Doesn't it get confusing sometimes bobtailing and trailer switching

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by NewNashGuy, Oct 7, 2011.

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  1. Oct 7, 2011 #1
    NewNashGuy

    NewNashGuy Road Train Member

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    When I look at semis making wide turns with their trailer and short quick turns when bobtailing, it makes me wonder how truckers are able to not mess up and forget about the trailer for a second while turning? Or is it because the truck drives so differently that it reminds you? I wouldn't want to be half sleep with a million things on my mind stressed out and forget that I have a trailer attached (thinking I am bobtailing) when making a turn in traffic. Just recently I bought a new tree for my backyard and after 20 minutes of driving I hit a dip in the road and heard a noise and for that second I forgot that I had a tree in the back.

    The same goes to backing up... as you know you have to turn in the opposite direction with a trailer, so that must feel weird when you do not have a trailer. I only know this from that video game sim I played which I am sure is nothing like the real thing, but when I didn't have a trailer my instinct was to turn in the opposite direction when bob tailing so I went the wrong way as I was used to backing with a trailer during that session.
     
    NewNashGuy, Oct 7, 2011
    NewNashGuy, Oct 7, 2011
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  3. Oct 7, 2011 #2
    brsims

    brsims Road Train Member

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    Using your mirrors properly will prevent you from forgetting there's a trailer behind you. It's pretty big, and hard not to see, unless your a 4-wheeler...

    And yes, backing with a bobtail does get confusing after you've been pulling a trailer around for a few days or weeks.
     
    brsims, Oct 7, 2011
    brsims, Oct 7, 2011
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  4. Oct 7, 2011 #3
    NewNashGuy

    NewNashGuy Road Train Member

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    I am surprised they do not have a "backup assistant" that can be manually shut off. When going in reverse it switches your steering when you have a trailer so that you always turn the steering wheel in the same direction.
     
    NewNashGuy, Oct 7, 2011
    NewNashGuy, Oct 7, 2011
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  5. Oct 7, 2011 #4
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    If you were "born to truck", you exit the womb with the natural instinct to deal with these issues without even thinkng about it. if not, you develop these instincts, hopefully very quickly.
     
    STexan, Oct 7, 2011
    STexan, Oct 7, 2011
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  7. Oct 7, 2011 #5
    bonder45

    bonder45 Road Train Member

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    When bob tailing I get throw around my truck cause the ride is so ruff in my little single axle. With a trailer its just heaven because the ride is 100X softer.... that's how I know :biggrin_25519:
     
    bonder45, Oct 7, 2011
    bonder45, Oct 7, 2011
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  8. Oct 7, 2011 #6
    Okieron

    Okieron Crusty Okie

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    You don't want the points or the DAC hit so you always remember the trailer back there
     
    Okieron, Oct 7, 2011
    Okieron, Oct 7, 2011
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  9. Oct 7, 2011 #7
    Tazz

    Tazz Road Train Member

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    When a driver is tired he will revert to the mechanics of his job. Ask my daughter on my way home in my Dodge I pull out straight and start to watch my off side as I turn on the way home from the yard:biggrin_25524: after running a full shift to get home.

    It's called muscle memory. Training will instill it in you.

    Until then always drive like you have a trailer:biggrin_25519:
     
    Tazz, Oct 7, 2011
    Tazz, Oct 7, 2011
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  10. Oct 7, 2011 #8
    DirtyBob

    DirtyBob Road Train Member

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    If anything you'll forget you don't have a trailer when bobtailing in a turn rather than forget you have a trailer when pulling one.
     
    DirtyBob, Oct 7, 2011
    DirtyBob, Oct 7, 2011
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  11. Oct 7, 2011 #9
    biggen0_8

    biggen0_8 Light Load Member

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    For me when I first started driving, yes sometimes I did get discombobulated when doing those things.

    One of the things you really have to watch when bobtailing, is your braking. Your used to having all those tires and all that weight on them giving you braking traction. But in a bobtail, especially if the road is wet, it's like driving a skateboard.

    As to making turns, well my wife always is laughing at how big of turns I make in the car, but I'd rather do that than round them off like you see four wheelers do all the time.

    And yes for a while when I started driving I would get a little turned around when backing my tractor. I could still back my car with no problem but I would get it bass ackward in my truck. After awhile it became no problem, but the first several months I had to watch it.
     
    biggen0_8, Oct 7, 2011
    biggen0_8, Oct 7, 2011
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  12. Oct 7, 2011 #10
    Sensei2006

    Sensei2006 Light Load Member

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    This.

    You'll have a trailer behind you 99% of the time, so that's just how you'll likely drive, bobtail or no.

    However, getting turned around without a trailer is sooooo easy haha.
     
    Sensei2006, Oct 7, 2011
    Sensei2006, Oct 7, 2011
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