How do you judge your turns?

turn at the shoulder on rights. Maening when you shoulder lines up with the curb start turning. Buy do pay attention to your mirrors. And watchg everything and everybody

 

Right turns, if the stop sign is still there afterwards, it is a good turn. Left turns, well I make three right turns so I don't have to turn left.

 

Personally I do a funky button hook thing that I learned while driving a city bus. So that way the trailer blocks the right lane and bike lane if there is one so no one gets hooked. But I swing the tractor out and around the corner.

 

I read this a long time ago on here.................as soon as you start to turn the steering wheel, your trailer starts to turn.......I always start my right hand turn just before my front tandem hits the corner......slow and easy will ease it right around the corner.

 

You should watch your mirrors constantly also! I pass too many trucks that never even look in their mirror.

 

one thing I was taught and stuck with me is that you need 4 lanes to make a turn.

For example making a right hand turn, the road your turning onto is a divided highway, (one lane going each direction, divided by double yellow) your going to need three lanes on the road your coming from unless you cross the double yellow line. or just two lanes if you can cross the double yellow on the oncoming side of the road your aiming for.

Also start using your hood mirrors when your confident enough to. It helps you see your trailer while keeping your eyes on the terrain in front.

 

Wish I could say there was a 'rule of thumbs' but in reality, because tandems can be moved and there are different turning radius' and trailer lengths, the general rule would be to go straight out then left when turning left ('L' turn) and do a hook when turning right.

I think, after awhile, especially if you are in the same tractor all the time, you get a 'feel' for it.

 

Yeah, it was hard adjust from my old cabover to that 2000 year 9400i when I was at Boyd Bros. But after awhile I got a feel for my turns.

 

I believe the simplest rule of thumb is "don't hit anything" and "If you have doubts of being able to make the turn safely, don't do it because you will look like an idiot from Brampton, On when you get yr bogies caught in a ditch". am i off, guys?