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Location: Athens, Ohio | My 17 year old son wants to borrow the boat (the BassTracker, not the Gambler!) and wants me to teach him how to back it up on the ramp. Now, I do not back up correctly, I take the tailgate off the pickup, turn around and look out the back window. I'd like him to learn to use mirrors, only. Any suggestions will be appreciated on proper start out and techniques. thanks, m |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Hey Mikie!
I would suggest that he use the mirrors, but also look out the back. Just to make sure he is aware of his surroundings.
On that note, I can say that when using the mirrors, I believe, you turn the wheel towards the direction that you want the boat to go. That is the most simple info I can give you on that. Take him to a parking lot, and let him fire away. 
(wear your helmet as well. lol)
Backing in is easy, but he needs to get confidence and practice. You should have seen the guy that was backing in a boat at Pewaukee. Mr. Extreme and I got a good laugh, as the guy was pretty much jacknived across the 2 ramps.
Your son should be able to put that trailor in in seconds, get it loaded, and on the road.
Good luck, and take pictures. heh heh heh |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | mikie,
Great places to practice include grocery store, church, etc. parking lots.
They even painted lines for practice!
K |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Walmart church and school parking lots earlly in the morning when no cars are present. I see no problem with dropping the gate when backing up as I have had damage done by peolpe who swrore up and down it wasn't necessary to drop the gate... Off by a inch is off by a lot when getting into real tight spots like where I park mine out of the water. Having him learn with mirrors 1st may be a real good way to do though, make him learn the harder way 1st in case he's ever using someones vehicle where he can't cheat..
Edited by kevin 6/22/2004 7:53 PM
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Posts: 1120
Location: West Chester, OH | Avoid oversteering - the single largest rookie problem in backing "short" trailers. The trailer reacts so quickly to any correction that you end up chasing it all over the ramp.
Personally, I back strictly by the mirrors & watch the trailer tires.
My advice is to point the trailer(rig straightened)where it needs to go & then "follow it" to the water.
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Posts: 107
Location: milwaukee | Lotsa good tips here so far. Here's another: place one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Move that hand in the direction that you want the trailer to go. Gripping the wheel like this tends to reduce over steering. Teach him to use the mirrors too.
Always back the trailer with the tow vehicle windows open. Easier to hear 'crunch' or 'stop!'
These tips have helped me immensely in squeezing my Esox Mag into a one-car garage. Learned from the RVers. |
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Posts: 3907
| Ok, once the boating is done, will he be able to see the trailer without the boat on? In the dark? A tailgate-down mode could mean a trailer/gate impact if he jakes it. Easy answer is those bright white 4' tall guides that you attach to the ass end of either side of your trailer. They also help you see when you are dropping one tire into a powerload hole. (All of a sudden, one of the guides drops way down, unless corrceted, sure bet you'll not load your boat straight on your trailer.) The guides help load straight in high winds wind and river current, too. |
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Posts: 1438
| Mikie
If you want him to use the mirrors to back a real easy way to start is to go along with him on a drive. Just have him go down the road for a piece several times until he has a mental picture of what the trailer looks like going "straight" in the mirrors. Make sure he knows what it looks like in both mirrors too. Have him use a reference point or whatever on the trailer. Then he'll know what "straight" looks like when he's backing up too.
Big boats are easy to back because they stick out so much farther than the truck. They're easy to see. Someone already said that the small boats are easy to lose because they react so fast. Add too that, they are usually pretty hard to see which compounds the problem.
Last, tell him not to get himself frustrated at the ramp. If he's there alone fine, no problem. If he's there with someone else waiting to use the ramp try once or twice and if he doesn't get it, get out of the way and let the other person use the ramp. Then go at it again. I think a lot of damage happens when someone tries to rush it because someone else is waiting. Give him a few times and he'll get it. Ya gotta start somewhere ya know.
Good luck Mikey....
Scott |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mikie...
He'll pick it up...Good advice given above. Only thing I can reinforce is to go SLOW.... one foot on break at all times... As he picks up speed it gets too easy to over-steer... SLOW>>SLOW>>SLOW...
Empty parking lots are great places to start as mentioned earlier....
Just wait till he asks for the Gambler...  |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Wow, thanks, guys. E-Rookie, that's what I was looking for, the hand at the bottom of the wheel; I couldn't remember if it was top or bottom. We have an electric-motor-only lake that has little or no traffic so I figure an evening over there would be ideal. The b-asstracker has those elevated tail light poles so that really helps when dropping the empty trailer into the drink. I will be with him to be sure that on the way to the lake he swings out a bit and does not take the corners too sharp (I scuffed a few tires learning myself). thanks again, I'll give you a report when he nails it. m |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | "Always back the trailer with the tow vehicle windows open. Easier to hear 'crunch' or 'stop!' "... that was the other thing that caused damage to my carport... My Bro wouldn't drop the gate and it was cold out, radio on, windows up.... He couldn't hear me until he felt it hit..
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| Two of the hardest things that I've run into is backing up in the dark (with no lights in the area) and not seeing the boat (not wide) in the mirrors. I put the PVC posts attachments on the trailer and it solves both problems. They were about $50 at Bass Pro & well worth it! |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | A great thing for night loading is a light that plugs into your cig lighter, has about 20' of cord and has a magnetic base so you can set it on your bumper or trailer and light the thing up.. I got mine from Bass Pro but have not noticed it there recently... I'll take a look at my marine catalog and see if it is still there. |
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Posts: 402
| you all have made good points, someone might have mentioned it. But whats the easiest way to back up the trailer with no boat on when the truck has a topper on it? I have no problem backing the boat up to put it in because I can see it at all times. Its a little hard though when I go to pick the boat out of the water. Once in a while around the turns If i'm backin in I'll lose the trailer in my mirrors and I can't see it out of my rearview mirror either. Whats the best thing to do in this sitution just guess or what? My launch is kinda wierd there is only so much room in front of it so you kinda have to back in from the side and turn it kinda sharp, but after that I can usally pull forward and back in.
Hey don't get frustrtated, as someone who just started doing this over a year ago your son will pick up on it very fast. I don't even think my dad was with my the first time I put my boat in by myself and I had no problems, might take a little trial and error but he'll get the hang of it. |
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| >A great thing for night loading is a light that plugs into your cig lighter, has about 20' of >cord and has a magnetic base so you can set it on your bumper or trailer and light the >thing up.. I got mine from Bass Pro but have not noticed it there recently... I'll take a look >at my marine catalog and see if it is still there
I like that idea. I've seen other guys mount white driving lights on their trailer hitch, presumably for night loading. I'd be interested if anyone here has those.
Gotta get some of those white PVC poles too. |
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Posts: 1438
| I don't have the spotlight on the back of the truck yet. I was thinking of mounting one inside the topper with a switch in the cab. Open the topper door flip the switch and you got light. Plus it would be protected from th elements too.
My uncle used to have a fog lamp/driving lamp mounted inside the frame rail under the rear of his truck. Hooked it into the back up lamps. It was mounted up high enough inside the rail that he didn't have to worry about hitting anything with it and it provided enough ambient light for him to back and load his snowmobile trailer.
Just another idea.
Scott |
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | All these tips are great, but remember he has to get it loaded back on the trailer too.
Probally the most important thing for him to remember is getting the rig on the trailer straight. Even if it takes a few times and he gets some angry glares from guys, he needs to take his time loading and properly securing the rig before he leaves.
Same holds true for when he gets the boat backed up...Take time to release the back straps, the transom saver, screw the drain plug in. I imagine that each one of us at one time or another has forgotten to loosen, tighten or secure something and we made asses out of ourselves...WHY? Because we put too much pressure on ourselves at the landing because we're affraid of making a scene or getting hollered at while launching. |
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Posts: 328
Location: MN | I was new to this 3 yrs ago. I used my rear and side mirrors. I was loading and unloading a 16 ft Crestliner on a roller trailer.
It was easy as pie my firstime out. I unhooked the boat tie downs, lugged in the drain - that was it! Back in, got out, removed the bow hook and let her go. Tied up and I was done.
Loading was another story and that took time. Especially getting it on straight. This is where you have to relax and get the boat on straight, without worrying about onyone else, even if it takes 15 minutes. If a roller trailer, make sure the rollers arebarely touching or not touching the water. A simple ruleI useis to make sure the fenders/wheels are level and this will get the boat on straight. I drove it in the first time, got it half way there, kept the engine running in idle so I could quickly,hookthe bow eye strap, then winch up. Get guideon'stoo as this will help if a roller trailer.
Good Luck and Practice! |
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Posts: 328
Location: MN | I was new to this 3 yrs ago. I used my rear and side mirrors. I was loading and unloading a 16 ft Crestliner on a roller trailer.
It was easy as pie my firstime out. I unhooked the boat tie downs, lugged in the drain - that was it! Back in, got out, removed the bow hook and let her go. Tied up and I was done.
Loading was another story and that took time. Especially getting it on straight. This is where you have to relax and get the boat on straight, without worrying about onyone else, even if it takes 15 minutes. If a roller trailer, make sure the rollers arebarely touching or not touching the water. A simple ruleI useis to make sure the fenders/wheels are level and this will get the boat on straight. I drove it in the first time, got it half way there, kept the engine running in idle so I could quickly hook the bow eye strap, then winch up. Get guideon'stoo as this will help if a roller trailer.
Good Luck and Practice! |
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Posts: 328
Location: MN | I was new to this 3 yrs ago. I used my rear and side mirrors. I was loading and unloading a 16 ft Crestliner on a roller trailer.
It was easy as pie my firstime out. I unhooked the boat tie downs, lugged in the drain - that was it! Back in, got out, removed the bow hook and let her go. Tied up and I was done.
Loading was another story and that took time. Especially getting it on straight. This is where you have to relax and get the boat on straight, without worrying about onyone else, even if it takes 15 minutes. If a roller trailer, make sure the rollers arebarely touching or not touching the water. A simple ruleI useis to make sure the fenders/wheels are level and this will get the boat on straight. I drove it in the first time, got it half way there, kept the engine running in idle so I could quickly hook the bow eye strap, then winch up. Get guide on's too as this will help if a roller trailer.
Good Luck and Practice! |
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