When you hitch your trailer to your truck, alignment can be difficult. You know the story: You back up, get out of your truck to see how close you are, try it again, then realign, and so on.

Each time you back up, you have to judge the distance from the trailer to the truck again, then try to move the truck over the right distance.

One solution is the Sidetracker Trailer Hitching System. This ingenious alignment system involves moving the trailer to the truck, rather than vice versa. And best of all, it takes only one person!

To use, just line up the ball and coupler on either side. Then crank the trailer sideways onto the truck’s hitch point. (The Sidetracker comes with a standard hand crank or an optional power track, with electric or hydraulic power.)

On bumper-pull trailers, the Sidetracker offers 11 inches of movement (5 1/2 inches from the jack’s center on each side). On gooseneck or fifth-wheel trailers, the Sidetracker has an amazing 20 inches of movement (10 inches from the jack’s center on each side).

Once you’ve used the Sidetracker, you won’t want to try hooking up without it — it’s a happy smile device!

H. Kent Sundling (a.k.a. Mr. Truck) is a well-known automotive journalist, reviewing trucks, trailers, and accessories for magazines and websites. He travels the country test-driving new trucks, towing trailers, and reviewing horse-trailer manufacturing facilities.