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 Expert
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Location: Mississippi | I am hauling to a clinic about 3 hours away and this will be my first time pulling alone with my new trailer (platinum 3 horse LQ). I'm kind of nervous although most of the drive will be interstate. Any tips or pointers to ease my nerves a little? I am pulling with a F250 short bed so I'm also worried about knocking the back window out when backing, etc :). I'm used to my little bumper pull!
Edited by turtleaut 2014-06-04 9:16 AM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | How long is the trailer and what shape is the gooseneck part? |
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | Not sure of the overall length but it's a 10ft short wall. Maybe 30 feet or so? It's a square shaped nose not tapered off |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | generally the only trucks that are bad for knocking out the back window are the mega cabs...............are you sure you have enough truck for that trailer..............
just give your self lots of time and dont get rushed or panic............i just downsized to the same size of trailer.........:)
m
Edited by mruggles 2014-06-04 9:32 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | I know allow for wide right turns I'm just so afraid I'm going to get somewhere and get into a predicament!
I know some day I will look back on this and laugh at how nervous I was lol |
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 Concrete Queen
Posts: 1657
| Use your mirrors!!! Make wide turns, use your turn signals,,,, if you get into a jam stay calm,,,, when you get to your clinic and dont feel comfortable
parking your trailer just ask someone to help you,,,,, Im sure you will do fine. Good Luck! |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | 10ft shortwall and 3 horse? that is longer then 30 ft isnt it? give yourself ample stopping time between vehicles.. |
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | Probably longer yes I was just guessing. It's a big trailer - to me at least! |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Bibliafarm - 2014-06-05 8:40 AM 10ft shortwall and 3 horse? that is longer then 30 ft isnt it? give yourself ample stopping time between vehicles..
mine is 27' and has the same kind of measurments...........
m |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Probably 24-25' box length? That's not too bad, just don't pull in anywhere that you can't see how you would get back out. You shouldn't have trouble making any turns. Watch your back glass when making tight turns on unlevel ground and when jack-knifing to back it up. Just go slow and watch. I pulled an 8' wide trailer with a Ford short bed for 5 years and never had an issue.
I'm not sure you have enough truck for that trailer tho. Do you know the actual empty weight? The one I pulled with a 3/4 was smaller than yours and weighed about 7500 empty--it handled fine, even fully loaded, but I wouldn't want to go any heavier with a 3/4.
Edited by Three 4 Luck 2014-06-04 9:54 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| That is a lot of trailer, but not too much for a 3/4 ton. Stopping would be a bigger concern for me, that pulling. A good rule of thumb, is stop at truck stops for everything. They have everything you'll need, and they are easy to get in and out of. Fast food, and convenience stores are some of the hardest places to get in and out of. I move large equipment for my farming operation, and google earth is your friend. If I was going to travel a back road, I would peep at it on google earth before I drove it. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Here is my advice:
If you are concerned you can never go too slow! Take your time...you can prevent accidents from happening if you take your time vs. if you feel like you need to move quickly.
When you make your turns just go extra wide...there is nothing wrong with taking things slow, it is easier to see where the trailer may be going in your mirrors, and you can make corrections more easily as needed.
I will never forget we had some people come down from Michigan to look at our horse. They hauled her to a vet clinic in Lexington for a lameness exam and we went with them. We were turning left at a red light and we noticed the gentleman driving really liked to cut his turns. Well...there was a telephone pole right on the left side. My husband was watching their mirrors and RIGHT as Anthony said LOOK OUT-the driver hit the gas petal and their ladder to the hay rack along with their awning were totally destroyed. The ladder came all the way off. The trailer tire went flat. All of this could have been prevented had the driver simply just gone slow and watched his mirrors. Do not worry about other drivers who are in a hurry. They are not hauling horses. It is easier for them to move around you and get out of the way then vice versa-so let that be their problem.
If you are turning at an intersection and feel like you can't make the turn if a car is there-wait until the car moves and you feel like you have the room. If people have an issue with that behind you that is their problem-they just don't understand hauling!
Edited by magic gunsmoke 2014-06-04 10:01 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | I'm not sure of the empty weight of the trailer but it's solid so I imagine it's fairly heavy. The truck is a King Ranch 4 door but that's the extent of my knowledge on the truck (my husband would kill me if he knew I said that - he owns a car dealership so I should know these things!). I've hauled locally and it pulls pretty good but I will most likely upgrade to a dually in the future. |
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IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Another suggestion-
Before you make the trip go to a big empty parking lot-like a school and practice turning circles and backing your trailer.
That way you have a feel for how tight you can and cannot turn.
There is no worse feeling than being flustered and in a tight spot and not fully having the feel for your truck and trailer wheras if you are in an empty parking lot it shouldn't really be an issue to simply stop and try again. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | mruggles - 2014-06-04 9:28 AM generally the only trucks that are bad for knocking out the back window are the mega cabs...............are you sure you have enough truck for that trailer..............
just give your self lots of time and dont get rushed or panic............i just downsized to the same size of trailer.........:)
m
And I know this from experience. But you can actually turn under a trailer pretty tight, even in the mega cab, before hitting the window. If you have to back under tight enough in a regular cab to hit the window, I would think you might need some backing practice (because you probably got under it too far unnecessarily). Don't frett it, just go and keep your head about you, just be diligent and pay attention. You will be fine. |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-06-05 9:09 AM mruggles - 2014-06-04 9:28 AM generally the only trucks that are bad for knocking out the back window are the mega cabs...............are you sure you have enough truck for that trailer..............
just give your self lots of time and dont get rushed or panic............i just downsized to the same size of trailer.........:)
m And I know this from experience. But you can actually turn under a trailer pretty tight, even in the mega cab, before hitting the window. If you have to back under tight enough in a regular cab to hit the window, I would think you might need some backing practice (because you probably got under it too far unnecessarily). Don't frett it, just go and keep your head about you, just be diligent and pay attention. You will be fine.
yup...im just glad the so did it and not me....lol
m
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Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | mruggles - 2014-06-04 10:20 AM ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-06-05 9:09 AM mruggles - 2014-06-04 9:28 AM generally the only trucks that are bad for knocking out the back window are the mega cabs...............are you sure you have enough truck for that trailer..............
just give your self lots of time and dont get rushed or panic............i just downsized to the same size of trailer.........:)
m And I know this from experience. But you can actually turn under a trailer pretty tight, even in the mega cab, before hitting the window. If you have to back under tight enough in a regular cab to hit the window, I would think you might need some backing practice (because you probably got under it too far unnecessarily). Don't frett it, just go and keep your head about you, just be diligent and pay attention. You will be fine.
m
Edited by ACEINTHEHOLE 2014-06-04 10:27 AM
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-06-05 9:23 AM mruggles - 2014-06-04 10:20 AM ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-06-05 9:09 AM mruggles - 2014-06-04 9:28 AM generally the only trucks that are bad for knocking out the back window are the mega cabs...............are you sure you have enough truck for that trailer..............
just give your self lots of time and dont get rushed or panic............i just downsized to the same size of trailer.........:)
m And I know this from experience. But you can actually turn under a trailer pretty tight, even in the mega cab, before hitting the window. If you have to back under tight enough in a regular cab to hit the window, I would think you might need some backing practice (because you probably got under it too far unnecessarily). Don't frett it, just go and keep your head about you, just be diligent and pay attention. You will be fine.
m
m
Edited by mruggles 2014-06-04 10:30 AM
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Once you pull it you will like pulling it better then a small one. they are easier imho.. and way easier then a BP.lol |
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Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | mine did it turning the empty trailer around trailer on window contact...lol
m
Men!!! LOL!  |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| When I had to pull our big trailer- 6 Horse with 10" LQ I always got to wherever I was going very EARLY and made sure I had plenty of room to park where I could get out easy. I went slow, slow, slow. My husband could thread that trailer through a needle if he had to, I never had any problems but I never got comfortable pulling it. My 4 horse with a 10" LQ is a breeze. Your trailer will be easy to maneuver and back up, turn around etc. You will get use to it and confidant in no time. Good advice to find an empty parking lot and practice backing up etc.- |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Bibliafarm - 2014-06-04 10:31 AM Once you pull it you will like pulling it better then a small one. they are easier imho.. and way easier then a BP.lol
I agree! And they are WAY easier to back than a BP! |
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 Peecans
| I rember my first solo trip, I got there three hours early, so that I could get a parking spotthat I just had to pull out and leave lol.
But every rodeo ive been to my husband happily backed at least one rig out and Pointe to leave for sombody, but then hed lecture me about needing to be able to do it myself incase sombody was not around to help, it acatualy made me so nervous and intimated. Even still I cant back worth a poop with him in the truck im Goldie alone though lol.
I will say the goose neck backs differently than a bumper pull, a bumper pull I find easy and takes so little movement, the goose neck takes more then I over do it lol.
You'll be fine! Just make sure your lights and trailer breaks are working amd go have have and learn lots!!! |
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Peecans
| Griz - 2014-06-04 10:20 AM
Bibliafarm - 2014-06-04 10:31 AM Once you pull it you will like pulling it better then a small one. they are easier imho.. and way easier then a BP.lol
I agree! And they are WAY easier to back than a BP!
My hisband sais that too, but ive always found the bumper pull easier to back, goose necks way nicer to pull though espicaly with cattle way more stable. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | The best trailering advice I ever got & I do believe it applies more the bigger the trailer....
If you are approaching a turn too fast, it is better to stop straight & then make the turn rather than taking the turn too fast.
I also agree that backing a goose is much easier than a BP. I can't tell you the # of people who backed my BP for me. I've never had to ask for help with the goose.
I pull a 3 horse with a 5.5 ft shortwall with a short wheelbase 2500 & have to watch my glass in tight turns.
Edited by afkatrina 2014-06-04 1:01 PM
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 Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | First off all: go slow!!
Take your time, make wide turns, go slow. Look far ahead, if you get to a turn or an intersection make sure you are slowed down and ready for the turn like someone else mentioned. Go slow, better leave early and have plenty of time to park.
Don't let anybody rush you, they can go around in their little 4 wheelers or just wait a bit. Go slow.
If you have traffic in the way at intersections letthem go first and only go when you have plenty of room.
Did I mention go slow!!
And if you have the chance take the (empty) trailer out to a shool parking lot or wallies or something with a lot of room to practice.
Use your mirrors at all times. Keep as much distance as you can from the vehicle in front of you. Try to pay attention at what is going on around you and far ahead of you so you can anticipate dumb moves from others.
But most of all, stay calm and go slow.
Good luck! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Run the yellow lights |
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | Thanks for all of the great advice and tips! I am planning on going to an empty parking lot tomorrow to practice backing and turning.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | In addition to taking it out and practicing in an empty parking lot, if you have time before the clinic, you might just pull the thing empty for a few days. When I was a kid, first truck and trailer I got, that's how I learned. It really helped me gain my confidence and learn to judge distance in turns and such. |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | With regards to a mega cab pulling a larger trailer........ The only issue I had with the short bed was trying to pull out of a parking area (flat, grassy, but slick wet). I applied gas and truck said nope- not going anywhere. I put it in 4x4 and truck goes, but it starts sliding sideways and the nose of the trailer is getting closer and closer to the window. I should have unloaded but I begged a quick pull (the entire 10 feet it took to get me to gravel again). No popped glass but scared me. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I bet once you get on the road you will feel alot better, just try to leave a bit eariler so you can give yourself time to get there, and like others have said get a parking spot so that you can drive straight out. I hate having to back up when you feel like everybody is watching you, lol |
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