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Trailer Tight Spots

Sooner or later, you’re going to have to deal with the horse trailer. Your partner is going to get it stuck and need your help, or you’re going to have to assist with the mechanical side to assure that s(he) stays safe.

To be fair, backing a trailer isn’t the easiest thing in the world and anybody can get into trouble with it. To back a trailer, you must turn your tow vehicle the opposite directions you want the trailer to go. So if you want the trailer to go to the left, you must turn the steering wheel to the right—and do it while looking in the rear view mirror!

Empty parking lots are great places to practice. Take the trailer empty. Before you begin your dry run, make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly. This means you should be able to see alongside the entire trailer (on both sides) and beyond.

Set up an alleyway through cones and boxes and try to back between them. Start out backing straight into the alley and then practice backing into the alley while you’re turning.

It may take a few tries to figure out how wide you have to turn to avoid hitting a box. But a bashing box is better banging the side of your trailer on a gas pump barrier in a filling station.

This is also the perfect time for both of you to practice being the person outside directing the driver in or out of a tight spot. Get your signals straightened out and agreed upon. Women often have different ideas from men about which signal means what. Avoid ending up in a screaming match in front of a crowd of people by sorting out your signals when it doesn’t matter.

A gooseneck is going to turn on a smaller radius than a tag-along, but is more likely to cut the corner, so watch those turns and learn just how much you’ll need to swing out fore safe maneuverability.

If you change trailer hitch style, another practice session wouldn’t hurt.

A few more trailer hints to keep your partner safe:

Lubricate the hitch ball with some sort of grease. Never let it get dry.
Spray WD-40 on hinges every once in awhile.
If the trailer hasn't been used in a while, check the lug nuts on the wheels to make sure they are tight.
Make sure that the correct tool is there for unfastening the lug nuts if
s(he) has a flat tire.
Be sure there is a trailer jack along for the ride.
Invest in a cell phone to take along while towing a trailer.
Pack an extra halter and lead rope for each horse, just in case.