Trailer Reversing: Links That Show You How!

I don’t have to do trailer reversing very often but when I do the thing that really worries me is getting the trailer to go the right way! I have never been able to work out the link between the direction I am steering and the direction the trailer ultimately goes. It’s as if the trailer has a mind of its own! If you have ever reversed a trailer you know what I mean.

Once you have started to get the trailer turning and then you try to correct the movement that is usually when things start to go pear shaped. Even with a helper, if they are not experienced at reversing a trailer either, it can still be quite a job.

I had just such a helper recently and we were both able to have a good laugh at my lack of reversing skills. When I had successfully reversed the trailer into its spot, after so many attempts I had lost count, I thought to myself “I wish there was a trailer reversing simulator that I can use to practice my trailer reversing on”.  So I thought I’d have a look for some online tools that would help me learn to reverse a trailer.

Reversing a Trailer Simulator

After a small amount of research online I have found that there are a couple of parking games that allow you to practice reversing.

I liked the one below the best. It‘s a caravan reversing simulator which gives you a good feel for how to steer a trailer. It is quite hard at first but as you practice more you start to get used to how the caravan moves as you turn the wheels. I like this simulator because if you get really stuck it is quite easy to stop and restart it again!

Caravan Reversing Trial

General Trailer Reversing Tips

I also found the following useful video links that gave some great general advice about reversing trailers.

NissanAustralia YouTube video: Nissan 4×4 Tips – Reversing with a trailer

supercheapautotv YouTube video: Tips on Reversing a Trailer

I found the links above were very helpful. My trailer is only small so it was great to learn that the smaller the trailer the harder it is to control when reversing. I don’t feel quite so bad now!

What you are probably wondering now though is ‘did the reversing tips and use of the simulator actually help my trailer reversing skills?”

Well the answer to this is, yes it really did!

After running through the simulator dozens of times until I understood how the steering was effecting the trailer direction, I was able to reverse my trailer much more easily. Spending some time on the simulator coupled with the tips from the video links seems to have really improved my trailer reversing skills. I have had the trailer out a couple of times in the last few days and now I am able to reverse it quite easily. Now I am no longer embarrassed to have someone watch me while I reverse the trailer!
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