blind side parallel parking....HELP

One thing to remember is how the trailers tires track. Coming in from an angle and kicking the tractor around to move the nose in, your trailer tires are going to take up another 6-8 inches to straighten out. It's all about the trailer being within 12", nice and parallel to the curb to pass the test.

The most important part of any backing is the setup. You set up correctly, the rest will go smoothly. You set up wrong and you find yourself doing alot of extra work.
First imagine if you were parked and how all your tires are going to track pulling out. Backing in is pretty much the opposite.

You want to set up close to the cone, a foot or two, but your trailer tires past the cone. As you back and your trailer tires are just before the cone, you want to push the nose around to start your angle in. Don't overdue the jackknife as you have to get right back under it. Say you are backing at a 45 degree angle. By the time you are at 22 degrees, your steers should be turned the other way so you are coming back under the trailer. Once back under, your trailer tires should be near the curb. Your trailer tires at about 18" away, you should be jackknifing the other way pushing the nose towards the curve. Ideally, your tractor drives will be at the cone now. Again, at about halfway through your jack, spin your tires the other way to get back under the trailer. Most new drivers will wait too long to get back under a trailer. Get out in an open area and do some "S" curve backing. See what is takes to do backward S's yet maintain straight travel. Once you get the concept of getting the tractor back under the trailer at the right time, you'll do much better.

 

Keep in mind I was never taught "the right way" to do it, because I wasn't taught AT ALL,...

What I usually do since I'm coming up from behind, is I turn into the spot kinda sharply, making sure I don't drag the trailer into the hood of the truck that will be behind me, than when I'm almost to the point I can't turn back out of it without hitting the back of the truck that will be in front of me when parked, I cut it back out into the road or lane (watch for cars) and straighten out, while headed about 35 degrees away from the parking spot. That'll leave the trailer "set up" aimed right how I want it.

Then I back in while turning to aim the trailer the way I want it to end up, watching to make sure I don't hit the back of the trailer in front of my parking spot with my tractor's front end. I can usually get it in one shot that way, but I STILL have to G.O.A.L. because when the truck is perfectly parked, it's impossible to see how far I can back up without hitting the truck behind me, and also making sure I leave enough room that he can get out. (leave him about 10 feet and he'll be ok)

But I've been doing this for 7 years, so it's easier for me to do it in one shot like that. The first few times I tried it, I either got pissed and gave up and went somewhere else, or I jockeyed it around for 20 minutes until I eventually got it. However I was learning this totally on my own, in the real world without EVER having had any instruction whatsoever. I didn't have the luxury of indestructable cones that I could hit without damaging anything other than my pride and my test results. If I had, I probably would've learned it quicker, especially if the guy instructing me was an old timer with some EXPERIENCE, not some 6 month rookie like all the mega-fleets have as "trainers".

 

well, you have to drive through the offset to set up, it`s right after the straight backing isn`t it? i can`t remember. anyway, pay attention to what you are doing going through then put it back in. don`t overstear or over think it. will the school let you practice for it? check with the Bangor public works if they don`t they might let you. idk they do 1hr up the road from you, so bangor might too. it will take either practice or s#$t luck. good luck!

 

don't worry about it..............next time you won't get that one.........and also know that probably 98% of the experienced drivers have a hard time with it, day cab drivers don't count

 

What class are you in. I'm having the same issues with that school. Uggghhh . The instructors need to be out in the yard more.

 

Yeah I recently had to do that to pass my tests.

Just memorize the steps and follow them exactly and it will go in every time.

Make sure you understand how to pull up and correct in case you position your trailer for the approach and you cannot see your reference cone. Line the side of your trailer up with it within about 1 foot or so before you back. Too far away and you wont get it in there. Try to back when you can’t see your reference and you might murder a cone.

 

One other thing for me was to keep it dumb and simple. Short controlled movements... no rolling maneuvers. Steering wheel movements at 90 degrees either way only for straight line and all the way only for turning trailer. I found when I started getting creative I started having problems.

 

Are you at Bangor? Tell mike and Henry to come help you. Or bob if you can. He’s probably the most helpful. Honestly with the parallel park just do it pretty much exactly how they tell you to. And btw last I knew only me and 3 others of the 8 in my class from October have their liscense now.... when you go for your test remember that pavement is more grabby than gravel. I don’t care what they tell you at school

 

About half or a little less than half was my experience too. People get sent home for various reasons. Others can’t quite get the clutch down or there is a language barrier which makes it impossible to teach them.

 

They told me inwenyout if bounds on right side.