training to tow trailer

Discuss with others about towing. What is the best tow vehicle, hitches, brake controllers, etc, keeping in mind that everybody has his/her favorite.

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Diesel Dave 04
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training to tow trailer

Post by Diesel Dave 04 »

My cuzain has a 350 dually and a 32 foot 5th her husband passed alittle while back and she wants to camp But never towed before. I need to ride with her and help her learn. Any pointers or any thing that some one told you that helped? It just came natural to me.
2008 Crew Cab 4X4 DRW 6.4 Turbo 4:10 gears. rebuilt engine at 59,338 miles broken #8 piston,tugging on A 2015 3800 FL full body paint
fix 7.3 , 6.0 AND now 6.4s Powerstroke diesels.
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Chief409 »

You could start her small with something like a U-Haul 2 axle trailer and get her used to the basics.

Jeff
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by bigbunkhouse »

when backing up put hand inside on the bottom of the wheel, that way when u turn the wheel the trailer goes the same way and you cannot move the wheel tooo far so as to not overcorrect
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Don Wilson »

Here are a few of the things it took my wife some time to understand when she started out.

Stopping - Start slowing down earlier at Stop lights and stop signs because with the wieght of the trailer it takes longer to stop! I left finger groves in the grab bar on the passenger side the first few times she towed and there were a couple of times we were 1/4 of the way into the intersection before we stopped.
Turning radius - Remind her it is a long vehicle and she needs to make wider turns when cornering. We also hopped a few curbs, but never took out a parked vehicle but came close more than once.

Don
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Don Wilson
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Don Wilson »

bigbunkhouse wrote:when backing up put hand inside on the bottom of the wheel, that way when u turn the wheel the trailer goes the same way and you cannot move the wheel tooo far so as to not overcorrect
Matt that is the hardest thing to learn. I know because I still have problems with it and have been towing a 5th wheel for 8 years!!

Don
We don't know a stranger only friends we haven't met yet!

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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Chief409 »

If there is a large parking lot available, that's mostly empty, it's an ideal training ground before getting on a road.
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Diesel Dave 04 »

Thanks Guys, we are going camping this weekend, She Is going to try it, If it dont go well I will take over, the good thing is we are only 40 min from home Incase I have to haul hers out first then Mine.
2008 Crew Cab 4X4 DRW 6.4 Turbo 4:10 gears. rebuilt engine at 59,338 miles broken #8 piston,tugging on A 2015 3800 FL full body paint
fix 7.3 , 6.0 AND now 6.4s Powerstroke diesels.
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by bigbunkhouse »

how r you liking the truck so far dave? Any comparisons to the Old FORD or not so old DODGE?
2007 362bhs Cardinal (The mobile vacation home)
99 f350 4dr dually v-10 Lb 2wd 4.30 locker (Big Dually)
Dogs: Elvis and Priscilla
Me (Matt), Wifey (Jana), (Julia)14 year old daughter and ***SHYANNE*** born 8/12/10
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Diesel Dave 04
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Diesel Dave 04 »

bigbunkhouse wrote:how r you liking the truck so far dave? Any comparisons to the Old FORD or not so old DODGE?
I like the truck as far as ride and handling. I programed it and killed the DPF so im getting 10 MPG the only thing Is it screems on the hills it will lug in 4th and screem in 3ed on a slow hill but on a fast big hill it holds 4th and does fine. My ram wpuld seem to pull it better on some hills or atleast it didnt screem it would just chug right up. but you cant beat the size and comfurt of the truck. so as a package deal the Ford hass it all the way. I dont think it does any better then my 04 6.0 did but it is quieter and seems smoother.
2008 Crew Cab 4X4 DRW 6.4 Turbo 4:10 gears. rebuilt engine at 59,338 miles broken #8 piston,tugging on A 2015 3800 FL full body paint
fix 7.3 , 6.0 AND now 6.4s Powerstroke diesels.
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by campswithcritters »

Always train yourself to look up as well as straight ahead. The tree branches and other obstacles can ruin your day.
Agree with hand on bottom of wheel when backing, just move that hand the same direction you want the back of the trailer to go.
Turn wide, very wide, it is better to miss obstructions by a wide margin.
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by watkinsk »

Go to Walmart or ??? and buy 4- 6 small red soccer cones... Then find a high school parking lot that is empty and set up an obstacle course with the cones to help her learn to turn. Then use the cones to set up a lane to back into and park.

Nothing is easy but the open parking lot helps to take the focus off of everything except the art of towing.

Good luck.
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by honker »

Good for her wanting to continue camping. A friend of mine has a sister that found herself in the same situation. With help from you and taking it slow she will do fine.
I remember her telling me the main thing that helped her the first time was having someone to follow. That way she could see how to make wide turns etc. She does
great now, backs better than her hubby did while he was alive. Baby steps..................... ;)
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by WVcampers »

I have found when helping someone new at backing that if I stand outside by the drivers door that I can see what they are doing and it is easy to communicate with them. It is easy to tell if they turn the wheel the wrong way and correct them before they start backing.
I was at a Renfro Valley Ky. campground and 16 campers came in at one time, they were all Prevost motor homes. One of them was driven by a widow for the first time. They had put her between 2 other campers and they could communicate with her using CB radios while they were on the road.
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Chief409
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Chief409 »

Diesel Dave 04 wrote:Thanks Guys, we are going camping this weekend, She Is going to try it, If it dont go well I will take over, the good thing is we are only 40 min from home Incase I have to haul hers out first then Mine.
How did the training session go?

Jeff
Jeff & Terry
U.S.N. Ret
2012 F350 Lariat FX4 6.7 Diesel Dually, Crew Cab, LWB, 50 gal Transfer Flow toolbox/tank
2007 Cardinal 30WBLE, "the 'Bird", ONAN gen.
The more I see in my travels, the more I realize there is so much more to see.
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Diesel Dave 04
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Re: training to tow trailer

Post by Diesel Dave 04 »

Chief409 wrote:
Diesel Dave 04 wrote:Thanks Guys, we are going camping this weekend, She Is going to try it, If it dont go well I will take over, the good thing is we are only 40 min from home Incase I have to haul hers out first then Mine.
How did the training session go?

Jeff
It went well, I road with her out and talked her through the wide turns and explain things to her, she did well I had her back it in to the site also that will take some time ( the backing thing) it does with every one. she drove it home on her own behind me then I went over to her house and backed it into where she keeps it that is tight even for a expert LOL
2008 Crew Cab 4X4 DRW 6.4 Turbo 4:10 gears. rebuilt engine at 59,338 miles broken #8 piston,tugging on A 2015 3800 FL full body paint
fix 7.3 , 6.0 AND now 6.4s Powerstroke diesels.
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