Tips for 90 degree backing?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by wd40, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. wd40

    wd40 Light Load Member

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    Nov 8, 2013
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    I started 90 degree backing at school this week. I have been getting it in one or two pull ups most of the time. It seems that I have a good arc but get out of it too early almost every time. I try to fix it with a harder cut and end up with a partial jacknife with my tandems in the box.. I have to pull up to avoid a major problem. Does anyone have a better system than my guessing plan?
     
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  3. luvtotruck

    luvtotruck Road Train Member

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    ~~~~G.O.A.L.~~~~
     
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  4. jungledrums

    jungledrums Heavy Load Member

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    practice practice practice
     
  5. Skydivedavec

    Skydivedavec Medium Load Member

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    I'm just a student too wd40, not having much difficulty with my 90s, but I heard the instructor say the harder you cut, theharder you have to counter, and may be why you are resulting in a jackknife. Maybe this will help. But again, who am I to say?!!
     
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  6. jungledrums

    jungledrums Heavy Load Member

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  7. Doublecutter

    Doublecutter Light Load Member

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    WD, when I was in school every student wanted to be a supatrucker and get it in the hole with no pullups. But I noticed that when our instructor did the 90, half the time he did a pullup. So I started not to worry about doing it with no pullups and it worked for me. Not a Big deal if you have to do a pullup or two.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2013
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  8. GSOK

    GSOK Light Load Member

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    Vancouver WA
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    Use the pull ups that the point system for the test allows you to and go slowly (but not stop and go). You have to develop a feel for it. Remember the farther up the tandems are the quicker it's going to respond. Once you're actually out there working delivering and picking up and hitting spots in truck stops it won't matter if you pull up twenty times as long as you park it SAFELY. And like the other guy said get out and look. Never be ashamed. You don't get paid any extra for parking it in one shot.
     
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  9. Mr Ed

    Mr Ed Road Train Member

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    We have a dock that I have to hit twice a week,you have to 90* it on the driver's side.The dock is set 3 feet deeper than the building so you can't see the end of the trailer,it's pitch black and they painted no parking lines at a 45degree angle so it messes you up.did I mention when parked at the dock,the curb is only 18 inches from the tractor? The dock was really designed for their straight truck,not a 60 ft TT The best way I found to get into the hole is to keep screaming,"I hate this ##### place." I've backed into this spot in one try about 3 times since 1997. I was told that my trick works for the other drivers too.
     
  10. fireba11

    fireba11 Heavy Load Member

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    Pull past the space you wanna back into till ur drives are at the closest edge to that space. Turn you steering wheel hard right. When you are going perpendicular then make a hard left until you are horizontal again. Straighten out the steering wheel and start backing and after you are just about 90 degrees with the trailer turn the steering wheel hard left to straighten up with your trailer. That is a basic and with a little practice you will get where and when you need to follow your trailer to get it in the spot ur backing into.
     
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  11. 12 ga

    12 ga THE VIEW FROM MY OFFICE

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    When I was a licensed CDL instructor, 5 yrs, I always told students to invision a banana while doing the 90. In Michigan you are allowed to put the arch in when you do your setup as long as the trailer is at 90 degrees from the dock. Just maintain the banana and the trailer goes in the dock like it was on a track. If you have trouble getting a jack knife just watch your trailer tires, i they start to turn excessively slow turn the wheel to the right a little like 1/3 of a revolution. Remember if you have to do a pull up go far enough to correct the problem. In Michigan when you do a pull up you can pull up on a 45 degree angle then back in the dock.
     
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