How to Tractor With a Trailer Backup
- 1). Get on the tractor. Engage the emergency brake and then start the engine. Put your foot on the brakes and release the emergency brake.
- 2). Put the heel of one hand on the top of the steering wheel. Wrap all of your fingers around the wheel except for your index. Point your index finger up. Hold on to the tractor with the other hand. Push in the clutch and put the tractor in reverse. Look over your shoulder at the trailer. Release the clutch and allow the tractor to begin pushing the trailer backwards.
- 3). Watch the trailer. Assuming you want to back straight-up, if the trailer begins to veer in one direction, turn the steering wheel in that direction. When you turn the steering wheel, your index finger will point in the direction you steer. If the trailer veers left -- goes bad left -- point left. If the trailer goes bad right, point right. Point to correct.
- 4). Point your index finger in the opposite direction you want the trailer to turn. If you are backing up straight and you want the trailer to turn right, point left. Want the trailer to turn right, you need to point -- or steer -- left. Though it does not sound like it, this is the same action as a correction. However, it is too hard to think about where you want the trailer to go when it is veering off in some direction and you need to make a correction. It is easier to think about where the trailer is going bad and point there. This is how you make backing a trailer simple. Point to correct, point opposite to direct.
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