Backing Doubles

Back in the day, well, 10 years ago....I watched my dad back up a set. As for me, if they are straight, I can keep them straight out of their parking spot....then my setup resembles that of a pretzel. I can put my transfer (2 pivot points) anywhere I want to though!

 

Someone posted awhile back that made sense and possibly do-able. Remove the service brake at the tractor and on an incline you can feather the tractor brakes. Then let the weight of the trailers pull you back coasting. Eh?

 

Was it an A-train, B-train or something like the Yellow freight guys run?

 

with 3 hinge points it would be an A i think
for me it doesnt matter--when i try and back up with them it is like a snake on crack

 

i've had to do this at times with our yard tractor for our cargo operations on the airport repositioning trailers on the yard and used the same technique that i use to back a tug/2 - 15ft container dollies into our warehouse with....in my skewed way of thinking i view the trailer attached to the tractor as the tractor and manipulate it in such a way as to back the rearmost trailer with the first trailer as it were the tractor....using the tractor to move the first trailer in the direction i want it to go as if it were the tractor....with the tug/dolly setup the attach points are the same so the steering corrections are the same and that's how i learned to do it....i can get 200ft straightline that way with the tug and shorter dollies but with the yard dog and the doubles i can only get about 100 feet before i get it crossed up....and i've got almost 20 years experience and it still is a handful when i have to do that....lol...i cringe anytime we have to do that but it always makes me look good hahaha i still have only found 1 guy in all these years that i could get the concept across to....sure glad i don't have to do it on a daily basis.....and i always make sure i've got plenty of room and two spotters on either side. no way i'd try to do it alone.

 

Sounds like the MI A-train. Them usually have a lock for the dolley to make the outfit only have 2 pivot points like a B-train. Either way, them guys are good.

I seen a White Owl (the ones with the white and light blue outfits out of Canada) back into a door off a street with a set of doubles. I'm thinking it was a B-train, but either way it was impressive for sure!

 

There are a couple guys where I work that I have watched back up with the dolly connected to the lead into the tail, but I have never seen them back up the set. We haul 28' pups. Hell I have enough problems with backing the dolly while hooked to the yard horse.