Is anyone but me getting desperate for a trailer? I love where I keep my horses, and I know everything is just as it should be right now, horse accommodation wise. But I’m feeling kind of arena locked and claustrophobic. If only I had a trailer (and, oh, wait, a big ol’ truck, because I drive a Mini), I could load up and go to the Grasslands — or even a few closer trails — for an afternoon in the great big, rail-less outdoors. And as good as I know this would be for my horses’ minds, I know it would be even better for mine. There’s just something magical about a trail ride for clearing everyone’s mind and recharging your soul.
But do you know what worries me about having a trailer? Pulling it. Once before when I was on a serious trailer quest, and again while researching the Trailering chapter for The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife Horses, I ran across the same thing time and again. Everyone says how “easy” it is to pull a trailer. They think it’s comforting to tell me “you won’t even know it’s back there!” That, my friends, is precisely what I’m afraid of.
For people who have grown up hauling horses, pulling a trailer (and backing it!) is second nature. They honestly don’t know what the big deal is. Or why I’m so wigged out. They scoff at my need for formal instruction (beyond the trailer salesman who offers to “take me out back and show me” how to pull a trailer.) They think Something tells me this is a skill that can’t be learned in one 30-minute session. I want rules, instruction, safety procedures and practice opportunities. But guess what? If a six-week trailer pulling course is out there (besides truck driver school) I sure haven’t found it.
I understand and appreciate that those who have pulled trailers a lot are walking around with knowledge inside them they don’t even know is there. But when trouble shows up, they reach for it and it’s there to help them figure out what to do. On the other hand, if I’m pulling a trailer full of horses and get into trouble (blowout, bad weather, horrible high speed traffic, some jerk cuts me off or stops suddenly without warning) I’d reach for that instinct born of knowledge and experience and come up empty handed. And most likely, hysterical.
So as I begin this “happy trailering” series of posts, I invite your participation and response. What are your trailering questions and concerns? What worries you most when you’re pulling a trailer? How did you learn (or how do you plan to learn) to pull a trailer?
And for heaven’s sake, if you’re one of those folks who has hauled a lot, please share any insights, tips and wisdom you can put your finger on to help keep the rest of us from becoming road hazards!
Here’s to Happy Trailering!
Melinda
Melinda,
As someone who has trailered for for over 40 years, I can tell you from experience that taking some lessons from an experienced hauler both empty & full would be well worth your time. I have had a long list of problems on the road & can guarantee that you need all the help you can get to prepare for: blown tire, trailer coming off of truck & flipping, horse going down in trailer under another horse, horse rocking trailer or colicking, motor blowing, etc. Invest in a travel protection card. It will pay for itself. If possible, get a companion to accompany you. Two is always better in an emergency. Always travel with a charged phone & a good spare, 1st aid for horse & rider. You are very wise to understand that just because you can drive a car, you can’t just assume to get behind the wheel of a truck & trailer & know what to do. Best of Luck
I am in the same boat. I had my horse for 2 years now. She was a rescue who has not been under saddle for 10 years before I got her. She is now back under saddle and is very willing to learn. She is an arabian, so she is gets bored easy. I just purchased a trailer and making my husband drive it for me. I am setting something up for 2 weeks from now to take out of the pasture for the first time. I will let you know how it goes
Just do it! The only way to learn to pull a trailer is to jump in and drive. Are you going to mess up? Yes. Will it be catastrophic? Probably not. If you have logged more than 100,000 miles on your vehicle(s) without serious issues, a trailer isn’t going to change things. You will be extra cautious, but that’s a good thing. Pull it empty, and practice parking (in a large parking lot) until the worst of the jitters goes away. Start with short trips, and build on your success. Avoid the heavy traffic times, and always leave extra stopping space. Weather is a variable, but there is no rule that says you can’t wait it out. The only way to acquire that instinctual knowledge, is to practice. One other tip. When you are backing a trailer, put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Then move your hand in the direction that you want the trailer to go. Practice until you have it down.
Melinda: I’m so anxious to read the blog. I feel like I have spent years asking the same questions and just as confused and scared about diving into getting a trailor. What I’ve come to be certain of is everyone says buy the truck first but I get confused here trying to get the smallest truck I can but not making any compromises on safety and wear and tear. I head many horseman say a 1500 will pull but I’ve been in one pulling a full 2 horse and boy does the pick up ability disappear . Also getting info on insurance is hard to get a straight answer. Been told that is the trailer is attached to the truck the truck coverage covers the trailor but if its parked on your property your home owners covers it. Both seem not right. I could go on and on. If you ever find that class sign me up cause the process gets me so co fused I give up.
I asked my insurance agent the same question. The trailer is not covered by my truck insurance, had to get insurance for the trailer itself. Also good idea to get USRider, they are great and will handle any emergencies that you have. I just had a shelter built for my trailer and it takes me 15-20 minutes to back it in. I know I need to practice more. It is only about 4-5 feet wider than the trailer.
Wow – this is gonna be tough – kinda like trying to tell someone how to walk – after a while you just take it for granted and don’t think about it. Don’t learn to back a trailer with a trailer that is smaller then the tow vehicle – it will lead to a lot of frustration.
1st – never be afraid to get out and look to see how far away you are from that trailer eating object. The mirrors make distance judging difficult until you get use to them. The extra exercise is worth the saved paint and eliminated repair costs.
On trailers – the bigger the trailer is, the slower it will turn when backing (this makes it easier) but you have to make big adjustments to start to make the trailer move a little bit. A trailer smaller then the tow vehicle will jack knife in a heart beat when backing up – small adjustments are required.
Before backing – start the trailer pointing where you need to back while going forward. If you need to back to the left (easier then to the right as you can look out your window) then before you stop moving forward, turn such that the back of the trailer is pointing towards where you want to back. Do this by turning to the right first then to the left (while moving forward) so that you can easily see the rear left corner of the trailer. Now when you put the truck in reverse, the trailer is going to be pointing in the general direction you want it to go. Turn the front wheels to the left to mimic the arch that is formed between the truck and trailer and follow the trailer back. If the trailer turns too far to the left – don’t be afraid to pull forward to straighten out the trailer. Then back some more. You can get fancier later on.
Right turns while going forward. If your trailer doesn’t have marker lights by the wheels – get some put on. If you can’t see the trailer marker lights in your mirrors then get different mirrors installed. When making right turns, if the trailer wheels are even with the corner – you will not hit the curb, person or vehicle you are turning around (EVEN AT NIGHT!). The trailer will pivot on the wheels – hope his makes sense – your horses will greatly appreciate you not hopping the curbs.
On ‘Helpers’. Don’t wildly flail your arms around an arch in an attempt to instruct the driver which way to turn their wheels. It doesn’t work! Point with your whole arm which way the trailer needs to go. Then give the driver the time to figure out how to make it go there. Stop, is indicated by showing your palms to the driver. Straight back is indicated by drawing your arms towards you (bending at the elbows) Go forward is indicated by pointing at the driver. You don’t have to use these exact commands – but agree on what signal means what intended action. Don’t even attempt this with a flash light at night until you are experienced working together. At night – stand about 6 feet to the side of the drivers door, so you can see the back of the trailer better, then talk to the driver. Walk back and look to see if the far side of the trailer is close to something.
When on the road – make wide turns until you get the feel of how your trailer tracks behind your tow vehicle. Use your mirrors to see where the trailer wheels are when turning. Leave lots of room between you and the vehicle in front of you. Look at least a quarter mile up the road (and every thing between there and your hood)
Practice, Practice, Practice – but with a target – backing around a parking lot with no particular plan isn’t that helpful. Back into a specific parking spot. Put cones up to indicate hard objects that need to be avoided while backing or driving forward. But most of all accept that this is a skill that takes some time to develop. But the only way to develop the skill is behind the wheel.
On Trailer Insurance – we have a policy just for our good trailer – the smaller old trailer ($500 cost) is not worthy of its own policy.
I cut my trailering teeth in Germany driving a Semi truck with a 40′ trailer down narrow cobble stone streets. We now have a 42-foot 4-horse gooseneck trailer. US roads and towns are a breeze compared to Germany!
The rewards of getting out trail riding in different areas will make the time you spent practicing worth it!
Melinda: I am a 61-year-old divorced female and started pulling my own 2-horse trailer ten years ago. (What a difference ten years makes in your nerves, lol!). And don’t listen to the horror stories. I’ve never had a horse fall underneath another one in a trailer and don’t know anyone that has. I wouldn’t haul at all if I heard stories like this. But there are an abundance of trails where I live and I only pull an hour or so away from where my horse is. The only thing I tell myself when backing my trailer is that it turns the OPPOSITE of the way the steering wheel turns. Before I start backing, I see which way I want the trailer to go then turn the wheel the other way. And learn to use your mirrors. You can back perfectly straight by keeping your tires in view as you back. Practice it and if your left-side tire gets out of view, just turn your wheel to the right & it straightens right up. Love the blog! Good luck! Just take your time.
One thing no one mentioned is how you drive directly effects how your horses ride. The best way I have found to judge this is to take a trip in the opposite side of your horse. Then you will get a feel on how your breaking, excelerating and taking curves effects your horses.
Hi. I’m trying to figure out if my Oldsmobile sillouette (?<(luxury model) will pull a 2000 pound. Trailer with one horse
in it. Any ideas? I just plan to trailer close to home.
Jen, check your manual for the car or call a dealer. If there’s not a hitch that is rated for the tongue weight of the trailer, then it probably means the car can’t do it. “Back in the day” I used to pull a two-horse with a 69 Pontiac GTO convertible with a 350-horse engine, but I added air lifts to the rear shocks and a brake controller. It was a pretty heavy car–about 3,000 pounds, I think, but with two big horses onboard and going downhill I had to hold the trailer back with the controller. I got into fishtailing situations more than once on interstates, when big trucks would pass at a high speed. You DON’T want to experience that. In short, don’t overface your car so you damage it–and perhaps endanger your horse and rig.