How to back up

It's because you are turning the steering wheel the wrong way.

Try backing up doubles!

 

put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel in reverse, then right is right again, just remember to follow the trailer when it starts to turn

 

Process of elimination... if the trailer keeps going the wrong way... might try something different like turning the wheel the other way... Then again I gradeated in the top of my class from the jethro bodine school of decifering...

 

Back up slowly I see so many drivers think it a race to see who can back up the fastest. Nice and slow is the best! Owe and when you are backing in between two trucks and a air horn goes off stop!! and see why it probably me trying to get you to stop before you take off my nose!! After you stop I will help direct you with out a problem.

 

Just do what the truck needs to do! I know but it just comes natural for me! I hold my hands on the steering wheel where they grab it and top, bottom or on the sides it's all the same. IT'S A FREAKING CIRCLE! So where does it matter when you're turning it in COMPLETE circles to make turns going in a backwards motion! But the darkest spot or the place that shows the most wear is the 8,9, 10 oclock prosition. I do most oif my driving with the left hand.

I can't wait to get back to work but I've heard I have to take a refesher course?!?! ROFLMAO! "Refresher Course??" For what? How to operate the new seats? Or the windshield washer system? Or how to work a satellite communications system? Or did the cabs go the route of small aircraft with the digital dashboard? Well, seeing how I do like my flying programs and other trendy fun computer games I think I'm ok on that learning curve! LOL

Shucks,I've forgotten more than the rookie trainer they will stick me with to "REFRESH" me with will ever know! It'll be funny as heck to see if that happens as I'll be walking out of that place so fast that I'll even beat the DAC report home! Yeah for quitting while in Orientation or whatever these morons will put on it! LOL

But anyway, quit fighting the backing up! As said before if turning the wheel one direction doesn't get you the desired effects you were looking for do it the other! it's just like talking to your wife! If you say 2 things to her and one upsets her you meant the other one! Over the years and even as an instructor I will tell you all that not everyone is cut out to be a Truck Driver! I've seen guys with an MBA and a few that did high dollar white collar work come in here and couldn't back up to save their lives! I mean it they just could NOT grip the concept of going backwards! And I've seen women and housewives that just sent the last young one out into the world, get in a truck and make it talk and do things that can embarrass the heck out of a seasoned professional!

Don't stress it if you can't get the truck to do what you want right off the bat! Get comfortable in the seat is the FIRST thing you have to do. That seat and big steering wheel makes your head swell the first hundred times you sit there! That can also cut the blood to the higher brain functions so get over it! Figure out that your legs from knees to hips must be a little higher than you hips, the mirrors must show very LITTLE of the trailer! I mean it only a sliver of it should be seem in the mirror on the inside of the mirror on the passenger side and believe it or not NONE in the drivers side! If you move your head forward about an inch and see trailer you're good.
WHY do you ask? Well first you already KNOW the things back there don't you? Second if you're looking at trailer what else is out there that you need to know about like other trucks, 4 wheelers and motorcycles in the blind spots and other things needed to know about than that same trailer that's been following you for the last 1000 miles!

When you start to back up you already know that when you look at the mirror that if you are straight to the hole then no trailer in mirrors and that's what you will see when against the dock. When you start to see trailer in the mirror go the opposite direction. But when having to do one of those drivers side or blind side manuevers you'll see more in the mirror you need to see untill the trailer gets into the picture.

I've seen drivers who had to lean against the windshield to look in the mirror to see me passing them! Why? Just to look at the side of a trailer all day long? If you need to look at the trailer then lean forward.

And to you who will say something like "what about that flat tire or that burned out marker light" I'll throw it back at you like this. Have you never seen a driver just so content with the world that he passes you with a rim on the ground at night throwing sparks all over the place making the Washing DC 4th of July Show look like a blackout and the driver never looks in or pays any attention to whats reflected to him anyway untill you can get his attention.

To sum this one up:
You know the trailer is back there.
You'll know as in feel the exact instance that it falls off.
You'll ONLY see a tire gone if you actually lean differently so you can see the tires and marker lights unless you have a 98" flat where the tires are kinda out there! You know what I mean! Some of these 101" and 102" trailers you almost have to hang out the window to see the rubber unless you're making a turn!

Good Luck
Rollover

PS, Yes there was a time that a $$$ bet makes for a fast backing up race! Been there won that! I'll still be able to do it when I get back in the seat! You know the ONLY thing I couldn't back up was my stupid 16' boat trailer with my pickup truck! Thats embarrasing! Thank God I never had a trailer for my bike! THAT would be even more embarrasing. Pulling the Bike and not being able to back it up either!

 

Had a bunch of warehouse guys that would sometimes park the trucks that couldn't back up the trucks worth a ####. Showed them that exact trick and they all said it was the first time anyone explained it to them in a way that they could understand.

I think a lot of us tend to forget just how confusing and intimidating it was back when we were getting into a truck for the first time, just because it feels like second nature now. Sometimes it's little tricks like these that can keep a driver in the seat long enough to get the feel for it and stop driving like they learned it from a textbook.

 

now I'm probably the least experienced driver to reply here but this is what my CDL instructor taught me:

Turn into the problem!

If the trailer starts to move to your left turn left, if it starts to move right turn right.

Just to make this easier to understand lets just say your straight backing. Watch your drivers side mirror, if you see the trailer start to move to your left turn into the Problem (which would be left) thus moving the trailer to the right.

This method works better for me then putting my had at the bottom of the wheel.

Another thing that may help it watching some backing tutorials on YouTube, or get a toy tractor trailer to mess around with, or better yet Video games work great (Grand Theft Auto has Tractor Trailers you can drive, Big Mother Truckers, 18 wheeler American Pro Trucker, 18 wheels of steel)


Hope this helps!


American Trucker

 

i know i said this before but i always hated the tip of putting your hand at the bottom of the wheel and turning the way you want the trailer to go

i mean if it works for you great i just think its stupid and pointless

 

A good rule of thumb is to only back up at idleing speed,give the trailer around 8-9 feet to respond to your adjustments on the wheel, and turn the wheel in the opposite direction you want the trailer to go..

For instance,you need the trailer to go a little more to the right, turn the wheel to the left,back at an idle and allow at least 8 feet before you see things happening..

Practice makes perfect,and when you have time,practice, practice,practice.It will take you about a year till you can do it without hardly thinking about it..

Good luck Driver..