Is it advised to always swing wide with doubles

Always easier to take road from oncoming traffic than back up. Doubles with a day cab no need to swing. A little bit with a sleeper.

 

when making a right turn, the rear trailer only tracks 1-2 feet from the front trailer.

But... you have to get close to the curb just before the turn, then turn wide for the right turn.

Because fourwheelers dont discriminate, 53,doubles or triples... they will always try to undercut.

 

Just arch a little to the left before making a right turn, it will help swing the whole unit a little and get more room.

 

Typically, and of course there is no deadset answer except dont hit anything. I space my self about 6' out fron the curb and turn at the shoulder, I do not button hook a set of pup's, normally. They track very close to the front trailer. But as always pay attention and watch them all the way thru the corner.

 

As long as you aren't opening an "express route" for the four wheeler behind you going wide is fine.

As far as damaging the tractor with a fleet truck usually you're more likely to ding up the dog if you fold it up. If you're driving a painted lady with full fenders or a rear bumper or outboard taillights then sure you might bend something jackknifing it but most of the ouchies I have seen in single combat between the dolly and the tractor are from guys slamming into the pintle ring when hooking up.

My experience is it gets problematic trying to back the dolly it if you get really out of line. I usually don't go much more than 20 degrees out of line. If you're backing the dog 90 degrees to the tractor you are hopelessly behind it. Also if you've got to jackknife to get the dog in front of the kite, how exactly are going to get the lead hooked to it? Usually it's easier to pull up 4 or 5 feet and get the tractor and dog lined up for where you want to go. Don't just pull forward, think about where you want both the dog and the tractor pointed. Just like any back a big part of looking like you know what you're doing happens before you put it reverse.

 

If I have to back my dog with my lead I always take the light cord and air lines off and tuck them back out of the line of fire. Invariably if you're stuck doing that lovely maneuver it's 2 in the morning and you're already having a bad day. No sense giving Murphy a freebie.