick that I learned on the farm when I was 12 years old to back their trucks.

One thing you forgot to mention that is an ESSENTIAL safety tip whenever backing ANYTHING: Always have your windows at least 1/3rd down. That way the driver can hear someone yelling STOP if they are about to hit something they can't see. Todays cars and p/u trucks are very quiet in the interior with the windows up and you will miss someone trying to warn that you are about to hit something/someone. ALWAYS BACK WITH YOUR WINDOWS DOWN!

Although I’ve backed trailers for several years, I love the video. One comment I would add for new backers or complicated backs. If your trailer is to far off track simply stop and pull forward a few feet. This helps realign the trailer and truck to continue the backing.

Extremely informative. As a long time angler, who has been back of the boat for many years, I finally got my own first boat and trailer, and this is very helpful.

Great video. I learned some of my best curse words watching my dad back a trailer. Something I have learned over the years is; you can always go forward to straighten out and start over. I currently have a narrow spot next to my garage and when I was learning I often had to pull up and “straighten out” to make small adjustments easier. I often see people get “committed” to being in reverse and the get stuck. Remember if you get confused pull forward and start again. But please practice before you get to the boat ramp!

A lady I know helped me get hay with her trailer. She shocked everyone (except her husband) by perfectly and quickly backing up to the barn door, around a corner on uneven ground. I grew up on a farm and never saw anything like it. Her husband likes to see people’s reactions when she whips that trailer around like magic.

Thanks for the advice, as always we learn something new from individual videos.

Very good video this will help you. I work at a busy boat ramp near downtown Chicago. I see lots of first timers. They a lot of times ask if I can do it for them. I always say NO. I tell them pull straight start backing slowly when you see to much boat on the left side turn towards it slowly it will correct it and when you over steered left you will see to much boat on you’re right turn towards the right and you will find the sweet spot. By the time the wheels are to hit the water 99.99 % of the time it looks like they been doing it for years. How I learned many years ago was by finding a flat loading dock and putting the trailer in the center of the door. When I was young I used the hand positioning at the bottom of the wheel method. This is the first time I heard of the reference point of the wheel well and light on the trailer. I absolutely love it and it will be part of my future instruction. Excellent video.

Thanks for the hands placement tip. I hope this solves my trailer backing problem.

Superb video with great tips. I especially like using a reference point on your vehicle and a reference point on the trailer. I have a bad habit of only looking at my target point so this video will help me immensely.

Thank you for an excellent video. I have to drive with a trailer at work this week and I've never driven with a trailer before, this video has taken away some of the fear and given me a small degree of confidence.

One of the better videos on backing a trailer and I have watched a bunch of them. Moving from a pop up shorty to a longer hardside and I am sure hoping it will be easier. Practice, practice, practice.

This is the second video I’ve watched where it’s been suggested to put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Very good tip. I’m going to try this next time I take my boat out

Thanks for the 3 points of reference!! Excellent tutorial!!

Thank you buddy! The hand position is very super helpful. Thank you once again!

Thank you, I’m 16 and work around my dads ranch. This will most definitely help me in the future!!!

Not sure why I watched this as I have been backing trailers for years. The only thing I might add is that it is no shame to stop, get out, and look at where you are and where you are going to be. I have passed on the bottom of steering wheel trick many times ,often at a camper park.

Thanks for the video! Some great tips.

One of the tips I learned (which I find also helps in explaining these techniques to others) is to stop talking about 'left' and 'right' (especially when one is going in reverse....). Instead I use "driver side" and "passenger side" without exception (and particularly when my wife and I are communicating as I back the rig...)

This was such a helpful video! Thank you for posting.

switching the hand to bottom of steering wheel was awesomeee technique , appreciate your work sir 🙏

Nice tips. I am a first time trailer user and have to put in some practice time. Will head to an empty parking lot and go to work.

#1 Place one hand at bottom of steering wheel. #2 Shift vehicle transmission into reverse. #3 Press accelerator to the floor. #4 Call for a Tow Truck. Carry On ✌️

Easier say then done... I just bought a new used boat and was having trouble backing it down the boat ramp... It took about 10 minutes to get it right... It was so embarrassing with all these other boaters waited and watched me... Thank you for the tips...

Great video. I like the 3 point of reference idea

I was looking at trailers, I do not know how to back, this video popped up, Will be using your technique

Don't forget to unhook the trailer brake safety pin if you need to back in with sharp angles. Ask me how I know.

Excellent! You are a pro trailer back up.

thanks for the advice, very useful

10/10... I learned from this. Thank you for sharing this.

Thanks! Very informative.

Thank you for sharing! Excellent information.

Thank you for the tips!

Excellent instructions, thanks a lot.

Okay great. How do I recover from a "jack-knife"? Asking for a friend.

Great tips!

best video .... sir god bless you 🙏

Thank you that help me love the video

Very good job thank yu superman. really big help.

Simpler method just turn wheel toward the mirror that has the most of trailer in it, until every thing lines up, try it does work.

Great video and great tips

thanks! I’ll give all this a try!!

with narrow trailers just keep a slight angle on the trailer so you can see it from the mirror and with shirt trailers only use very small steering wheel inputs to keep trailer straight

okay but if youre looking at the back window and your trying to go right, is it going right from your vantage ppoint in the truck or if you were outside looking at it?

Thank you for this clear and helpful video!

Good info and well done video. Thanks

Damn I was getting so jealous of those perfect right and left trailer turns 🤤🤤

Great video. Thank you!

Great information. BTW, I have a B and W stow and go. FREAKN amazing hitch. Gotta love American Steel!

Great video 👍

VERY KOOL "TIP" 👈🏼 WITH THE HAND 🖐🏼 PLACEMENT ON THE STEERING WHEEL 👍🏼 ......

Such a damn good video .

my wife is hearing impaired so we use different hand signals or light signals to connect to our trailers . raising my open hand up and down - go away from me moving my hand in a circle - come back to me, as she gets closer I make smaller circles when she is about 2 ft away I use one closed fist for stop, and indicate how much farther to go with my other hand by using my fingers 1 finger = 1 ft, when she is 5 ft away I flash 5 fingers then 4 down to 1 finger. this lets her know how far away she is from the trailer. our system works well because we each know the signals. our cardinal rule is "if you don't understand a signal stop the move" the forward or back signals can be used with a flashlight if it is dark, the distance count is given by quick and short up down motion of the flashlight.

I'm not a FORD guy, but I do love their front door, window design.

That aiming point is correct, but I find it necessary to keep that fender as close to the dock as possible to help the person that may be holding the rope, to get control of that boat as soon as the boat floats from the trailer.

Wow, your vid is easy to understand and practical. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much!!!

Very good video thank you.

Good job 👍

Thank you brother 👍🙏💯

Good lessons.

Very good except for the ground guide hand signals. It is hard to see what the ground guide is signaling. The ground guide should extend the appropriate arm fully/straight out, parallel to the ground. In other words, if the ground guide wants the trailer go to the ground guide's right, the ground guide should extend their right arm fully.

Well Done Thank you 👍

Thanks so much

The "Spotter" should use his full arms when signalling. This waving of the fingers doesn't cut it in professional circles.

Thanks for the video, very helpful! We plan on buying an 8' wide 22' long trailer and our driveway is 9'3" wide. I do not have experience backing up a trailer. Do you think this will be an issue?

THANK YOU

Thanks 🙏 very very helpful

Great tip there at the end with the hand signals.

Dad never taught me to back a trailer... I'm trying not to be a failure....

Well done sir

2:39... ok.. so which way to turn the steering wheel?

If you did a split screen, showing your hand positions as you are actually backing-that would be great.

Second time towing a trailer I backed my dads 25ft boat trailer down the side of our house all by myself.

Is there a trailer size you'd recommend for a newbie to practice with?

Nice. Just change the hands position. I never thought about that. Thanks.

Why did I watch this. I’ve been backing trailers all my life 😂

Thanks

If it gets out of shape drive foreword six foot. All straight again. Sometimes there isn’t room to swing around that much.

Would be nice to see the hand movements in tandem with the backing movements. I know the principle of the thing already.

Good video but maybe some inside views of your steering during the 90 degree turns.

Go slow....you can correct issues easier with less overcorrection

Nice thanks

why at 3:57 the front wheels are turned right and trailer goes right opposite of what you teach in beginning?

Can we use this trick in trucking backing as well?

thanks

Look easy !!but when I do I angry ...not easy to me cry ...

Is it me or did you explain the steering with your hands on the bottom of the steering wheel backwards? You turned the wheel the same direction at top and bottom. You said when you turn the wheel to the right? Your hands went right but the wheel went left. I’m confused

I need someone to get me a boat so I can practice backing it up, thanks.

Thank you for this

Little to no info re: which way to turn the steering wheel to send the trailer right or lerg, and that is usually the challenge.

I would add that you can talk to someone on the radio or cell phone to ensure that if you are about to hit someone, they can yell/warn you to STOP

easiest way is to continually check mirrors left and right whatever mirror the trailer is getting bigger in turn the wheel into that mirrors direction to straighten out

Maybe (probably) I'm confused- at ~ 3:23 you say a left hand turn, but if your hands are on the bottom aren't you turning them to the right?

A far easier trick for straight line backing is putting one hand on top of the wheel. Instead of trying to steer the trailer you correct it by turning your hand towards the side that is going off track. Nothing to think about at all. Most new drivers learn in seconds how to back. From there you can teach steering the trailer super easy.

The person on the ground must only tell the driver which way the trailer (not the tow vehicle) is to go, and must never tell which way to turn the steering wheel. Here is what the driver does NOT need to hear: "Okay, now CUT IT. Turn your wheel. NO, NO THE OTHER WAY! No, not THAT way, the other way! You're doing it all wrong, turn your wheel the other way. Can't you just follow my instructions? STOP, STOP, get out and let ME do it!"

Only way is fit a hitch to the front of the vehicle for when you are at the destination for your trailer move it to where you want it disconnects turn the motor round and reconnect ready for the off ❤