Anybody have any advise for how to back a trailer into a driveway?

I know this sounds funny, but we had oh so much trouble doing this today. We just bought a 8*5 trailer. We have posts on either side of the driveway. Then there are support posts for carport. Then we have to back it into the garage, which only has about 12 inches of clearance on either side, so not a lot of margin for error. Anyone have any words of wisdom on how to do this??Anybody have any advise for how to back a trailer into a driveway?
As many people here have said, practice. Fellow bassboater Jesse's hint to hold the steering wheel at the bottom is the easiest way. Wit little clearance, a ground guide to yell STOP! is critical.





But to add something new here, you may want to look at the trailer dolly at the link below. It is an easy way to hand manuver the trailer into that hole.Anybody have any advise for how to back a trailer into a driveway?
Is it loaded? Can you put enough weight on the back to make it maneuverable by hand? If you can pick up the hitch and have someone else put blocks by the wheels to prevent it from rolling downhill whenever you make some progress... you might get it in there slowly... without any damage.





The only other suggestion I can think of... is to go into an empty parking lot with it and practice going around some cones.
Uhhhh...very carefully? Sorry, I couldn't resist!!!
If you steer left, the trailer will go right, steer right, it will go left.


Once you enter the driveway, pull forward a bit until you can straighten the rig, then back straight in.


Repeat as necessary.
practice, practice, practice. Use the side mirrors, go slow, hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, while looking in the mirror make your hand go in the direction you want the trailer to go.
yeah, don't let me do it!
turn the wheel the opposite way you want the trailer to go.
Practice , you will be surprised how quickly you will learn to back it up. Take your trailer to your local wal mart and set up some cones or buckets with mops or brooms or something you can see and just back it up a few times and you will learn. One thing I find the helps is backing so that you can you are turning towards the drivers side this way you can see the rear of the trailer as opposed to backing towards the passenger side where you can not see anything.The hardest trailer to back up are the small, short ones that you can not see the sides of in your mirrors.
Make your back wheels the front wheels of the trailer. Then use YOUR front wheels to move the back (trailer front) wheels where they need to be to point the trailer in the right direction.





Hint: Steer left to make the trailer go right and vice versa. Then follow the trailer as it backs in.
Before you back in, get the trailer and vehicle as straight as you can. As you're backing up go slowly and turn your steering wheel in the direction the trailer's wiggling to. Remember, the smaller the trailer, the harder it is to back in. Take your time and don't get frustrated if it takes a couple shots to get it in.
The ';easiest way'; is this...





Place your hand on the ';BOTTOM'; of the steering wheel.





Now, what ever direction you want your trailer to ';go';, turn your hand ';that way';.





It works every time!





I wish you well..





Jesse
Place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, this way you wont have to think through the opposite motion on the wheel needed to direct the trailer in the direction you want it to go. Use small movements to steer the trailer if it's straight backing. Go slow and watch how the trailer reacts to your steering. Practice makes perfect, so make your self a backing coarse to practice on, in a safe area away from any obstacles. I have taught many big rig drivers how to drive and my experience says there is no verbal method of teaching someone how to back, it just requires practice, patients and the few tips I gave you above. The rest is up to you.


Good luck and happy trails.
If your using a truck or SUV go to u-haul and have them install a hitch on the front of the vehicle makes its easier for the novice..
First you need to get as much room to work as you can, between the trailer and your driveway. Get the trailer as straight as possible then keep it going slow and steady. turn the wheel in the opposite direction you need the trailer to go. And lastly take your time and don't get discouraged.