Trailer swing while backing and position of tandems?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Jan 21, 2022.

  1. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

    13,562
    34,822
    May 25, 2017
    under a shade tree
    0
    i can say this about that.

    i retired from my job, where i had 3 deliveries (most nights) in downtown Boston.

    2 in Chinatown, 1 in Southie

    i had BETTER have that tandem all the way forward.

    left them that way throughout my route.

    and in downtown Boston?

    the street lights are AT the corners not safely feet away.

    as well as parked cars on both sides, and god had to help me when the plowed streets?

    made them smaller than ever.

    good times, try it sometime!
     
    86scotty and JC1971 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

    2,659
    9,670
    Jul 29, 2013
    L.A.
    0
    I've heard of people taking off the hood of the truck next to them with the tail swing when pulling out of a parking spot. How can that be avoided? If you move the tandems back to reduce tail swing, the tandems off-track more and won't clear the truck on the side you're turning towards.
     
    Trucker61016 Thanks this.
  4. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    That's why you have to travel farther forward BEFORE you START turning, if you have tandems all the way back.
     
  5. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    g
    Yeah, that makes sense to me. Ok, I am starting to understand this.
     
    Kyle G. Thanks this.
  6. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    So when you are backing, do you have to turn the steering wheel farther to get the trailer to react when the tandems are all the way back? Or do you have to turn the steering wheel farther to get the trailer to react when the tandems are all the way forward?

    I used to be a trainer. I was teaching my student how to back. After my student successfully completed his back, another trucker (who I will call other trucker) got out of his truck and said that my student was oversteering. This other trucker said that on a small boat trailer, you have to turn the steering wheel a long way to get the boat trailer to react, but (according to this other trucker) you don't have to turn the steering wheel as far on a semi-truck because the tractor-trailer is so long. I think that this "other trucker" was wrong. I think that when you are backing, you have to turn the steering wheel farther to get the trailer to react with a long trailer than a short trailer. So I think that you have to turn the steering wheel farther to get the trailer to react when the tandems are all the way back than with the tandems all the way forward.
     
    Trucker61016 Thanks this.
  7. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

    13,562
    34,822
    May 25, 2017
    under a shade tree
    0
    i personally never gave it any thought, or over thought it, i just saw my docking door, and backed the heck up.

    backing is so second nature to anyone, why over think this?

    just do it.
     
    Trucker61016 and Kyle G. Thank this.
  8. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    Some people like to understand things at deep level. If you're not one of them, why bother responding to my message?
     
  9. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

    13,562
    34,822
    May 25, 2017
    under a shade tree
    0
    cuz you a re over thinking.

    get a truck and trailer, a camera man, set it all up and try it yourself.

    one man's trailer swing is another mans worry wart.
     
    Trucker61016 and Kyle G. Thank this.
  10. JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

    2,659
    9,670
    Jul 29, 2013
    L.A.
    0
    Some truck stops i.e. Pilot you can't pull very far forward. I've never seen anyone's hood taken off by tail swing pulling out of a spot. Just wondering how it happens at all.
     
    buddyd157 Thanks this.
  11. IH Truck Guy

    IH Truck Guy Road Train Member

    4,311
    49,318
    Mar 2, 2008
    Purgatory
    0
    How come you're not a trainer now???
    Asking for a friend.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.