Backing an M416?

[Fred]

I have an M416 with the original pintle hitch. It seems impossible to back it straight. Would a different type of hitch help this problem? Is it just because of the size of the trailer? Would increasing the distance between the hitch and the axle help this problem? I used to tow an air compressor behind a dump truck and never had this much of a problem.

 

[old_man]

Backing a trailer with a short tongue can be a real bitch. The problem is that the trailer turns faster than the XJ can. You have to anticipate about 30 seconds before it happens. :gee:

 

[Fred]

Yeah, I get that. Having a stick doesn't help.

 

[POSJ]

Fred, increasing the distance between the axle and pintle would fix your problem. The type of hitch wont affect the backing besides the clunking of the pintle in the hook.

 

[Fred]

That's what I was thinking, but I don't have enough experience to be sure. I've been thinking about increasing the length of the trailer tongue.

 

[jeepdreamer]

All good advise above ^^ There are no "tricks" to backing one, they are just short boogers and turn super fast. With mine I always try and plan ahead to avoid backing it whenever humanly possible. If you changed the hitch it wouldn't make it any easier but may take away a little of the frustration due to hearing it clunking nonstop while the rest of the trailer is pissing you off. And if you think backing that up is hard, you should try one of these. :O PLS with a flat rack trailer. The trailer has a pin designed to fix the forward wheel set so it can be backed up but we often don't have time and just see saw the wheels of the truck. Takes a LOT of patience.


http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_pls.php

 

[machinisttx]

The shorter a trailer tongue is, the faster the trailer will turn and the more difficult it is to back up. If you extend the tongue even a foot, it will make a huge difference.

I built my 5'x10' trailer with a removable hitch, so I can swap between hitch types, easily change the tongue length, or just remove the hitch for theft prevention. The only thing to be careful of when doing this is how well your hitch and trailer fit together...if it's too loose the trailer will wander/sway all over the road behind you.

 

[Fred]

I manage to do it okay, it is just that I have also been using the trailer to haul trash to a transfer station when I rebuilt a roof. It's a busy place, and they have you back up next to other vehicles. I do a lot better backing when other people aren't watching.

 

[hadfield4wd]

I do a lot better backing when other people aren't watching.

Then close your eyes and you won't see them looking at you.

 

[GSequoia]

The trick to backing an M416 straight is simple.

DON'T!






No, seriously!

Hunt your front wheels back and forth a bit (so the front of the Jeep is weaving just a bit, rear axle doesn't move much). This constant correction will keep the trailer straight. Obviously it takes practice but it does work. One of the hardest parts about backing an M416 with a lifted Jeep is you can't really see it. Also you'll find that it snaps around really fast, I am always crappy at backing that trailer when I first take it out but get better (I don't tow it often enough).

 

[karstic]

Do it all the time with the Bantam.

One trick is to make slight corrections.

Although I wish the tongue was a little longer so I could jack knife the trailer more than 90*.

 

[DrMoab]

become a truck driver. I can back mine pretty much anywhere I want.

One thing I keep in my jeep at all times which makes a huge difference in the smoothness of turning and backing is a can of spray on graphite lube. Just coat the hitch and the receiver with it. Makes a world of difference.

 

[Fred]

Know anybody hiring 60 year olds that are half deaf, half blind, without a commercial license and no experience?

 

[GSequoia]

I'll have to try that Ryan. I actually need to get a file out and deburr my lunette ring, I've to a couple of burrs that really cause it to make a loud bang if it turns right, amazing how small a burr it takes to do that.

 

[DrMoab]

Know anybody hiring 60 year olds that are half deaf, half blind, without a commercial license and no experience?

Sounds like half our drivers lol.

 

[DrMoab]

I'll have to try that Ryan. I actually need to get a file out and deburr my lunette ring, I've to a couple of burrs that really cause it to make a loud bang if it turns right, amazing how small a burr it takes to do that.

Yup. About twice a year I take a flapper wheel to mine then spray it down. That graphite works wonders on that annoying squeak every XJ gets where the seat back latches on the back seat.

 

[cal]

My M100 had the tongue extended a foot. It was *huge* as far as the way it handled..

 

[old_man]

I dispise pintle hitches, so here is what I went with.

Not only does it swivel in every direction, it has a rubber shock isolator built in.

 

[DrMoab]

I'm not a fan either but mine really isn't that bad. The only time I hear it is on the roughest, rockiest trails. I thought that it would be the first thing to go when I bought my trailer but it wasn't as bad as everyone makes them out to be.

 

[GSequoia]

I don't mind the pintle. As the deranged doctor said you only hear it when things are moving around a lot (rocks, backing up, etc). As long as you don't have any burrs on the ring or hook you don't even hear it much with turning slowly.

With a stock M416 behind an XJ on 35s with a spare tire on the bumper I cannot see my M416 at all when going straight. The occasional pintle noise assures me the trailer still exists :cheers: