"Never do a buttonhook after you pass your CDL test"

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Mar 31, 2025.

Do you agree with Knightcrawler that a truck driver should never buttonhook a right hand turn?

  1. I agree with Knightcrawler that after a trucker passes his CDL test, he should never buttonhook.

    17.2%
  2. I agree with expedite_it that a driver should buttonhook right hand turns onto narrow streets.

    41.4%
  3. I agree this thread needs to be closed

    41.4%
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  2. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

    5,441
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    Dec 20, 2019
    Marion Texas
    0
    Can someone tell me how you do a buttonhook with manual steering and 8 turns lock to lock. That looks like that would wear you out. I would need to take a 10 minute nap after each turn.
     
    Oxbow and Star Rider Thank this.
  3. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

    6,084
    21,041
    Dec 23, 2016
    0
    I am with Knightcrawler. I never buttonhook a right hand turn, no matter HOW many light poles and signs I tear down. I am a man of INTEGRITY.
     
    Vampire, D.Tibbitt, Lav-25 and 7 others Thank this.
  4. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

    3,840
    20,149
    Jan 23, 2016
    Eastern Iowa
    0
    Are we actually doing this???
     
  5. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

    3,840
    20,149
    Jan 23, 2016
    Eastern Iowa
    0
    Wait a minute, serious question:

    If a member posts a thread with a poll, does he see the poll results from all of the members on his ignore list?
     
    88 Alpha, Oxbow, Feedman and 5 others Thank this.
  6. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    48,736
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    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
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    Now let’s really complicate matters. What you lose in offtrack you gain in tail swing, which IMHO is more dangerous because it only happens on the blind side.
     
  7. Tb0n3

    Tb0n3 Road Train Member

    4,540
    9,019
    Oct 5, 2012
    Earth
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    As long as you're not inches off of cars at the turn start the tail doesn't swing out much in a corner. Now if you do a 2 part turn that's different. Pulling forward, backing to jack it and taking as much room as you can get will swing that bumper wide as hell.
     
  8. High Stepper

    High Stepper Medium Load Member

    557
    9,174
    Jun 8, 2022
    Square One
    0
    A good trainer will tell you to never to have an epiphany while making a button hook turn.

    While it may help spur a serious thought provoking discussion on a trucking forum, it can be distracting at the moment.
     
  9. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

    7,453
    26,982
    Aug 18, 2007
    ~8600+' and loving it!
    0
    That tight initial part of a button hook generate some pretty good tail swing, especially compared to a jug.

    I'm not quite sure why the op insist a button hook is preferable for entering a narrow side street. A Jug Handle allows the trailer to enter that Narrow Street at a shallower angle meaning much less width is needed. Even a minimal jughandle gets much more of the trailer rotation done in the clear space of the intersection instead in the throat of the narrow street which a buttonhook requires.
     
  10. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

    48,736
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    Sep 19, 2005
    Baltimore, MD
    0
    I thought of that too, but couldn’t hope to articulate it as well as you did.

    Truth be told I’ll try to make a left into that narrow street instead of a jughandle right if I can help it.
     
    Vampire, 88 Alpha, Oxbow and 4 others Thank this.
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