You and Your Horse Trailer – Hitching Up on Your Own

Single-handedly hitching up your horse trailer is a skill that can be learned with patience and practice.

Ideally, hitching up with the help of an assistant is the way to go, but whoever said life was perfect. Undoubtedly, there will come a day when you’ll need to hitch up and no one will be around.

To avoid feeling rushed should that day arrive, schedule some time to practice hitching up alone. Preferably, choose a time when you aren’t under pressure to be somewhere, like a clinic or show, and you can take as long as you need. These first practice sessions can be the most frustrating and knowing the clock is ticking will only add to your anxiety.

Before you begin, don’t forget to raise the trailer’s coupler. Make sure it’s high enough so the hitch ball can pass beneath it; otherwise you risk backing up into it.

When you hitch up alone for the first time, especially if you anticipate you’ll be doing it a lot in the future, make sure you establish some physical markers or points of reference. These will guide you so you can back your vehicle up to the trailer and place the ball of the hitch directly under the coupler. Get creative here! Little colored stickers work great!

Many horse trailers have fancy detailing that can serve as a focal point. I had a trailer with detailing that came to a “V” on the front of it and coincidentally, pointed right down at the coupler. My pickup truck’s bed liner had a vertical seam on the tailgate. To hitch up, I just lined up the seam with the “V” on the trailer; it worked every time.

Of course, lining up the hitch ball with the coupler is only one part of the equation. The other half is backing up just enough to place the ball underneath it. This part of the process requires practice and patience. Eventually, you’ll develop a feel for positioning the ball correctly beneath the coupler. But until you reach that point, you’ll be getting in and out of your vehicle constantly, checking to see how much closer you are to the coupler as you inch your way backwards.

With practice, you’ll develop skill and feel and it will take you less and less time. Eventually, you may become one of those people who prefer to hitch up on their own!

If you have questions, here at Double D we have answers, so just call us at (800) 435-6274 or email sales@doubledtrailers.com. We’d love to help you find a horse trailer that’s just right for you!

Used Living Quarter
2H $24,900