Help a newtrailer owner out with few ???

[Big Cruiser Guy]

My wife and I just purchased our first trailer. It's an 1993 18' Hi-Lo Towlite. Nice size, decent weight to pull with our FJ60.

I bought a lock for the coupler since it my be parked on the street. It's a Master lock, so I figured it'd be good. The very first time I used it, I nearly bent the key in the lock because I had to push so hard to turn the cylinder. Can anybody suggest a better quality lock? We've been looking t ones that have a ball that goes into the coupling and then hoop over the top.

Also, any tips on backing up? The trailer has two axles and electric brakes. We've had a lot of trouble getting it into the space we rented.

Any advice is welcome.
Thanks

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Back up with your hand on the bottom on wheel and turn it the way you want trailer to go

 

[Coastline]

I use this style lock exclusively in my yard with several trailers locked up at any time.

We've been looking t ones that have a ball that goes into the coupling and then hoop over the top.



Any advice is welcome.
Thanks[/QUOTE]

 

[The Jade Bean]

I use these two...








I haven't had a problem yet.

~Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

 

[GAForest]

How about welding a receiver to the front, and "backing" in the trailer that way?

 

[greentruck]

That's a handy option to have, but there's not always enough room to do that in places where you can get with a 4x4.

I agree with the first response. Put your hands at the bottom of the wheel. That way your hands go in the direction they're used to, but the trailer goes the opposite way, which is what you want when backing.

That's a trick I was shown by some guys I used to work with. They were spotter or jockey truck drivers who spent 8 hours or more a day, half of it backing trailers up to the dock while shuffling loads and empties around distribution centers.

Also, if you're not someone who gets daily practice backing, don't be too hard on yourself at first. I'm always rusty at the start of a trip , but I quickly get the knack of it again with a little practice. Give yourself a little extra time and space the first time or two on a trip and you'll be OK.

 

[ntsqd]

A trick that I've learned when towing a short trailer with a long wheel base tow rig is to make short little "stabs" with the steering wheel, and then bring it back to straight ahead. With a combo like this you can't possibly "catch" the trailer once it starts to go too far. Using short steering inputs, as needed, has been a real bonus for me. When it's tricky backing I put the truck in low range and let it idle.

 

[Mark Harley]

How about a custom trailer dolly to snake the trailer into the spot?

 

[The Jade Bean]

How about a custom trailer dolly to snake the trailer into the spot?

That's a good idea... My father-in-law has one of those and he uses it to move his utility trailer around and he seems to like it.

~Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

 

[Big Cruiser Guy]

That's a good idea... My father-in-law has one of those and he uses it to move his utility trailer around and he seems to like it.

~Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

I got one of those caster wheels that goes on the bottom of the trailer jack. I think that will help, haven't tried it out yet.

 

[The Jade Bean]

I got one of those caster wheels that goes on the bottom of the trailer jack. I think that will help, haven't tried it out yet.

I've done the wheel on the jack for my 16' trailer and it works great. It was a little difficult to rotate the trailer only because it's a tandem axle.

~Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

 

[skersfan]

Take the trailer to the wall mart parking lot late at night and park in the lines. Learning to back the trailer is far better than short cuts. it just takes practice. at wallmart you wont be hitting anything either. You will catch on quickly, do not worry about it. But being able to back the trailer up is important when using it or when off road with it. A PIA to learn it but it seems to happen all of sudden, give it a half hour and you will backing that sucker like a profession trucker. The bottom of the wheel works fine as stated.