Rule of thumb for space to manoeuvre?
Discussion
I've had my trailer out a few times and each time I am a little better at reversing.
Today, I tried to reverse through a gate at 90 degrees to a minor road, and no matter what I did, I couldn't find enough room to push the nose of the trailer round AND then have enough room to swing the nose of the car round. I just couldn't get the trailer nose past the point where it would get the trailer heading through the gate instead of back down the road, without putting the car where it could no longer be able to follow the trailer. In the end I had to unhitch and push.
So, is there a rule for the minimum space required for various manoeuvres with a trailer?
Today, I tried to reverse through a gate at 90 degrees to a minor road, and no matter what I did, I couldn't find enough room to push the nose of the trailer round AND then have enough room to swing the nose of the car round. I just couldn't get the trailer nose past the point where it would get the trailer heading through the gate instead of back down the road, without putting the car where it could no longer be able to follow the trailer. In the end I had to unhitch and push.
So, is there a rule for the minimum space required for various manoeuvres with a trailer?
Edited by donkmeister on Saturday 17th May 18:17
Yes, generally you need more than you have 
With a small trailer, it's frequently easier to just remove it, do the manoeuvre and re attach it
With a large trailer, you simply have to look before you go somewhere as generally, it's easier to reverse into it, then try to reverse out of it
With a small trailer, it's frequently easier to just remove it, do the manoeuvre and re attach it
With a large trailer, you simply have to look before you go somewhere as generally, it's easier to reverse into it, then try to reverse out of it
KTMsm said:
Yes, generally you need more than you have
Ha, ain't that the truth!Fortunately my first public reversing was completed successfully and made me look like I knew how to handle a trailer... Because it was in a decently large loading bay.
It was the second one, where I was trying to get through a gate where I looked like a muppet
If anyone else is watching, you need at least 50% more room than if you do it yourself!
I used to drop a large boat onto a slipway, around 45* bend which was between two trees which were planted about 1m each side of the boat and Transit used to drop it off.
First few times in an out - no observers, I nailed it back first time and barely had to think.
Fourth time, a few passers by and the boss were there...yep, 5 attempts!
I used to drop a large boat onto a slipway, around 45* bend which was between two trees which were planted about 1m each side of the boat and Transit used to drop it off.
First few times in an out - no observers, I nailed it back first time and barely had to think.
Fourth time, a few passers by and the boss were there...yep, 5 attempts!
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