textbook backing?

Grandpa taught me how to back a trailer with the lawn tractor as soon as I could reach the pedals....so it's not something I even remember learning, just something I could always do.

 

Grandpa started you off right

 

Actually there is... I was taught and use the analog clock system... I can probably explain better on sight then on line, but it is pretty simple so I will give a quick explanation. .
For a 45 degree back... the first thing is to stop when hour shojlders are in the middle of the hole... look over the whole for any concerns.. then, look over your left shoulder and pick a mark, somethinf like a truck, or light pole... now, the hole is 6 o'clock and the mark you picked is 12 o'clock. .. now, pull forward until your shoulders are lined up with the glad hands of the trailer next to your spot, stop, turn your wheel all the way to the right, then pull forward and stop when your 12 o'clock mark is in the middle of your windshield, ( provided there is room)
Now, turn the wheel all the way to the left and pull forward till your tractor and trailer are lined up, which will have you headed towards 10 o clock. .. stop, and turn your wheel all the way left and back up til your tracktor is 90 degrees withthe trailer...

Now, from here it will depend on on whether you are in a peterbilt, kenworth or Freightliner, volvo. . Because of the wheel base.. so if in a peterbilt or kenworth with longer wheel base you will need to straighten the wheels and push the trailer back differently then if in a Freightliner. .. also, the times you aim for may need to be adjusted...

What I have found, is that it is real important for me to show and explain what I am doing and aiming for... for example.. i will take chalk and make an x and explain that I am going to back and get that x between my tandems... because if the line extended out, it would run through my tandems at that point, and that is where I will need my taandems to be so I can pivot around and into the hole...

I think it is important to remember that a student will learn alot being out of the truck and actually seeing things from that perspective. .. as experienced drivers, we know what happens when our left tandems stop rolling back, and what is happing when they start to roll forward again... but it it easier to teach and explain that if they see if for themselves outside the truck...

The biggest problem I see students or new drivers having, is they dont realize that there is a portion ot the backing where you are only swingling the trailer back and forth to posistion it, and it isnt acctually moving back, the tractor is in reverse and moving backwards, but the rear of the trailer is only pivoting on the tandems and not moving back...

When I do tthis, it kinda freaks them out at first cause the rear of my trailer is close to the other trailers or trucks.. but, again my trailer is not going back anymore and wont hit them... I am using that swing to posisition and line up to straight line back into the hole..

Hmmm... well, i know there are some that get what I am saying.. it is just hard to explain in words alone...

But, i thi k you get the idea...

 

Was taught to setup for a 45, and then told best of luck. All trial and error after that.
That was nearly three years ago...how time flys...

 

I politely asked my school instructor, and company trainer to give me a bit of space to try it on my own. I also had previous experience backing a 18' bumper pull trailer with a pick up. To be honest, I think once you get used to the size, the 53' is easier.

 

up the longer the trailer is the slower it turns ....

 

I had to learn by doing it too. I've never heard of specific training other then common sense. But I do know if you really want to learn watch a driver that's been working in the yard for any length of time. We had one dock that everyone took more than a few times to get in and this guy I was running with worked in a beer company's yard put it there one shot every time.

 

Textbook examples for a offset parallel yes where I went.

45 90?

Nope.

I don't swear by it but I think crowder college has some sort of pamphlet tutorial drawing type thing I remember seeing at one point being nosey.