backing up a double trailer

Criky! Ya got me there mate.

 

I pulled turnpike doubles with 45 & 48 foot trailers, two axle converter dolly, with some practice they can be backed up.

 

I could back a set of doubles when I was pulling trips but it takes alot of practice. The truck in the video is much easier to back than a set of 28' doubles. The reason is because he has more axles and the trailers won't pivot as fast. When you have just one axle it will pivot fast and you'll be in trouble before you know it. The trick is not to oversteer and go slow slow slow. BTW, I could not back a set now if my life depended on it. It's something you've got to do alot.

 

You don't back up doubles or triples. You have to unhook all but one, and then back them into where they need to go one at a time, or park them whereever they need to go. But that's a question on the endorsement test if I remember right.

 

A short drawbar seems to be easier than a long one. The tanker set i used to pull had a drawbar about 12 feet long and backing them up was like pushing a rope. A short bar and good alignment usually let me get backed up straight a good 30 or so feet if i need to. Shouldn't be backing up hoppers and tankers anyway when you think ahead

 

They sure didn't look like that when I was in the service.
Must be the result of better recruiting.

 

Nah -

they've just evolved better wimmins since the neandertal days

 

I disagree on that one. But I'm driving a truck and trailer and the drawbar was over 20'. You don't have to steer as fast with a longer draw bar. I came from driving triples to driving a truck and trailer and at first I could not back the tanker up at all until I got use to it. I was turning too fast.

And to prisonerofthehwy you can back up doubles if you do it alot but trips can only back about 10 feet or so. I could back the set of doubles but I had a little trouble putting the box in the dock but I've seen drivers that can do it all day long. Most of them are yard jockeys.

 

only if its b train doubles

most doubles in america, that ive seen atleast, use a dolly, making it 3 pivot points....so u are still turning the wheel right to make the trailer go left and vice versa

i have backed doubles but never into tight spaces, its hard as hell, it just feels like theres so much slack and the trailers do whatever the hell they want