Directions and Positions for Trailer

[Felix_Esq]

I have been struggling to describe locations and directions when I am talking about the interior of the trailer, but I am always worried I will cause confusion if I describe something on the inside as directions of the bed. "Head" and "foot" seem to make some sense, but left and right depend upon whether you are looking down from the top, or laying on your back on the mattress. Plus I am assuming that most of us all sleep with our heads toward the front of the trailer.

So then I tried car terms to describe the location, direction, or position of the thing I was working on in the trailer. However, "passenger-side," and "driver-side" seem a little weird.

That leaves me with nautical terms, which seem to work better.

"Bow" for the front, with "fore" and "afore" to describe something toward the front.
"Stern" (or "galley") for the back, with "aft" and "abaft" or "astern" to describe something toward the back.
"Port" and "Starboard" for left and right.

What do you guys use to describe directions and positions within your trailers?

[saltydawg]

Front back, road side curb side

[rjgimp]

Fore, Aft, Port, and Starboard have been effective options as far as I have ever known.
Hitch end, bumper end, street side, and curb side are also good options.

[twisted lines]

Everything automotive is from the drivers seat,
Although the road side / curb side is easy,
Nautical, there is a test for that and with my boating experience,
I believe most cheated

[QueticoBill]

I've struggled with roof vs. front and back walls. Seems like a classic teardrop trailer has just side walls and a roof, no front or back wall.

I have liked driver and curb side but very North American centric.

[John61CT]

Front back, road side curb side

^^this^^

can be use either way internationally if road side vs curb makes a difference

but if not, left /right works too, so long as the standard "facing front" is established

[S. Heisley]

Passenger side and Driver side work for me and don't seem odd at all. Front and back are fine, too. I think that's what most people use.

Curb side can be confusing because it depends on what country you are in which curb you part next to.
Bow and Stern, Port and Starboard can be confusing if you aren't a sailor.

[Socal Tom]

Anything on the road, I say Driver side /passenger side. Front and back, or cabin/galley when its appropriate . Granted, that can vary depending on the country, but often those are the things that matter.

For example, if you put an awning on, I recommed, passenger side, since you can pull of the road and set up the awning. On the driver side, that might not work
Tom

[tony.latham]

Lefty loosey, righty tighty?

Tony

[Tom&Shelly]

Bow and Stern, Port and Starboard can be confusing if you aren't a sailor.

To make it easy, I used all red marker lights on the port side and green marker lights on the starboard...

<just kidding>

Tom

[Felix_Esq]

So it seems the most universal language is front, back, curb-side, and road-side.

That is what I will use in future posts!

Thank you all for an enjoyable discourse!

-Felix

[Betonhaus]

I've never really thought about it. I just think in terms of front (hitch end) back (bumper end) and left right (when viewed from behind). And if that failed I just pointed.

[Squigie]

Front/back (or forward/rear)
Left/right
Top/bottom

Just like cars, everything automatically assumes a top-down or forward facing view. But even if looking at some other angle, those simple terms are universal. You don't have to say, "on the right side of this plan, even though that is the front of the trailer; but it's opposite in the next drawing." Just keep it simple. Left, right, front, back.

If looking at a plan view of one side, near/far can come into play. But it is still best to stick with left/right.

Don't over-complicate it.


Curb-side, passenger side, and driver's side are all well and good, until you start crossing borders. And the internet crosses all borders.

[QueticoBill]

If something is better on the curbside, isn't that the case whether its left or right?

[John61CT]

yes