SAFETY FIRST

[Geo-TH,In]

Nothing scared more than backing off implement trailer and not seeing the ramps.

Not exactly true, an angry woman chasing me with a Lorena knife scares me more.

I got 8 inch convex mirror off Amazon for about $10 if you want to know.

 

[greenmech]

Thanks George, now I know what to do with my mirror. Ron MN

 

[DoubleO7]

With the mirror on the end of such a long stick, does it vibrate to much to see anything?

 

[Russ from MN]

I have a mirror on our JD, mostly so when I'm on the highway and a big semi passes me it doesn't scare me!

 

[SkipperII]

As an 18 year old, I learned to line up my ramps, look ahead to keep myself straight, and never hit the brakes, especially with a backhoe. I actually got to the point, I would back a tractor off of a beaver tail without using the ramps. I still prefer to back them on and drive them off.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I rode motorcycles for 50 years. Know
first hand what vibrations does the
mirrors. I don't think the will vibrate
significantly when I'm backing off
trailer or backing up to an implement.
Plan B,, backup camera.

 

[Adirondack case guy]

I agree, Make sure ramps are lined up with tires and back strait off watching forward.Pretty hard to steer straight when your body is all twisted up trying to see out the back of your head. OR for $61 bucks you can buy one of these and you can watch both front and rear at same time.

Loren

 

[David G]

I would put a back up camera on it, thinking about one for mine. I start to black out when my neck is twisted for long periods.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

King Loren.
Positioning the the load on trailer is critical for proper tongue weight. I have to pull on trailer, not back on to keep rear tires between trailer axles.

In a perfect world backing on may be better. I would have to use weight transfer hitch if I had room, which I don't. I have transfer hitch. Prefer not to use it.

 

[jeffcat]

Oooooo it even has night lites. Way cool. The second day you drive a vehicle with backup cameras you are so tuned in you wonder how you lived without them.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I have mirror inside cab. Will have 2 mirrors outside cab once they come in
I need this mirror for a few seconds when backing off trailer. Doesn't hurt me to turn a little to the right.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

David,
Backup is plan B. It took me 3 attempts to find a good place to position mirror.

 

[Pete in MD]

I don't understand why you or anyone else has a problem with backing off a trailer. If you pulled straight onto the trailer then back straight off the trailer. Set the ramps where they should be, don't turn the steering wheel, stay off the breaks, and have the clutch fully engaged by the point the rears start down the ramps.

 

[petehall]

Geo
you are CORRECT,You can never have too many Saftey features,loading and unloading
My neck is fused and Im uncomfortable every time I un load !!!

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Pete,
You ask why?. At my age I get forgetful. I recently backed terramite off trailer and almost off the ramp. My fault for being forgetful. At my age maybe getting forget is expected. I hope to live longer. so taking a little precaution isn't a bad thing is it? Especially when I have a reputation of making death MACHINES.

 

[Pete in MD]

George,
I'm 80 and so far I don't forget to always think about safety. The precautions I take are what I mentioned earlier. I just don't understand why some folks have a problem with backing off a trailer. Do whatever works for you to feel safe. Happy trailering.

 

[dcarp]

If you pulled straight on, then pull straight off. I look at what board on the deck the tires are on, line up the ramps centered on those boards. Then back up keeping the tires centered on those boards. I don?t look back because I have neck problems also. I check the path behind before I start. Done it way hundreds of times. Pick a very low gear and go, don?t touch the clutch on the way down and if it?s a low enough gear don?t need the brake. Good luck, you?ll get the hang of it.

 

[wrenchere85]

Use a Winch and winch tractor on and off. Much safer and less scary(and slower) when using a high trailer. I had a 4WD, articulated, hydro forklift that had to be loaded backwards. It would only climb the ramps if you took a run at it.Not real safe.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Pete
I find it ironic Yt's safety police want to give me a ticket for my unsafe devices.

So I make this safer and now they want to know why I need a mirror. Simple answer I can't see the ramps and wheels. Unsafe in MHO.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

Since you have money to burn(LOL) you should get a hydraulic tilt bed trailer like I have,once you use it you'll never want to go back to ramps.

 

[HuskerLyn]

I paint where the middle is on my 36? dove tail and just line hood ornament (IH) with the middle both backing off and driving on. Don?t need to look back as long as I see middle and know where my front tires should be.

 

[T in NE]

Some people are so scared of trucks that they slow down and spend as much time as possible beside it instead of getting past it, increasing the amount of time they are beside it in case something does go wrong
(Insert Captain Picard triple facepalm here)