I mounted one of those orange bicycle flags on the trailer with the fiberglass pole and when I am going down the rode I just bend it down and bungie it to the trailer seem like a simple fix to me?

Good ideas. The right side of the brain works in mysterious ways. :coffee:

Roll up tonneau, REMOVE tailgate, install cargo net if you need to contain something in the box. This isn't rocket science. :cool:

Backup camera or put a couple phone books on your seat. My view is fine (head is an inch from the headliner).

thats the nature of the beast i drive a 4x4 as well i took out the 2" blocks on the axle now the rear sets 2" lower and i put a flag on the trailer do what u have to do its not like ford tryed to hide the fact the bed was 2" taller that was one of many changes that was made and a selling point its the biggest baddest truck on the planet.

Lots of advice - some from folks who either don't trailer regularly or who don't seem to mind adding 3 or 4 steps to the process. Don't get me wrong, I love my truck, but having to roll back the tonneau and drop the tailgate just so I can see behind me just seems a little silly. Some of you have obviously never notched a tailgate either. It happens faster than you might think.

As for you guys recommending I simply use my mirrors, those of us who know what we're doing (like me) can back using the mirrors only. One little qualifier - you need to actually see the trailer to back it up. Jet ski trailers (which I thankfully rarely tow) are flat out invisible back there. The backup camera is the best advice I've seen. Ah, more gizmos!

I picked up my PVC markers at www.overtons.com.... Perfect for a single jet ski trailer.
http://www.overtons.com/graphics/pro...rge/72482L.jpg

backing empty trailer help
 

go on the internet and look for HITCHING RODS,, i have a 17 ft boat & trlr and can't see the empty trailer when backing either,, have cap cover on truck so completely invisiable empty trlr when backing,, a trucker told me to get the hitch rods and you just attach them to empty trlr at the rear sides(magnetic pad) and remove just before going into water for boat,, they are $20 up and look for ones that extend and retract for storage,,up to 42 inches high,,some lots i have to back up over 50 ft to get to ramp for boat and have no problem seeing rods,, here is one site that describes them
http://www.qwks.com/xcart/catalog/Hitchin_Rods-p-2.html
but get the ones that collapse for storage,, mine are floresent sliding tubes on metal rods with magnetic pads on bottom,,this will solve your problem of backing trailer.
john

I second that seems like the easiest way if your having trouble seeing. Or install an orange CB antenna like the big rigs use on their side mirrors, just attach that to the trailer and it won't move at all.

I use something vey similar to the hitching rods mentioned above. I purchased the "Align-quik" guides from http://www.hitchingguides.com/
The guides extend to 44", but I also ordered the optional 10" extensions as the 44" was just barely over my tonneau cover. These guides make aligning your truck and trailer much easier when you don't have a helper. They would also work great on the fenders of the smaller trailers when launching or retrieving.

Yea, I know. I’ve seen those things and they probably would help. They just seem like training wheels to me though. I’m kind of proud of my trailering and boating skills. For instance, a couple of weeks ago I put a 38’ Fountain on a trailer in a launch ramp that was 90 degrees to a narrow (probably 50 foot wide) channel. Oh yea, and there was a 15-20 MPH cross wind blowing down the channel. With the guy who just bought the boat watching with his family, I nailed it perfectly in one move. All he did was clip the winch strap and drive pull her out with his F-350. Needing to go back to something like flags – due to a useless styling decision in my opinion – just kind of sucks. Thanks for the opinions though.

Adding the leveling kit to the front of my truck made a big difference when backing up. I have a small popup camper 6 X 15 closed and can hardly see it at all using the mirrors.

You also add a set of CIPA or equivalent mirror extensions or spend the big bucks and get the electric extendable mirrors. Either way they can be adjusted so you can see what is behind you for backing or whatever.

There is an advantage to the tall bed and tailgate. It MADE me learn how to backup with my mirrors. That has helped with my travel trailer that I couldn't see over anyway but never took the time to learn how to back with the mirrors.