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Ideas please - tiny trailer reversing
coyoteboy - 29/4/25 at 12:37 PM

So, I was kindly gifted a tiny ERDE 121, it's super handy for simple stuff like nipping to the tip. The big problem is I can't see it for toffee behind my Hilux. It's borderline jackknifed before it becomes visible. I've been looking to put vertical markers on the back corners so I can see out of the rear, and rather than having them out the side to save me catching them on stuff. However I can't find a low cost solution - most seem to be £30 LED lit antenna, snow plough blade markers which are made of steel wire and wrapped in rubber, but ultimately still 30 quid. Does the hive have any thoughts?

JAG - 29/4/25 at 01:05 PM

Cheap Whip Antenna

How about something like this? You could add a 'flag' to the tip made of Duct tape for a bit more visibility

loggyboy - 29/4/25 at 01:31 PM

Reverse camera? cheap as chips for basic one.

nick205 - 29/4/25 at 01:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Reverse camera? cheap as chips for basic one.


Same thought here, a reverse camera will solve your worries.

gremlin1234 - 29/4/25 at 02:10 PM

un-hitch it, turn it. then re-hitch

strangely, bigger trailers are easier to reverse.

but the biggest win is: try not to get into a situation where you have to reverse.

coyoteboy - 29/4/25 at 03:28 PM

I've been planning a camera based replacement to the rear view mirror since autoglass damaged my mirror while changing the screen. But that's a fair way away. I'd not found any super cheap whip antenna, this might be the answer in the short term!

Long trailers are definitely easier, I normally tow a 30ft boat trailer and that's a piece of cake to reverse up devon lanes compared to this! Getting out is not possible due to my inflated pride not allowing escape from the doors.

jacko - 29/4/25 at 05:11 PM

Visit a charity shop and get one or two fishing rods
As someone said un hitch put the trailer where you want it , it helps to have a jockey wheel
G

Mr Whippy - 29/4/25 at 07:35 PM

Put the trailer in the back of the Hilux or just use the Hilux as a pickup.

adampage - 30/4/25 at 07:56 AM

Quick search on Amazon.....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trailer-Waterproof-Mobility-Mounting-Supplies/dp/B0DG2M51T5/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PEUTIER-Adjustable-Reflective-Fiberglass-Accessories/dp/B0CYPD9NYT/ref=sr_1_9?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Awayhall-Bicycle-Mountain-Flagpole-Fiberglass/dp/B08XK84MYS/ref=sr_1_16_sspa?

Cheaper, one of them comes as a pair, and up to 6ft tall, should work

Good luck!

nick205 - 30/4/25 at 09:14 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
or just use the Hilux as a pickup.





...ooooh cracking idea, using a pickup as a pickup

David Jenkins - 30/4/25 at 10:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
un-hitch it, turn it. then re-hitch

strangely, bigger trailers are easier to reverse.

but the biggest win is: try not to get into a situation where you have to reverse.


Ages ago I put a ding in my car's rear bumper with a small trailer, but that was when I had to reverse for a huge tractor coming the other way, and had forgotten that I had the trailer attached!

Most times I did unhook the trailer if I needed to reverse, as it was way easier. I once towed a car trailer (taking my Locost to its SVA) and that was so much more manageable - though a bit unnerving seeing the from end of a car about 2ft from my rear windscreen at 60mph!

coyoteboy - 1/5/25 at 09:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Put the trailer in the back of the Hilux or just use the Hilux as a pickup.


I was a little disingenuous, it's a Hilux Surf, I just shorten it for ease. I'm able to make that leap on my own

[Edited on 1/5/2025 by coyoteboy]

coyoteboy - 1/5/25 at 09:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
un-hitch it, turn it. then re-hitch

strangely, bigger trailers are easier to reverse.

but the biggest win is: try not to get into a situation where you have to reverse.


Ages ago I put a ding in my car's rear bumper with a small trailer, but that was when I had to reverse for a huge tractor coming the other way, and had forgotten that I had the trailer attached!

Most times I did unhook the trailer if I needed to reverse, as it was way easier. I once towed a car trailer (taking my Locost to its SVA) and that was so much more manageable - though a bit unnerving seeing the from end of a car about 2ft from my rear windscreen at 60mph!


Yeah I last used it to dump a load of wood at the tip, it was too heavy to manhandle and as you can imagine it's always a rush in a tight loop to park in a council tip. No time to re-aim and go again or you end up with 10 other cars honking to get out past you. By the time I can see the back corner of the trailer, I'm about 3 inches movement from jackknife.

[Edited on 1/5/2025 by coyoteboy]

David Jenkins - 1/5/25 at 02:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coyoteboy
Yeah I last used it to dump a load of wood at the tip, it was too heavy to manhandle and as you can imagine it's always a rush in a tight loop to park in a council tip. No time to re-aim and go again or you end up with 10 other cars honking to get out past you. By the time I can see the back corner of the trailer, I'm about 3 inches movement from jackknife.



In my case, it was a camping trailer behind a Toyota Yaris - not a big car! - and when driving in straight line I simply couldn't see it. It had props at the back for the times when I used to unload a 150lb model steam loco, so I stuffed poles into the prop tubes to give me a clue when reversing. Helped a little, but I still got it wrong now and again.

One of the members of my old model engineering club was a professional HGV driver (highest category). He used to reverse our club portable track trailer around an s-bend straight into a garage, without a moment's hesitation... bastard!



[Edited on 1/5/25 by David Jenkins]

coyoteboy - 2/5/25 at 04:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by adampage
Quick search on Amazon.....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trailer-Waterproof-Mobility-Mounting-Supplies/dp/B0DG2M51T5/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PEUTIER-Adjustable-Reflective-Fiberglass-Accessories/dp/B0CYPD9NYT/ref=sr_1_9?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Awayhall-Bicycle-Mountain-Flagpole-Fiberglass/dp/B08XK84MYS/ref=sr_1_16_sspa?

Cheaper, one of them comes as a pair, and up to 6ft tall, should work

Good luck!


That's the ticket! Good find!

jollygreengiant - 3/5/25 at 08:57 AM

Have you thought about welding (or bolting) a "visible" metal hoop to the top front or Back of the trailer.
I once borrowed a small box trailer to tow with my SD1, you couldn't see the trailer (except at 90mph when it was bouncing up and down), but you could see the hoop. a great help when reversing.

MikeR - 4/5/25 at 03:26 PM

Why not get two bits of inch by inch wood and attach to the trailer?

My dads solution was more practical. he got 3 bits of angle iron and bolted two to the sides and one across the top - this could then be used to tie taller things to the trailer so they didn't hit the car.