Jackknifing on the trail

[TacoDell]

TacoDell I knew you and I were on the same page.

Didn't mean to come off as a jerk, was just getting frustrated at the "learn to drive a trailer" comments. Really it's my fault for not expressing myself clearly at the get go.

BTW agree with all the advice about assessing risk and using judgement.

didn't think you did... nor were.

 

[loren85022]

Practice is one key. The 2nd is to have proper mirrors. And when the trail gets a bit hairy, having a spotter who too knows how the trailer will react can make you look good.

 

[TacoDell]

Practice is one key. The 2nd is to have proper mirrors. And when the trail gets a bit hairy, having a spotter who too knows how the trailer will react can make you look good.

Have you had a lot of practice backing a trailer down muddy hill climbs ?

Not wanting to pee on yer parade...
but sure seems like generic advice for the subject in matter.

----------------------------------------------------------

Me personally... I don't care how good one is at backing a trailer...
there will come a time/day... one might push a little too far, have a brain fart or are generally just dumb. LoL

and so, they might find themselves in a bad way...
crossed up and sliding backwards.

^ that and so > what can one do to limit/prevent the situation from escalating.


What would you do ?

I believe that's what the OP is trying to get out of this !? (fm post #1)

To the point: This got me wondering about getting offroad with a trailer (have considered taking my little cargo trailer along now and then) and losing traction on a muddy climb or simply having to back out of an obstacle. What are you guys doing to prevent this, or to prevent damage when it does happen?

 

[Martyn]

I was on a very small hill, but when the trailer went sideways and I tried to turn out of it, I got a bit sideways to the slope and was very uncomfortable. I tried to go back up hill to straighten out, but just dug in more. I eventually just it jackknife and pushed the trailer down the hill far enough so that I could drive off at a less precarious angle, like a banked turn.

Here is a photo of the spot, just before I jackknifed. I started out one car length ahead of this photo spot, where the dark fresh dug up sand is.

Electric brakes?

If you don't have them you need them.

 

[The Swiss]

Me personally... I don't care how good one is at backing a trailer...
there will come a time/day... one might push a little too far, have a brain fart or are generally just dumb. LoL

and so, they might find themselves in a bad way...
crossed up and sliding backwards.

Exactly!

 

[nwoods]

Electric brakes?

If you don't have them you need them.

I have them. I was not worried about sliding in this particular situation, I just could not reverse straight.

 

[Martyn]

Hmmmmm, the old reversing straight syndrome. Sort of makes life exciting doesn't it :sombrero:

 

[The Swiss]

Hmmmmm, the old reversing straight syndrome. Sort of makes life exciting doesn't it :sombrero:

... especially on a 30 degree slope ...

 

[Casper]

SO, in going through this thread I didn't see any mention of trailer and vehicle length when backing (might have missed it though) I think it's worth mentioning. Here's what I have noticed with me setup, a 2000 Xterra with a AT Chaser trailer: Once I practiced a bit I could back up this setup through anything, and have. I have backed it down 2.6 miles of switchbacks, without pulling forward once, have backed it around a small lake during the Camp Wamp run (actually do it every year) without pulling forward, and during a "slow" slide backwards was able to keep the trailer tracked where I wanted. I am by no means an expert, and thus come the other end of this. My other rig setup, 2000 Toyota Tundra access cab short bed and same trailer: I'm lucky if I can back it up straight for more then 5 feet, tried backing the trailer into the garage, no luck, hit the door, hit my tool box inside, and even my welding table.

My point to all this, the Xterra wheelbase matched with the Chaser length, and hitch length seem to be perfect for each other and make backing the trailer a real breeze. The Tundra wheelbase however makes the trailer turn WAY to quickly, and then won't correct anywhere near as fast. I am sure there has got to be a scientific way to figure out what the pefect length of trailer would be for any given vehicle, and if there is, Martyn has got to know it and will probebly chime in.

Ok, rambled enough, time to go.

Cheers,
Josh
&
Porthos
:smiley_drive:

 

[Borrego60]

What I drive,granted the tundra does not have a good turning radius but I have no problem putting it where I want it. You are correct about the correcting while backing up a trailer,just have to stay on top of it.

 

[Martyn]

SO, in going through this thread I didn't see any mention of trailer and vehicle length when backing (might have missed it though) I think it's worth mentioning. Here's what I have noticed with me setup, a 2000 Xterra with a AT Chaser trailer: Once I practiced a bit I could back up this setup through anything, and have. I have backed it down 2.6 miles of switchbacks, without pulling forward once, have backed it around a small lake during the Camp Wamp run (actually do it every year) without pulling forward, and during a "slow" slide backwards was able to keep the trailer tracked where I wanted. I am by no means an expert, and thus come the other end of this. My other rig setup, 2000 Toyota Tundra access cab short bed and same trailer: I'm lucky if I can back it up straight for more then 5 feet, tried backing the trailer into the garage, no luck, hit the door, hit my tool box inside, and even my welding table.

My point to all this, the Xterra wheelbase matched with the Chaser length, and hitch length seem to be perfect for each other and make backing the trailer a real breeze. The Tundra wheelbase however makes the trailer turn WAY to quickly, and then won't correct anywhere near as fast. I am sure there has got to be a scientific way to figure out what the pefect length of trailer would be for any given vehicle, and if there is, Martyn has got to know it and will probebly chime in.

Ok, rambled enough, time to go.

Cheers,
Josh
&
Porthos
:smiley_drive:

Josh, I think your skill when trailer handling has a lot to do with Porthos barking commands to you moments before you go off course

Having the identical wheel based between all the axles does make things much easier when towing, I don't know if it's more to do with the wheel base or the wheel base being close to the coupler axle length that does the trick.

 

[loren85022]

[Posted by Casper . . . . . Once I practiced a bit I could back up this setup through anything . . . . ]

Well said.

 

[Casper]

Josh, I think your skill when trailer handling has a lot to do with Porthos barking commands to you moments before you go off course

Having the identical wheel based between all the axles does make things much easier when towing, I don't know if it's more to do with the wheel base or the wheel base being close to the coupler axle length that does the trick.

Haha, you are right about that, he makes sure to tell me when I'm doing it wrong. :smiley_drive:

[Posted by Casper . . . . . Once I practiced a bit I could back up this setup through anything . . . . ]

Well said.

True, but then I have practiced more then a bit with the Tundra, and still can't back it anywhere near as well as I can with the Xterra. Matching the rig to the trailer can make all the difference in the world on how they act/react to each other.

Cheers,
Josh
&
Porthos
:smiley_drive:

 

[aka rover]

First thing i will say is im no expert at backing a trailer, but what i will say is if not allready mentioned is the distance between the rear axle and coupler, The longer this distance the faster the reaction time when a turn is made. This being the case some rigs require a larger area to turn "nose swing" even if the wheel base was the same and the hitch points are different distances from the rear axle. And the shorter the distance the faster you will loose control backing and jack knife the trailer.

Cheers Ed

 

[nwoods]

Well, when I had the MAX coupler welded to my trailer, I put it on an extra long tube and drilled a few holes along it's length, so that the tongue length is adjustable. Over the weekend I adjusted the tongue length from its shortest setting to the mid-point setting, about 8" longer. I haven't had the opportunity to tow with it at this length yet, but I'll try to see what that might do to the handling characteristics. It seems I should expect it to be a little less inclined to wander on me when backing up, and perhaps require less nose-swing to correct? I hope so!