Reversing

Ps that's not to downplay the benefit of courses, which teach much more than reversing

Did anyone else learn the basics as a child with toy cars, trailers and articulated lorries with working steering? The principles are identical,  even if road conditions aren't.

Yup, I did.

I also used to have a little trailor for my car, but long car & short trailor = impossible to reverse in a straight line (especially when I could only see the trailor in the mirrors once it was well off course).

I learned to reverse on the farm. However with a tractor and trailer you can see all four wheels of the tractor and both sides of the trailer. I remember having to reverse into a cow shed with about two inches to spare either side, felt really good when I did but the euphoria was demolished when I heard a loud engine noise I'd been concentrating on the trailer and forgot about the silencer on the top of the tractor which I'd managed to bend and break on the doorway lintel

Practice will make perfect, but as a reminder tie a handkie or a bit of cloth to the bottom of the steering wheel, nearest to your knees. Now which ever way the cloth goes that is where the van will go.  It allows you to concentrate on watching the van and not thinking about steeering the opposite way. Works for me.

How's this for high-speed reversing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxr83Vkrh00

As said practice makes perfect, my twin axle reverses like a dream where my 6x4 trailer doesn't as I cant see it until it starts to turn, ignore any posts about only using a motor mover as if you ever need to reverse on the way to the site (eg.wrong way in a one way street, road too narrow, weak bridge, accident in front etc.) you wouldn't want tounhitch & use the mover when you know how to reverse, keep practicing it will come like learning to drive did

Imagine reversing this monster  (above picture)

Don't be silly.  The door is on the wrong side.  It would have to pitch nose in.  Just ask Ian H.