My setups are horrible

Another piece of valuable info. Turn OFF the CB while you are backing!

 

You pulled too far ahead on your Bongo picture. Now you're going to be really really close to the trailer on the left.

Some one else said it so I'll say it again for emphasis. Find a truck stop with a few empty spaces (3 empty spaces in a row would be perfect) and practice your 45 and 90. Remember when you're backing to not only pay attention to what's behind you and to the left and right of you, but also what's in front of you. You may have a great set up but then realize when turning the cab to get back under the trailer you may hit or come incredibly close to a truck across from you.

 

Last night there was only one spot left at the TS where I needed to shut down for the night. There were no boonies. Had to do a blind side, at night. It was a nice fat spot and, basically, all I had to do was set up right, get out once to make sure I was putting the azzend of the trailer where it needed to be and then push the #### thing in.

But, ya know, even though I felt good about everything and one trip out into the cold would have been enough, I still got out 4, count 'em, 4 times to be sure. Overkill? Maybe. Did I get a little chilly? Yep. Did I damage anyone's property? NO!!!

 

Hey, thanks for that. I have a fellow female student who's having trouble with her backing and that's just the ticket.

 

I thought the same thing.

I knew I should have bought a 53 foot boat...

 

Same here 6Shooter. I have been driving single screw monohull sailboats with fin and full keels in and out of docks and slips for the last 10 years. Got pretty good at it, even up to a 60 footer. But the water is so different. "Like a school bus on black ice" as some say. Plus you can sometimes lean on a fender to pivot the hull. But boats don't have a coupling that pivots! lol

It was a steep learning curve switching from boats to trucks but it got better after lots of repetition over a couple of weeks.

Hang in there and remember to stay hydrated with water (helps blood flow in the brain) and take a deep breath in and out all the way every time you shift from forward to reverse or vice versa (helps the oxygen level in the brain). Both of these things allow clearer thinking and reduce frustration.

Good luck!

 

watch your left rear tire on your trailer and visualy make a line were you want those tires to go and follow the imaginary line

 

OK...day 2 in school...they had me "attempt" a back up...forget what I said and throw it out the window...this ain't like backing up a boat at all

Soo much to learn...and I need to work out my left leg I can barely stand at the moment

 

Some of the other posters already said it, but I'll say it again,
TAKE YOUR TIME !!!!

I've been driving for a long time, and there are days I can't back to save my life, other days I can drop in a hole most people wouldn't get a car into, do NOT worry about the Billy Big rigs behind you, they all have been there, and there are days they cant back either....

Couple years ago I was sitting at a TS a guy came in from a Trainer Co. he was having all sorts of issues backing up in the dark in the rain, some ### hat got on the CB and started making it even worse poking fun at him etc...

Couple drivers, myself included got out and helped him get in to the spot..
Walking back to my truck I walked past the guy on the CB running his mouth..
Might have had something to say had he himself not backed over the light pole behind him, he never even knew he hit the pole, but here it is pole leaning right up on his trailer !!! Needless to say, he left the lot after we gave him about 45 minutes of grief !!!!!

Good Luck driver, it will get easier...

 

Actually, it's even better to not hit another truck at all - before or after pull ups.


Then
Than

They mean the same thing, right?