Dyslexia Interfering With Ability To Back Up/Line Up GN to Hitch-Camera Maybe?

[GallopHer]

I"m not dyslexic and I can do a beautiful job backing my trailer. HOWEVER, when I try to hitch the truck to my bumper pull, it takes me forever to decide which way I need to turn the wheel to move the back of the TRUCK. My "trailering" brain takes over and I always turn the truck the wrong way. Go figure...

[ChocoMare]

Ok, while I do like the thingie from Jeffers and the toilet plunger idea, I'm still struggling because of that dag-blasted toolbox! It's pretty high, I'm kinda short and with the extended cab of the truck, I still cannot see clearly to line up the ball....even sitting on a pillow!

So I found this: http://www.horsetraileraccessorystor..._&_hauling.htm - scroll down to Gooseneck Ball Spotter. Since I am getting better at maneuvering purely with mirrors, I think this might work.

Whatcha think?

[sidepasser]

Practice, practice and more practice. So take it from all of us..learning to hitch up will come, especially now that you are learning about "gadgets" - lol..you may have to try different gadgets to find which one makes it easiest for you..check EBAY motors as well..I have found lots of trailer items on Ebay so you might find what you are looking for there.

All that said, I'd rather be poked in the eye with a fork than pull a bumper pull trailer, those are much harder to me to hitch, back up, and in general deal with and I've owned both..the GN..piece of cake to back compared to the bumper pull.

[KnKShowmom]

I use a tall toilet plunger with red tape around the top. I place the plunger in front of the ball. Stripe of red tape on the trailer lines up with the tip of the plunger. I use my review mirrow to line them up. When the plunger is lined up I know I am on the ball. Remember to set your break so the truck does roll forward or backwards.

Now that's the gadget for me - not only will I have a 100% first time hook up rate, but the look on my 14 year old's face will be priceless!

I can see it now - pulling out the plunger at a show so I can hook up.....

Yup, I am at the point of motherhood where those embarrassing moments mean so much!

[TheJenners]

What about lining up your trailer and your truck, then painting a small line in the bed/tailgate and a small line on your trailer? Then you can make sure the lines are even and then get used to what it looks like when it's even.

Dang, that's a good idea! Though I might be more likely to use some colored tape than paint.

[RedTahoe]

So I found this: http://www.horsetraileraccessorystor..._&_hauling.htm - scroll down to Gooseneck Ball Spotter. Since I am getting better at maneuvering purely with mirrors, I think this might work.

Whatcha think?

That looks like it would work. I assume the mirror clips on and isn't permanent?

[poltroon]

I've used colored duct tape on the bed to mark the center - I bet putting some on the toolbox would work. You can also try other alignment cues, like where the trailer is with respect to your bed rails.

It is just hard to learn at first. My biggest rule is that I never listen to anyone on the ground tell me how to move my wheel. I want them to tell me if I'm going to hit anything and a distance. If they try to micromanage, then I ignore them and will get out of the truck as much as necessary to see for myself and get it done.

[ReSomething]

It has been the story of my life that if I buy some nifty gizmo it will get busted or lost.
So, I suggest you add to another poster's suggestion and make yourself some alignment cues, or range markers. Range markers are what they use on runways and in channels so you can line yourself up perfectly straight. Two marks, a distance apart, that you line up. Two on the truck box that line up with the ball (even though you can't see it), then a mark on the trailer so when all three are lined up you are backing with the gooseneck heading straight towards the ball. Then, you need a second set of marks that sight diagonally across the truck bed and across the ball. If you are backing up with the straight set lined up, when the gooseneck reaches the diagonal set it will be over the ball. With a bit of practice you will be able to get exactly where you want to be in one go, and then not have to worry about the marks either.
Over the road truck drivers have it harder, yet easier. Different trailers all the time, but the keyhole opening on the fifth wheel plate is self guiding and self stopping - all you have to get is close and you can hook up.

[goeslikestink]

Thanks JoZ, no need to apologize.

It is severely frustrating though and I wind up in a puddle of tears, feeling like an even bigger idiot/failure.

I guess there's a part that says "You're a 43 y/o grown woman and totally capable of this. Thousands of people do it everyday." Yet, when it comes time to actually do it, I dissolve.

chocomare -- as iam like you but worse in some areas little tip
i used to be like you until one day a farmer mate of mine said i was doing everything to quick
so
now i go slower when backing up not that i went fast as in driving fast but more so in thinking fast- as co ordination with hands on wheel

1st when backing up or reversing round corners

its the opposite to what you do going forwards --
2nd -- if you have a small trialer most have a window at the front the hitch is in the middle of the viechile ok
now when mine was hitch up and jockey wheel up the handle was just at the start of my rear wheel which was on the back of my landy disco
so wheni backed up to hitch up i knew if i looked round to line it up with the start of my spare which i could see - i was in the right place

nver had a problem hitching up afterwards with any trailer
2nd as i knoew where the jockey wheel was then when i looked over my schoulder to revervse i knew the postion of the trailer

3rd use your wing mirrors or buy some that are extentsions to put on the front of your vechile so you can see down the sides of the trialer - in my old landy i had extra ones on the front with disco they are wide and in the right place to see both sides so make sure your wing mirrors are decent and positioned well

4th- do everthing slower sit and think and then start again but do it slower and the box will move in the direction you want it to go

funny thing is when iwas teaching debs how to tow at a very young age as she leanrt to drive early in life with an old banger doing the pooh picking with an old box trialer that you couldnt see out of the window she tens times better than me and gets in one go shes 26 now and she can tow anything big or small comes as natural to her as it does her brother but me takes me a tad longer but doesnt matter as i get the same results in the end

dont despire - practice makes perfect -- if you havent got anything behind you in your window like i have like a spare wheel then use your back wiper blade

[lintesia]

What worked for me was some reflective tape. I put a strip of it down the center of the gooseneck post and a strip on the bed of my truck. I still have to get out to check the distance from the hitch, but the alignment is 99% correct.

We also rigged up a little camera (bought it at Costco for about $50) that's attached (somewhat permanently) to the exterior of the rear window -- it points down to the hitch ball. When I want to use it, I pull out the little screen, plug the screen into the charger, plug the camera cord into the rear seat charger and then I can see the hitch ball as I'm backing up.

But I found that for all practical purposes, once I had attached the reflective tape, it was much faster to just get out of the cab for the final adjustment than to hook up the camera.

Another thing I do when I'm making the final adjustment (assuming the alignment is all set), is I'll make a mental note of how many inches I need to back-up or go forward. Then, I leave the door of the cab open and visually pick out a stone or something on the ground to look at and reference it against a spot on my running board so that I can "measure" the amount of backing I need to do. (I'm not explaining this well - sorry! Here's another attempt: Say I check my hitch and I'm off by 3" (again, the alignment has to be good, this is only for the final forward/reverse adjustment), so I need to back up another 3". When I'm back in the cab, I leave the door open and pick a visual reference to that I know when I've reversed 3". It seems to take the hit or miss element out of that final stage.)

[Equibrit]

When you have the trailer hitched up get hubby out to help you do this. When you are seated in your normal reversing position to hook up, have hubby put a piece of tape on the toolbox and another on the gooseneck that you can then line up to get the ball under the hitch. Then all you have to do is worry about getting them together. I think the camera may be even more confusing for you.