Help with backing a 53 footer

And be happy to know that as much as it might not seem to make sense now, backing up a 53 foot trailer is much easier than a short trailer. If you really want to have trouble try a 28 footer or a 20 foot container.

 

The secret? As has been mentioned; be patient, go slow, don't over correct, use whatever guides you can and so on... and practise, practise, practise. Remember that not only have the guys that make it look easy been doing this a lot longer than you (decades longer in some cases), but some of them have been to that same location a hundred times before as well. They know exactly where to set up and could probably do it in their sleep. Make sure you watch those guys too. See where they set up, watch where they back, watch their front wheels, etc.

The other thing is to turn down your CB and ignore the morons who have nothing better to do than yak at newbies. And even experienced drivers have problems sometimes. There have been times, usually when I'm tired, when I look like a rank amateur.

 

practice will make you better and if you worried that some other drivers are watching possibly getting pissed who cares man its going to be your butt if you hit somebody cause you wanted to get out of the way from a screaming driver. few weeks ago i got my self in a situation that i set up my self wrong and had a really hard time parking my trailer and was getting pissed off and nervous and all that wasnt helping, so just set my parking brake went outside to see where i was at between the trucks making sure i dont hit anybody and during that time i calmed my self down and got in within a minute, just stayed calmed and who cares how long it takes you as long as you get it done

 

Slow and easy take your time.... if you have to stop before each turn of the steering wheel then do it... 10ft will pass faster than you can think of where you want the steering tires to be.

 

It may be simplistic, but what I learned growing up and working on various farms was when pulling anything and backing up is "Turn the bottom of the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go".

 

haha ya i remember after running 53' trailers for a little bit i landed the job i have now doing dump trailers and such. started backing up to get loaded and was like woooooo, they react so fast. As fast as you cut the wheel and start your backing your bringing that wheel right back to get it where it needs to be, to slow and you end up putting the trailer in a jackknife.

 

5. Small Pull ups are your friend. Just a few feet serpentine left 5 feet, right 5 feet then straighten out (for example) can re set up your tandems square to where you want the trailer to the hole, if your trailer is like half a trailer width off, repeat as necessary.

Yes if you're in the hole at a bad angle and the trailers are about to scrape, a little trick might be at that point to slide the tandems all the way back and continue to cut the trailer into the hole and reset the tandems after the units are all straight.
Same thing for getting out in the morning when you parked in a wide open spot with empty spots either side of you, in the morning both trucks are right on the line and you cannot get out without wiping them both out, slide the tandems, gets the whole trailer out of the hole safely.

 

1st red highlight:
Wrong! There are many time that being suttle will get you in trouble! There are time you need to be turning that wheel like it's on fire! FAST! Then there are the times that suttle work!

2nd red highlight:
Nothing but good advice! An empty truck stop during the day away from other trucks.
Also unlock the trailer tandems and learn to slide them when the time is right for no tail swing. Then set the brakes and slide them forward for a tight turn just don't forget to lock them back when you park! Yes I did this for years. Figured it out in NYC and Chicago with their inside docks! Easier to make turns when you can shorten the WB up and then slide it back to clear the things on either side when they are tight!

3rd. BULE highlight:
A pickup truck and trailer? A P/U with a trailer hitch is NOTHING like a 74' long truck! For the life of me, I could never back my P/U with the boat down the ramp without pulling up a dozen times! I got laughed at by my friends because I was a PROFESSIONAL TRUCKER! Big difference with the hitch behind the drives than over them. Also you don't ned a CDL to pull your boat unless you need a CMV to pull your cigarette boat to the lake!

The mechanics are kind of the same it's just like going from a 53 to a 20 foot container. Yeah same mechanics but way different in moves! You'll figure that out when the time comes! The same with pups. Big difference!


Remember to use every inch of room you have. SETUP is the most important thing before the backing maneuver. If you don't set up you won't back up. Screw everyone else! It's your truck and it becomes your preventable if you don't GOAL! Let them scream all they want! Not a single one of them when they first started driving hit the hole like a pro! So GOAL just as many times as you need to and pull up as many as you need to! Unless the guy bad mouthing you is going to pay the damages which he won't and will be so kind as to tell you on the CB like he's been doing!

Take your time, keep your foot off the gas, and let the truck tell you what needs to be done!

Have fun because before long you'll be doing it all in one move!

 

The other thing is that on a 53' you can't go by the back on the trailer as a reference to line up with the dock, you have to go by the wheels. This is due to the overhang because 53's can't run with the tandems all the way back?


Am i right on this?