If you’re a new owner of a boat, I can bet there’s one aspect making you anxious… backing the boat trailer up into your driveway. But you’re going to have to learn how to do it sooner than later. I promise you though, it’s not that hard and you can see how to do it in the explainer and videos below.
Knowing how to back up a boat trailer is a necessary skill. But not just for getting back into your driveway. You will also need to know how to do it to get your new boat in the water or when parking up at docks or putting into storage.
While backing up a boat trailer into a driveway can seem daunting at first, it’s extremely easy if you follow a process and a few simple guidelines. Follow the tips below and you’ll be well on your way to backing up your boat trailer like a pro in no time.
How to back up a boat trailer into a tight space
Here’s how you back your boat trailer up into a driveway in a few simple steps. Before you start, take a look at this video to see some of the basics:
1. Do a quick check for any obstructions
Before you get into position, check that there are no hazards in and around the driveway. This will also include items above eye level such as tree branches and power lines.
Once you start to back the trailer up, you’re going to lose a lot of visibility. That means it’s best do this visual check outside of your vehicle rather than waiting until you start the maneuver.
2. Use markers on the driveway
First-timers find it a lot easier if they use markers. This can be something like a traffic cone, or even just a rock or bucket.
The key here is to put the marker at the point you’re going to want to stop at and an additional marker on the left-hand side where you can see it at all times.
3. Pull past the end of your driveway
Drive forwards with your driveway on your driver’s side. You want the trailer to be past the driveway’s entrance and your towing vehicle positioned as far away from the curb as possible.
The further from the curb you are, and more central into the road the better as you won’t have to turn as sharply.
4. Start backing up towards the driveway
You can now start to back up slowly, keeping watch out of the driver’s side window on the left.
Your hands should be positioned so that your right and is on the bottom of your steering wheel. Start turning the steering wheel in the direction you want your trailer to move.
How the position of the steering wheel affects turning.
For example, if you move your steering hand to the left from the bottom of the wheel, the steering wheel will actually turn right.
The reason we do this is because it helps to get the movements correct and lets your brain work properly!
5. Back up into the driveway
You can now slowly start turning and backing your boat trailer up into your driveway, whilst constantly checking out the window and your mirrors.
If you need to, and you probably will first time, use little movements to make small adjustments as you back up.
Additional backing up tips
Here are some more tips you will find useful for trailering back into your driveway.
Get someone to help you
You are going to need some help the first few times you back your boat trailer into your driveway, so see if you can get a spotter to stand at the rear and talk you in. It will help a lot.
Practise makes perfect
It also helps to practise backing up in a large open area. When I first started using a boat trailer, I drove it to an abandoned mall car park near us and practised for an hour.
You can read more about that in my guide to pontoon trailering.
Secure your boat trailer
Once you’ve parked up, make sure that the boat and trailer is secured. They do get stolen, it’s more common than you might think.
I’ve written a blog post about how to secure a trailer from thieves with some hacks and products you can consider.
Always use your side mirrors
The best tool to use when backing up your boat trailer are your side mirrors. By using them you can easily see how your boat trailer turns.
For example, if you turn your steering wheel to the right going in reverse, your boat trailer will move to the left and vice versa. You will want to proceed at very slow rate of speed when backing up your boat trailer.
Watch the front of your towing vehicle when backing up
It’s important to watch where the front of your vehicle is turning as you’re backing up. You don’t want to collide with anything if all you focus is on the rear.
As someone who is constantly putting a boat trailer into some precarious situations, I have come extremely close to hitting the front of my towing vehicle on a tree, other vehicles, curbs, mailboxes, and so on.
While it will be hard to focus on the front of your vehicle whilst backing your boat trailer up, this is where using your side mirrors comes into play. Use your side mirrors instead turning your body and head around.
I’ve seen many boaters use their rear-view mirrors or try twisting around in their seat to look out of their rear windows. Not only does this method make it harder to keep an eye on where your entire rig is at, it can also make turning the wheel the correct way to move your trailer more confusing.
Using your side mirrors is one of the most effective ways to accurately back up your boat trailer. At any given time, you will be able to see at least one wheel on your boat trailer at all times.
Make smaller moves slowly
Make smaller moves, very slowly. By doing so, you can avoid accidentally hitting.
By making small adjustments at a slow rate of speed, you can not only make sure that your boat trailer is going in the right direction, but better understand and learn from any mistakes that you might make.
The last word…
As a boat enthusiast, I have been backing up boat trailers for over ten years. I still can get it wrong though!
But once you understand the basic steps in backing up, the best thing you can do to get better is practice.
You will end up in a variety of situations when you need to back up your boat trailer, not just on your driveway.
By practising you can gain confidence and avoid getting in a sticky situation. You will also be able to back a boat trailer into a driveway in seconds once you’ve nailed it a few times.
