Any tips for reversing car to hook up caravan solo?

steppinout · Newbie

Any tips for reversing car to hook up caravan solo?

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I have heard of a device called "couplemate" - my husband was in the throes of making one, but never got it finished, I am going to buy one (place in Wynnum Qld) - apparently you get heights right, and just back in - google "couple mate" - there is a video showing how it works.
jules

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Mount a pole on the hitch and a pole on the towbar that you can see through the rear window and line them up.
Or install a reversing camera.

Cheers,
Peter

Beth54 · Guru

Gee I feel for you. I have enough trouble reversing my little 'Gypsy'!

My son-in-law, a truckie, also suggested a pole which could be slotted when I pull up. No need to have it there all the time, he says. So he's given himself another job! biggrin

Allara · Senior Member

I found a little patience and a lot of practice works well. It won't take long before you know where the centre of the van and the car is. Happy travels.

Allara

nswoutback · Member

It might take time- but a sequence of reverse, check, estimate gap, reverse half that distance, and repeat will get you into the correct location in just a minute or two.

If you had both halves were in a straight line when you unhooked can help.

Obviously it is always easier if the mark the ground with a block of timber (where your rear tyres were) when you unhook- but this is not always possible if you are in a public place

VHW · Senior Member

I bought a Jenbac Reversing Guide from Auto Cheap, they come in a round cardboard storage tube about 40cm long and consist of two telescopic lengths (much the same as a portable radio aerial) with a cup at the bottom end, the cup has a putty like material in it like plasticine. One cup is red, the other blue. They are absolutely great.

You attach one cup to your towball and one to you van tow cup, both by pressing these into the cups on the telescopic guides. You then extend the aerials vertically to the height you want, each also has a little marker at the top of the telescopic aerial so you can see it. You back the vehicle lining up the aerials as you do so, when you see one start of move (lean over) you have reached the point where you can hook up. This is similar to the home made version that Peter talks about in his post.

I purchased mine from an auto store (super cheap I think or a name similar), and they were only about $20. I haven't got a website for the makers, however these are their details if you want to contact them;

Jenbac Reversing Guides
184 Railway Pde, Bayswater, WA 6053
Tel: 08 9473 0260
Email: georgeh4@tpg.com.au

-- Edited by VHW on Saturday 2nd of October 2010 09:58:12 PM

Cruising Granny · Guru

I reverse by my mirrors. I set mental marks on the van and reverse towards the centre, when I'm about a metre short of the ball I check to make sure I'm on line and how far to go to couple up. It takes a few minutes and sometimes more than 1 in an out, but I get there, with patience.
I thought of setting up a tailgate mirror which has the tow ball in sight, but I haven't found the right one. I would get confused by a camera and most of them have a narrow focus area, so it's back to the mirrors.
I haven't hitched up for 2 years, so I'm going have to practice my technique again.
I've seen those guide "V" gadgets which also seem to work fairly well.
Patience is the motto.

jimricho · Guru

I regularly hook up to a Treg hitch solo which is even trickier than a ball hitch. One tip is to back with the drivers door open and use marks on the ground beside the door (eg a stone or a leaf etc.) as a reference for how far you're backing up. You usually have to get in and out of the car a few times to check the distance and line, also to set the height of the hitch which in the case of a Treg is critical.

The use of poles or the reversing guide as mentioned above is not a bad tip too. I have done this at times using poles improvised from old curtain rods.

Allara · Senior Member

I usually have so much cr.. opps, stuff, on the back I can't see the van so I use the mirrors to line up and centre the van then use the stone, stick or leaf method. It works well.

Cheers

Allara

Mary · Senior Member

I stick a square of grey tape on the caravan and a matching one on the top of the rear window
Simply line them up as you reverse-works for me!
Cheers,
Mary

milo · Guru

maybe this might help
http://www.powrproducts.com.au/powrtouch.php

-- Edited by milo on Wednesday 6th of October 2010 11:46:28 PM

Brookie · Veteran Member

Some of powered devices are pretty expensive -around $5000.
This is an Aussie one but doesn't show price

http://www.travellerwa.com.au/aussiewheel.html

VHW · Senior Member

Brookie wrote:

Some of powered devices are pretty expensive -around $5000.
This is an Aussie one but doesn't show price

http://www.travellerwa.com.au/aussiewheel.html

(Just made it clickable for you Brookie)

denninelli · Veteran Member

I used a trailermate for ages. Was still very good exercise getting in and out of car but a great help.
Now I have a reversing camera and love it. Only out of the car once to double check that height is right. Its also great around shopping centre car parks without the van!!

12roam · Veteran Member

I'm hopless at reversing and hitching, I bought a gadget that sit's under the towball with a slot at the back. in there sit's a V shaped guard. When I want to hitch my trailer up I just insert the V guard and measure the height's, adjust the trailer to the height of the towball. And then just slowly reverse till it hits, The V guard centralises the trailer. and your home and dry. Then I just store the V guard for later use. Don't know what they call them, but the other guy and gal's will.

sandsmere · Guru

Bought a reversing camera from Aldi last week $99 .

Works perfectly .

Ma · Guru

Boy am I glad there are two of us and we use walkie talkies......works for us. Sorry off topic, well sorta.

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Hey Guys n Gals,

Reversing camera does it for me, got one off the net for $25 & plugs straight into the Navman... other than this I do the same as Mary with the boat, just line the Keel up with the centre of the rear window.

There are heaps of devices out there but I have to say that the couple mate is one of the better ones I have had experience with.

Hoo Roo Happy Days

grumpster

Cruising Granny · Guru

Welcome Public Servant Pirate Pete.
I hope you enjoy your stay and your travel.

Esmeralda · Guru

I use a reversing camera and I also have a Couplemate which I use sometimes, but ultimately it comes back to practice and getting out to check where you are at. Sometimes I get it first go now but if not try and try again until I get it.

Beth54 · Guru

There's cheap-ish gadget I got from Autobarn. Sorry, I've forgotten what it's called. Two telescopic rods with a bright yellow foam ball on one end and a magnet on the other. Put one on the towbar and the other on the drawbar and line them up.

Works for me.

rockylizard · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
I reverse by my mirrors. I set mental marks on the van and reverse towards the centre, when I'm about a metre short of the ball I check to make sure I'm on line and how far to go to couple up. It takes a few minutes and sometimes more than 1 in an out, but I get there, with patience. .......SNIP ........ Patience is the motto.

Gday...

I'm with you CG ... just use the mirrors to 'known' marks on the van and come back. I find it I can align it all easier than when someone helps me these days.

But then again I am not known for the 'taking of advice' .... biggrin

Cheers

John

Cruising Granny · Guru

Should we be nervous here my friends?

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes CG. Blatant advertising.

Cruising Granny · Guru

For the info of anyone wondering what the heck HW and I are on about, there was a recent comment in here, presumed to be advertsing or a scam. I alerted Cindy and it's gone.
The status quo continues.

Beth54 · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
For the info of anyone wondering what the heck HW and I are on about, there was a recent comment in here, presumed to be advertsing or a scam. I alerted Cindy and it's gone.
The status quo continues.

I did wonder... wink

Loffty · Senior Member

Oh bugger. must have missed the good bits then........
That reminds me, must teach the the lovely lady to do this with mirrors, with van and trailer.....
Don't stress too much it is easy really, it's only our fear of the unknown thats frieghtens us with this backing thingy..........