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| Author | Topic: Backing up with Trailer??? |
toys     POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:kensington Conn, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 08:52 AM
    
Given the inherent blind spots with Prowlers. How do you guys owning trailers find it backing up especially when turning around is not an option????. I am thinking of buying one and with the stock mirrors i can't imagine it being easy without a spotter behind you.
This message has been edited by toys on 09-20-2005 at 08:52 AM |
ALLEY CAT                POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:mesa, az, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 08:55 AM
Practice in a empty shopping mall parking lot,,,,,practice makes perfect. |
BeWare POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Acworth , Georgia , USA |
posted 09-20-2005 09:03 AM
Early on it was easier to just disconnect the trailer and move it buy hand. Very easy to do. But I have got to where I am pretty good backing it up now. It's still harder with the top up. |
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JCProwler POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Southern California |
posted 09-20-2005 10:17 AM
quote: Thats what I did when I own #1 with my ex-candy trailer very easy and no sweat! If I can find a Orange trailer some where I will buy it, looks cool with the Prowler.      |
SuperKat POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 11:06 AM
Practice practice practice. I can get her backed up pretty good for the most part. much easier with the top down. The short length make it respond very quickly. |
Dave Mills POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Johnstown, PA, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 11:06 AM
In the beginning, I always disconnected. Now, unless it is a tight spot, I can back up, but it is harder with the top up. |
WildCat POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:North Louisville, Indiana, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 11:50 AM
practice is right, but when all else fails, UNHOOK Really if you get used to backing it top up or down and using the mirrors it is easy. If you see the side of it you are jackknifed If you have a riding lawn mower and small trailer for it, is the best thing to practice with, short tongue, quick to react and hard to correct without pulling forwards. in an open parking lot practice backing into lined space. BUT whenever I pull the trailer, I try to pull thru when parking. I have not done it yet but plan on shortening the tongue on my trailer by a foot which will make it even harder to back |
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Dave Mills POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Johnstown, PA, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 12:17 PM
quote: If the trailer does jack knife, won't the shorter tongue hit the rear of the car. |
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toys POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:kensington Conn, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 01:16 PM
One of the reasons i posted this question is that a friend on mine from Cromwell who has driven a forty foot trailer truck for years says he still has doubts when backing up his prowler with his trailer connected unless its in an open space, he has gone as far as putting a rod on a suction cup to help keep sight of it. He said that by the time you see the trailer its already to Late as i found out for myself when he let me to give it shot, even with the top down and trying to lift myself high enough to see it. I still plan to get a trailer even if it means disconnecting it in tight spots. Please Bear in mind that i have no problem with and own A 12 and 20 foot trailer and have a CDL license and have driven tractor trailers in the past, but trying to back up the prowler with a trailer turned out to be a real challenge. Toys This message has been edited by toys on 09-20-2005 at 01:17 PM |
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WildCat POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:North Louisville, Indiana, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 01:51 PM
quote:
for anyone that know about backing a trailer. The speed the trailer reacts has a direct relationship to the distance from the pivot (ball) to the axle. A semi trailer is the easiest trailer to back due to the distance from the 5th wheel to the axle, plus the degree the tractor can be put in before hitting the trailer. And commercial trucks have mirrors that you can actually see out of. My 24' Car hauler is very easy to back due to the distance from ball to axle My 16' open trailer is easy to back but not as easy as the 24' I had a 10' trailer that we hauled the skid loader on and it was difficult to back, tandum axle and only 10' bed The Prowler trailer is 8', very QUICK to turn and the tongue was made longer so it would not hit the back of the car when jack knifed. And on the mirrors, I don't think the Prowler would look good with WEST COAST MIRRORS (I know most of you old farts will know what they are). I have seen exhaust on a Prowler that had been hit by the trailer tongue. IF YOU SEE THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER STOP AND PULL FORWARDS AND TRY AGAIN or unhook and push it back. With PRACTICE even you can back the trailer, DAVE CAN....... |
CJ POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Rochester Hills, MI USA |
posted 09-20-2005 01:54 PM
I haven't totally mastered it yet....but continue to work on it. I'm getting better, but it definitely is not easy....especially when I can't see anything anyway!  I've watched Phil Genet and he is pretty darn good at it! ------------------ Classic/Beautiful - I'm referring to the Cat of course! |
SirReal POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Burtonsville,Md Good ole U.S.A |
posted 09-20-2005 04:31 PM
You also have to keep in mind that the Prowler itself is hard to back into a parking spot and keep it straight because of the offset of the front and rear wheels. As AC said practice, practice, practice and when that fails get out and move it by hand.  Jeff |
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indy96 POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Toms River, NJ, 008753, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 06:10 PM
As Dave said...disconnect and move it is the easiest way. The short tongue lets you move a little but long moves, even at zero speed, the trailer gets a mind of it's own. I could handle a boat trailer with a 28 footer with no problem...but the tongue was much longer. |
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Fat Pat POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Blue Springs, Missouri, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 06:25 PM
I could back mine from here to Mesa using the outside mirrors only!! (as long as none of those nasty Mesa Yaks got in my way) |
Pat and Jonie POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Toledo,Ohio USA |
posted 09-20-2005 08:15 PM
I Agree! Outside mirrors work the best for backing the trailer and go slow. When you see the trailer come into view in the mirror start making your correction if you're backing straight. If you're turning do the same thing. Watch the mirror in the direction you want to go. If you see it's going to jack knife, pull a head a little and make a small correction with the steering wheel. The trailer being so short it only takes a little correction on the wheel. Good Luck, Pat |
Kraut POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Plymouth, MI |
posted 09-20-2005 10:19 PM
The answer is to install a 10 foot high CB antenna in the center of the rear of the trailer. That way you can always see where you're going, and it would look really cool too. |
ed monahan POA Lifetime Site Supporter Prowler Junkie Personal ScrapBook From:Cincinnati, Oh, USA |
posted 09-20-2005 10:41 PM
It is hard to back up at first, but you can do it with some practice. Much easier with the top down since you can then see the top of the trailer. When I was in the army I drove a Deuce and a half a few times, hauling a water tank behind it. I would have to back the water tank between telephone poles laying on the ground. That was worse than the Prowler. It was a lot harder to turn the truck, also. |
texasprowler POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Kandahar, Afghanistan |
posted 09-21-2005 01:04 AM
i'm glad to jear others have problem with the filed of view with the top up. I only like to drive with the top down and don't leave the house in the kat unless I have the top down. I have found that it is a significant impediment to vision with the top up including looking out/over the front windshield |
2002 Deep Candy Red - CJPROWLN
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