Backing up a truck not as easy as it seems!

If you are backing into a really tight spot and are worried about the back end of the trailer swinging out and hitting something then move your tandems all the way to the rear. This will make it so that wherever your tandems are the back of your trailer is.

 

You'll get the hang of it. 3 days is too soon.

 

Do not be affraid to ask the parked next to you to watch your rear, He will be happy to doit, then just take your time, and all the guys waiting will just have to wait.
What may seem like an hour trying to get in a hole, will end up beeing only a couple of minutes.
Good look, Safe miles.
Larry

 

onthefence, for me i had to find the outer point of my trailer and watch it for drift. If it moved or drifted even a hair I correct immediately. Don't wait, correct at once and use no more than a quarter turn of the steering wheel.

 

It is easy lol, the trailer only goes where you tell it to go. But seriously, come back and update in about 3 months (maybe less) and report that you had an epiphany and wow it is really really easy afterall.

 

Me thinks being a lefty we do everything backwards , so its come natural for me

 

There will come a time that you will look back and laugh at the trouble you have with backing right now. I was absolutely horrified to try to put a truck in a truck stop full of other rigs, or into a dock, or whatever. Now, I don't even think about it (but still get out and look, just to make sure I don't clip something).

Time, practice, and watching others. You'll pick it up, don't worry.

 

Think of the trailer as a wheel barrow. You facing forward in the truck.... front of trailer right, wheel right.... front of trailer left, wheel left. And of course the back of the trailer will move the opposite.

I know this sounds funny, but if you are having problems with the backing concept, go buy yourself a toy 18 wheeler at Walmart or a truck stop. Sit on a table and push the thing backwards. Visualizing the toy movements from outside the truck will help you understand the basics. Then get in the truck and watch yourself improve.

I helped a woman once that way. She was totally lost and failed the test twice. I sat down with her and did the toy thing. She passed the 3rd time with flying colors. Too bad she was married!

 

Also remember that no matter how long or loudly that CB Rambo heckles you, he has bad days too. There are times I can't back up my own rear end (the one attached to ME) without nearly bumping something and there are other days when the hecklers only get as far as, "Watch out, Swift's...." and I'm parked in that same slot the heckler himself couldn't make fifteen minutes ago.

Once you nail that real b**** of a blindside back just like you've been doing this forever while somebody else is on the radio fussing that he's a 75 year veteran driver and he couldn't make that, so don't waste your time....it is so empowering and gratifying that you are completely justified in sitting there for a few minutes with pride.

Just don't ever let it go to your head or become overconfident (read "arrogant") because you are going to have rough days too.

Don't sweat it. You'll be fine. We all had to learn.

 

Give it time and you will probably be backing better than most of us here. It just take practice and dont get in a rush, think about what you want the trailer to do then make it do it. I remember the very first dock I backed into at Freddy's in Clackamas. Everyone was out on break, smoking or whatever and I had the hole closest to everyone. Seemed like they was all watching me but in reality they could probably have cared less. Anyway, after my nervous self got it backed in and wiped the sweat from my forehead and hopped out...........well, you all know what I forgot to do