BACKING UP USING A DIFFERENT HAND HOLD ON THE WHEEL....THIS IS HOW I DO IT.

OK...so you are backing up, and over correcting...or slow to catch up....here's how I back up..

I put my hands (palms up) on the bottom of the steering wheel...I start backing SLOWLY. To keep my trailer within the area I want it, I watch the TIRES (not the end of the trailer). If I need to go right...I turn the wheel up with my right hand. If I need to go left, I turn the wheel up with my left hand. Holding the steering wheel in this manner, you CANNOT over steer...your shoulder won't move that far. And by watching the trailer tandems (tires) then you can bet your trailer will be where the tires put it. Watching the back of the trailer messes you up...or it does me. I know in my mind that if I put those tires within the lines on that dock, then the trailer will be there to. I know this manner of backing sounds weird...It did to me when the little old guy told me to try it. From that point on , I have never had a problem backing anything up to where I want it. So try this in your car, and USE YOUR OUTSIDE MIRRORS.....get used to using your OUTSIDE MIRRORS...cuz thats all you will have in a truck. I have taken all the center mirrors out of my car and pickup, cuz they are just in the way.lol... So get out there and practice backing...the more you do, the better you will be...

OK...so you are backing up, and over correcting...or slow to catch up....here's how I back up..

I put my hands (palms up) on the bottom of the steering wheel...I start backing SLOWLY. To keep my trailer within the area I want it, I watch the TIRES (not the end of the trailer). If I need to go right...I turn the wheel up with my right hand. If I need to go left, I turn the wheel up with my left hand. Holding the steering wheel in this manner, you CANNOT over steer...your shoulder won't move that far. And by watching the trailer tandems (tires) then you can bet your trailer will be where the tires put it. Watching the back of the trailer messes you up...or it does me. I know in my mind that if I put those tires within the lines on that dock, then the trailer will be there to. I know this manner of backing sounds weird...It did to me when the little old guy told me to try it. From that point on , I have never had a problem backing anything up to where I want it. So try this in your car, and USE YOUR OUTSIDE MIRRORS.....get used to using your OUTSIDE MIRRORS...cuz thats all you will have in a truck. I have taken all the center mirrors out of my car and pickup, cuz they are just in the way.lol... So get out there and practice backing...the more you do, the better you will be...

so basically you are just letting the bottom of the steering wheel rest on your palms? is that the right position? Im a very visual person so forgive me for asking what may sound like a rather ignorant question :)

You got it right....you open your hands, palm up and wrap them around the steering wheel....

Is this okay to do when taking the road test?

I don't see why not. They don't test you on where your hands are...just if you can back it up, and put it where its supposed to go. I still back up everything I drive with this handhold....So try it in your car...you'll begin to understand why it works,...you can't over steer...your shoulders won't roll that far. You just have to remember to KEEP YOUR HANDS where you put them...

I don't see why not. They don't test you on where your hands are...just if you can back it up, and put it where its supposed to go. I still back up everything I drive with this handhold....So try it in your car...you'll begin to understand why it works,...you can't over steer...your shoulders won't roll that far. You just have to remember to KEEP YOUR HANDS where you put them...

Thanks Starcar! Keep your hands where you put them... So through out backing I leave my hands on the bottom, yet when I'm ready to move forward I can then shift my hands to (I think manual states) something like positioning each hand firmly on opposite sides of the wheel. Hence the previous question.

Yup...backing up on the bottom, palms up...going forward, where ever you need to have them....When I started driving truck, I used a suicide knob...one of those spinner knobs mounted on the steering wheel..they are illegal...but you sure could move that wheel in a hurry !!!

I know this post is years old, but I think its golden. I just stumbled upon a video where this guy said if you want your trailer to turn left or right, use your bottom of the wheel to make the turns if any direction. But, where I'm confused at is when I first started learning, we've been taught that if you want your trailer to turn right, you turn left and vice versa. I'm going to try this tomorrow so I will see for myself what's true and not!

I know this post is years old, but I think its golden. I just stumbled upon a video where this guy said if you want your trailer to turn left or right, use your bottom of the wheel to make the turns if any direction. But, where I'm confused at is when I first started learning, we've been taught that if you want your trailer to turn right, you turn left and vice versa. I'm going to try this tomorrow so I will see for myself what's true and not!

Hi, Harry!

What did you deduce from your replication of the 'turning' of the wheel?

I'm curious! Old but good thread, for sure.

~ Anne ~