Watch Downhill Speed! - Part 6

Returning the trailer back to its stored position next to the garage is not the reverse of the pull-out process.

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

PART 6

PART 7

Initially, the trailer mover was used to back the trailer alongside the house to a position just before the puller would loose traction on the steep portion of the grade. The process then required that the van be re-hitched and backed further down the grade to a position where wheel movers were mounted.  Since backing a trailer down the grade has never been a success, even with the tiny Dico MX trailer, putting a hitch receiver on the front of the van would make the hitching and un-hitching steps a little easier. So, a front receiver hitch was added to the van. Notice how the hitch receiver attachment to the frame acts to defeat the 5mph crush section of the frame. Interesting.

The downhill position of the trailer and van is shown next. What’s not shown is that the van, at a similar width as the trailer, cannot be steered to extremes that would produce a sharp turn in the trailer. So, at a point that provides adequate clearance between the trailer and garage roof, wheel jacks are installed, winch hooked up, and the trailer is slowly swung around the winch tether. The fixed winch line determines the location of the rear of the trailer, i.e. the trailer turn is radically sharpened. Check the proximity of the garage roof line to the trailer roof line.

At this point the trailer is blocked, winch removed, van disconnected, and mover connected. Recall that the trailer mover also has control of the trailer brakes, so there’s little collision risk. A complete failure of braking at this location would have the trailer rollout into the yard between the garage and rock planters. OK. The mover is used to maneuver the trailer back into position through a sharp right hand turn around the edge of the garage. Watering the asphalt during the turn reduces friction allowing the tandem wheel set to slip easier.

That’s it!  A well coordinated effort by two people has the trailer back in place in about 30 minutes without rushing. A ‘well coordinated’ effort now includes Phoenix II’s work mate named MAC. MAC is the acronym for Mover Accessory Cart. The final installment describes the trials of MAC’s construction.

by: Glenn Thompson