Reversing with a trailer

Reversing a trailer takes real skill. There aren’t any shortcuts, practice is the only way to perfect it!

Where should you practise this?

Start by practising in an empty carpark. Use the carpark lines, cones or old soft drink bottles to give yourself something to reverse around.

How to reverse with a trailer

• Before you start backing, make sure that the wheels of the car and trailer are all facing straight ahead
• Practise turning to the right first, so that the trailer coming around to the driver’s side of the car. This is the simpler side to start with because you can see the trailer more easily.
• Look in your rear view mirror to where you want the trailer to go.
• Reverse slowly so you have time to adjust your steering. Make small, regular and smooth movements with the steering wheel. The longer the draw bar the slower the trailer will react to your steering.
• Remember to always turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction to where you want the trailer to go. If you want to steer the trailer to the right turn the wheel left, and right if you want to steer the trailer left.
• Get someone to stand around where you want the right back corner of the trailer to end up. It will help you judge how close you are to where you want to go.
• When the trailer is moving in the direction you want it to go, straighten the wheels of your car again.
• It can take time to get this right. You’ll need to practise until you can move confidently for 20 metres in a straight line, and through 90-degree left and right turns.

Tips if things go wrong

• If you’re struggling, just pull forward, line up, and start reversing again. If you’re not sure, stop the car, put the handbrake on, and put the car into neutral or park. Then get out and have a look.
• Sometimes you might find your trailer will ‘jack-knife’. This is when you keep your wheels straight, instead of turning them in the opposite direction to that which you steered the trailer. If you find yourself in a jack-knife position, pull forward, straighten up and start again.

Remember: The trickiest part of reversing with a trailer is steering as it swivels on your car’s tow bar. You need to get the trailer moving in the direction you want before you steer the car through the turn to follow the trailer.