Why is it better to have the tandems slid forward when alleydocking?

Trust me, it’s not near as complicated as some are making it. Slide the tandems, back in, get loaded or unloaded, then leave.

 

Tail swing on your sight side is not what you need to worry about or what anyone else is talking about. It's the tail swing on your blind side if there is an obstacle there

 

There Is tailswing to the blind side in a sight-side back. With the trailer at 45°, the right rear corner of the trailer can follow a path a couple feet to the right of the tandem (varies depending on tandem placement.) That's why in my previous post I talked about the trailer being effectively wider when backing with the tandems forward.

That tailswing is actually more of an issue than the swing you're talking about from going past center. At least you can normally see that as you go past center (unless it's a very tight cut.)

 

I strongly disagree. In reverse the tail is still swinging around a pivot point. But I guess call it whatever you want. Tail swing or trailer overhang its still the same. But the amount of tail swing or overhang is affected by tandem placement.
I'm out

 

We're just differing on semantics.
The rear overhang does pivot about the tandems during a back , albeit not as obviously because of the moving tandem and the generally shallow angle of the truck and trailer. There's been plenty of trucks torn up by that overhang swinging right if the truck leaving a spot cuts too tight. That's the exact same mechanism as going over center, just with the truck going forward.

 

I've always told new guys that you know you're in a tight spot when you have worry about which way both ends of the trailer will be moving laterally as you change the angle of the truck and trailer.