Backing issues

The best advice that i was given when i was learning to back was to turn the wheel toward my problem. It all clicked from there for me.

 

The trailer will run away from your hand if your hand is on top of the Wheel. You see the trailer coming to your left, roll your hand to the left. If it is going right roll your hand right.

Now if that still confuses you, put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and it is just backwards.

Remember, on a straight line back the trailer will always track the same way. It won't go left one day and right the next.

Backing is not nearly as hard as you think it is.

 

There are some you tube videos that address this. Some have overhead shots. Might help.

 

This may sound childish but it helped me a lot. Get a toy truck (with trailer) and set up a toy environment with similar obstacles. Then spend time watching how the trailer moves to get it where you want it. Then transfer that to your real setup. Best wishes!

 

You may be overthinking it or you may be too focused on "getting straight and in front of your slot".

Too many time we can't simply pull in, turn, straighten, then back straight in. So we need to get a grasp on backing from an origination point that is more or less perpendicular to your slot.

Often times it's best just to get the trailer about half way or more in (without hitting anything), then pull up and work on correcting your angle.

Search YouTube for "overhead backup training" or "Birdseye backup training" and see what comes up. Maybe a few of this will help "get your mind right".

 

put your hand on the bottom of the wheel and move your hand the direction you want the back of the trailer to go.

 

This time last year I was in CDL school and thought I would never ever get the skills done perfectly. I did hear that for whatever reason, it seems that us gals have a harder time of the skills.
This is what helped me ; I kept memorizing the turns in my head ; Left, Right, Straight, Right, Left, Straight.
Then I started memorizing where I would turn ; Reverse straight a little, then hard left until I see the center of the crossbeam in my mirror, then hard right until I am in front of the trailer straight, then back straight until my rear tire is across the parking line. The hard right until I see the cross beam, then hard left until I am straight and then I should be in the spot.
Don't beat yourself up too much. It drove me bananas. One great teacher did bring me into his class alone and took out a toy tractor trailer to demonstrate. He was the best teacher ever. I took longer to get the skills, but when I did it, I passed no problem.

 

Why? That’s sillly. Did the person that told you this offer any reason for this nonsensical opinion? Plenty of women out here doing it up every single day.

As far as memorizing the turns- I guess it’ll help you pass the test- but in the real world, where setups are like snowflakes (no two are the same) I wouldn’t recommend getting in that type of habit. Good way to g t yourself in trouble. There’s no substitute for good old fashioned practice.

 

I got a ton of thumbs up on this video below and a ton of positive comments. I have a whole backing Playlist on the youtube channel as well, various backing examples filmed with a forehead mounted body camera.