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Reversing a Trailer 101

Sep. 30 2022 Ownership Tips By APC Trailers

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Reversing a trailer isn’t always the easiest task, but if you’re looking for some helpful tips and advice you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for important information on how to reverse a trailer. Then, when you’re ready, head over to our location in Tucson, Arizona, and grab your new trailer today!

Steering

It’s important when reversing that you don’t oversteer your trailer. Even relatively small adjustments of the steering wheel can result in big movements from your trailer, especially with smaller models. To avoid oversteering, we advise placing both of your hands at the bottom of the steering wheel. If you are reversing directly backward this should also help you keep your vehicle and trailer aligned so you can easily slide into your spot

Jackknifing

Jackknifing by definition is when a towing vehicle and a trailer create an acute angle between them, recreating the shape of a jackknife about to close. However, generally, when a person refers to jackknifing they are referring to a car being pushed or moved by the trailer, resulting in damages to the vehicle, trailer, and hitch. Do your best to avoid jackknifing at all costs. If you are reversing at an angle be sure to move carefully, making extremely wide turns into the spot.  

Hand Placement 

Placing your hands correctly on your steering wheel can help you avoid quite a few reversing mistakes! Generally, as you reverse you’ll want to keep your hands on the very bottom of your steering wheel. As we mentioned, this will keep you from oversteering your trailer and keep everything aligned. If you are trying to reverse your trailer to the right or left, keeping your hands at the bottom of the wheel can act as a reminder of which way your trailer will turn as you reverse. Pulling the wheel to the left from the bottom will turn your trailer left, and vice versa. 

If you’re still a beginner when it comes to trailer towing you might want to practice some of our tips above before using them for the first time. If you’re in the market for a new trailer or are interested in trading in your old one we hope you’ll visit us here at APC Trailers! We proudly serve the cities of Phoenix and Casa Grande, Arizona, and take pride in our impressive inventory and amazing staff.