After a fun day on the water, I saw several people struggling to get their boat either in the water or out. I was one of these people at one time. Then on the way home I randomly came across this old gem on Facebook. It's like it knows my thoughts.  

 

Good stuff once again. 

 

 

After getting used to pulling a landscape trailer, sometimes I forget how to back up without a trailer hooked up! 

Got the boat out for the first time this year.  My trailer backing skills get kind of rusty over the winter.  A documentary crew was there to film the event though ....

 

 

Ok, it wasn't quite that bad, but still....

We’ve all been guilty of it at some point. I got a new boat and trailer this year. I’ve had it way too deep in the water w couple times already. Nothing worse than trying to get out waiting on one someone that can’t back up a trailer. I remember a couple years  ago 2 guys took over an hour on the ramp loading up their kayaks and were ticked when I said something to them multiple times. I was sitting in the river with a crying toddler and these guys are loading up to kayak to the moon. 

I used to drive a tow truck and I grew up on a farm. I've backed many a trailer in my life and sometimes I get serious brain/body disconnect and can't back up to save my life.

@slowworm you beat me to it! 

Practice Practice Practice. 

Sun, rain and dark of night.

I barely even think about "what' I need to do any more.

I just do it.

This is what that looks like.

 

A-Jay

I don’t get upset with someone struggling. We all were there at some point. We also all make mental errors we are human. 
 

what grinds my gears is people who is the ramp as a prep area or hang out area. 

I've backed down several ramps and some are more challenging than others but one sticks out above all else. Lake Maxinkuckee near Culver Military Academy. The ramp is on a two lane road that is quite busy with a blind corner to your left. You have to pull across both lanes, into a driveway and then parallel park the trailer in the shoulder of the street. It's insane. 

 

 

The lake we currently fish has room for two twenty foot boats with a foot on either side. It's not easy but it's a piece of cake compared to this one. 

I use to back up 53’ trailers backing up a boat trailer was easy peasy..

Had to back my dump trailer a 1/4 mile up hill at the dump many times. After that experience, backing my boat down is a joke.

2 hours ago, F14A-B said:

I use to back up 53’ trailers backing up a boat trailer was easy peasy..

Trailers are second nature to me. Grew up a farm boy. I've always found the longer trailers easier to maneuver personally. Haven't towed anything over 40' myself though. 

If you ever want pressure loading/unloading and backing a trailer enter a tournament. No one wants to be the guy that holds up everyone else. 

it's mind boggling to me sometimes to watch it, I back my buddy's boat down when we go. it's not that hard. just gotta think in triangles.

15 hours ago, thediscochef said:

it's mind boggling to me sometimes to watch it, I back my buddy's boat down when we go. it's not that hard. just gotta think in triangles.

Well, I've never had any trouble backing my boat around or through anything but now I'm going to be trying to figure out what "triangles" I should be thinking about and jackknife it into a porta potty or something.  🫣

23 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

I don’t get upset with someone struggling. We all were there at some point. We also all make mental errors we are human. 
 

what grinds my gears is people who is the ramp as a prep area or hang out area. 

I used to have a short fuse at the access. As I got older, wiser, and more patient, it generally didn’t bother me as much when someone was lolligagging or slow poking at the access. I just wait my turn.

 

The part that gets to me now is when someone launches their boat and then ties it up to the dock literally right in the access. The next person in line cannot do anything while that person goes to park, goes to the mens room, etc, until they move their rig. Tie it up somewhere else out of the way so the next person can launch or load please.

I am going into year three with a boat/trailer and my confidence backing the trailer has grown significantly - in year one I would go to the ramp and if there was a line I would just go home because I didn't want to be "that guy" who was having to re-adjust 5 times while trying to back in - I practiced in the yard, in the driveway, in a large parking lot - and I can say now I may have to adjust once but most of the time I am nailing it first time - @gim I try to make sure I pull my boat to the opposite side of the dock (I have ropes attached to the cleats so I can guide the boat around the dock) when I go get the truck yet it is not always available to do so in all ramp/drop areas - I do hustle and I do make sure I get the boat out as quickly as possible (and when dropping in I make sure everything is prepped and ready to go once I am in line at the ramp/dock)

On 4/27/2025 at 1:23 AM, Rockhopper said:

I've always found the longer trailers easier to maneuver personally

This right here. Add a second axel and it gets even easier. 
 

Backing up a little garden trailer behind a lawnmower is the worse! I’ve had to backup a construction arrow board 1/2 mile on a four lane road while doing a rolling lane closure for an aerial line crew. Those things are about 7’ long and can get away from you real quick. Slow and steady wins the race. 

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

 Backing up a little garden trailer behind a lawnmower is the worse! 

Terrible...but good practice.

Only thing worse was when I rented a log splitter - there was only about 30 inches between the coupler and the axle.

Been backing trailers for over 50 years and find it easier if the trailer spends most of it's time in the driver's side mirror.

The shorter the trailer the harder it is to back.

I've seen some crazy things at the ramp.

One particular guy actually greases his wheel bearings on the ramp before backing in.

Was talking to another guy on the water 1/2 mile from the ramp that was just taking his boat for a spin.

He left his truck on the ramp while trailer was still in the water " 1 ramp lake " .

He was about 6'6 300 lbs so I guess certain privileges come with those of that stature. 😂

On 4/26/2025 at 7:54 PM, Susky River Rat said:

I don’t get upset with someone struggling. We all were there at some point. We also all make mental errors we are human. 
 

what grinds my gears is people who is the ramp as a prep area or hang out area. 

 

AMEN!!!

 

My home lake is relatively new, and gets lots of boat and kayak traffic. NE Game and Parks added a dock launch, and gravel launch area for kayak's (circled in red) a few years back. Most still use the ramp, and I don't have any issues with that.

 

But for the LOVE OF GOD, please do not use the area in red box as your "get all my stuff figured out..." or "hang out" area. 

 

Park along the circle...there is plenty of room...

 

 

 

 

I used to pull my motorcycle trailer with my truck and slide-in camper.  Backing with not being able to see the trailer with either mirror was challenging.  Had to unhook a few times and maneuver the trailer by hand.

@DaubsNU1 that is a well setup access.  Everything is very defined and obvious.

I struggled when I first got my short, Malone kayak trailer. A tongue extender helped a little but I still struggled. Why? I was relying on the backup camera on my Bronco Sport.

 

Once I opened the back hatch and looked over my shoulder to back the trailer it was a breeze to back up including navigating around tight corners.

 

So if you're struggling when using your mirrors or backup camera, my advice is to go Old School and look over your shoulder.

On 4/27/2025 at 1:47 AM, thediscochef said:

just gotta think in triangles.

@thediscochef out here calculating centroids