Driving older tractors with the mirrors not designed for the 102 inch widths

I seldom worked in a real slip-seat operation, but had a tractor assigned to me permanently or owned it. So, I could adjust the mirrors to my preference. Also, when we did drive someone else's tractor for a day while ours was down for maintenance, we did not change the mirrors. I observed that a few drivers like to have the mirrors looking at the sides of the trailer. To me, this is amateur. The mirrors should see only the front edge of the trailer in the inside inch of the mirror. The side of the trailer should become visible only when the tractor is turning. Generally, the mirrors brackets will be relatively shorter to accomplish this mirror setting.

 

Front edge, or back edge? If you are looking at the front edge in the inner inch of the mirror, you are going to see the entire side of the trailer in the rest of the mirror.

In my limited experience, I found that I'm most comfortable if I'm seeing the back 1/3 of the trailer. I imagine that if (when) I get a flatbed job, I'll probably want to see the entire trailer - or at least the load, tarps, and tie-downs.

 

I agree.
I KNOW where the nose of the trailer is, and I NEED to know where the tail is, whether it's following or leading.

Reading your various posts, Lurch, makes me wish I was still a driver trainer and I got you for a trainee.
My instincts tell me that you'll do just fine.
Mark my words.

We'd probably make a great team, too -- as you impress me as someone who has a pretty firm grip on reality.
Did I retire too soon?
Is it too late to make a serious come-back? :smt102

HeY!
Here's a thought ------
maybe with 6 months to a year under your belt, YOU could be a trainer re-training ME.
Ya reckon.

 

My mirrors show the front edge, so that is an edge view of the trailer side when driving straight forward or backward. The trailer is visible in only about one inch of mirror when the brackets are the proper length. If the brackets are too long, the trailer will look as though it is dog-tracking to the right in the right mirror, and to the left in the left mirror. If the brackets are relatively short as I like them, when backing straight I will notice the trailer begin to off track immediately.

 

it's an old style volvo! those trucks are like 96 inches wide themselves so how could the mirriors NOT cover a 102" it's your imagination because the mirrior brackets are so short because the truck body is so wide. You look at my 359 pete, which is 6" narrower then the 379 pets are and my mirrior brakcets look like they are 20 feet long!

 

Ah -= I think I get you now. You have it lined up so you see right down the very edge of the trailer, more or less? That would make sense, then. I did try that.. but without being able to move the mirrors, the view just plain was wonky. Maybe, if I get my own tractor assigned, I'll give that a whirl again... see if I like it.

I certainly hope so. I'm off to orientation for May this coming Tuesday... But I'm still reading everything I can on this (and <ahem> other boards). I don't expect to be SuperTrucker, but I could deal ok with being Swamp Thing.

Oh. wait. I took a shower today, so that's out.

I think I'd settle for a clean DAC

LOL - just try and tell that to my wife. I have HUGE holes in my grip. Most I don't care to mend.

I dunno. Are you Bobby Bonds or Michael Jordan?

Oh god - THERE's a safety issue just waiting to happen!