posted 08-10-2012 06:07 PM ET (US)            

I learned to just sit back and watch the outer edges of my fenders. I just keep it slow, watch the angles and it has worked for me.

Also while backing my Chev Tahoe to the hitch on the trailer I learned a tip from a friend.

I have placed a small decal on the inside of the rear window marking the center of the vehicle which keeps me close to centering the hitch while backing up to it.

Hope it helps

posted 08-12-2012 10:11 PM ET (US)            

Yup. External mirrors for me...at least for trucks...cars might be different.

posted 08-13-2012 06:45 PM ET (US)            

I first learned backing with a trailer while a very new trooper in the Army Engineers. As a heavy equipment repairman I needed to be able to move the equipment around our work sites. An old timer gave me lessons for about 15 minutes then turned me loose with a 5 ton tractor and a lowboy trailer so I could practice. I spent just about the whole day playing "truck driver" and building confidence. At the end of the day I could do almost anything with that tractor trailer combination.

posted 08-18-2012 08:30 AM ET (US)            

The mark represents the normal waterline of the hull when the boat is on the trailer. When launching I usually back in to the point where the mark is just below water. The boat usually comes right off the trailer at that point. When loading, I usually back in to the mark. As the boat is winched onto the trailer the stern will tend to settle gently on the bunks. If the trailer is too deep when loading you often see the boat remain floating until you start to pull out, at which point the boat may settle onto the the trailer with a list. By starting with the mark at the water line, the stern tends to be bearing onto the bunks and tends to center itself. Once the boat is mainly on the bunks and not afloat, I will back in further to make the load on the winch reduced by adding some buoyancy.

The guides also help keep the boat centered and prevent loading with a list, although in situations with a strong cross wind a Whaler will tend to lean into the wind.

Ramp slope can cause problems in launching and loading for some boats and trailers. I recall one ramp I used where I could not get the boat onto the trailer properly. It was a long ramp. I drove up the ramp, turned around, and drove down the ramp with the truck first. This put the boat on the trailer on a downward slope. With the bunks wet and the downward slope I was then able to winch the boat the last few inches onto the trailer. I got a few strange looks from other ramp users.

posted 08-19-2012 08:45 AM ET (US)            

I do use the hand on the bottom of the steering wheel trick so that I mostly turn the wheel the way I should.

But what usually happens is when the trailer starts to go a little off course I start correcting very very slowly but it never seems to have any affect until suddenly I've overcorrected - half the time I wind up in a jacknifed position and have to go forward to straighten out.