45 Backing.

Here's a tidbit my instructor gave me and it seems to never get remembered/utilized/mentioned much:

Once you've figured out that you've screwed up and you're off in a bad way, PULL THE ###### THING UP ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Guys pulling up 3 feet and fighting with it for 2 hours fail the test.

I'm not t3h b35t backer, so take it with a grain of salt. The guy teaching me could back one into anything if there was enough open air, and I'm just quoting him like a parrot.

 

I'll let you in a dirty little secret.

Even us guys with years of experience, have days when we think we are in school and cannot back worth a sheet.

Now other things may be at work here.

one could be a different tractor?

one could be a different trailer?

if a different trailer, is it the same length as the one it worked for you?

if a different trailer, is it a single axle, or dual axle?

If everything is THE SAME?

Then screw it, it happens.

If you call it quits now, you'll regret it later.

I'm gonna sound like 2 of the most hated people in the world, (a politician and a used car salesman) when I say this:

"Trust me"

 

Here’s another tip to consider in helping you back a tractor trailer. While backing, try using the fifth wheel as the main focus of your attention, instead of the traditional focus being on the rear end of your trailer.

To get an idea of how this works, using a toy-sized tractor trailer, remove the trailer, place your index finger under the kingpin of the trailer and practice backing the trailer using a variety of backing setups. Of course, you’ll find backing the trailer is fairly easy, placing the trailer where you want is simply a matter of moving your index finger in the appropriate direction.

Now imagine your fifth wheel being your finger. Sitting in the driver’s seat, if you want the fifth wheel to go left then turn your steering wheel to the left, and to move your fifth wheel to right then turn to the right. Looking in the side mirrors, think of it as “popping out your drives” to either side. As you’re backing, focus mainly on which direction to pop out your drives, in conjunction with where you want your tandems to be placed. After just a little practice using this simple technique it’ll become second nature to you, and you’ll soon surprise yourself, easily placing your trailer in the most difficult situations imaginable.

 

Same here, its all about the set up before backing. When there is so much room you could land a 747, I'm not paying attention to my set up then struggle, when its tight I plan before and use every inch of available space.

 

Just go ahead and tell everybody, G.Anthony.

 

I find this to be the empty spaces on either side of the trailer you are backing in. Even though another driver can back in bassakwards, it still gives us a guide of sorts. THEN those painted lines come in handy.

At least, this is what I had found, with empty spaces. I'd rather have a garbage dumpster next to me, than an open space!

 

Well c'mon, I said it was a dirty little secret, not the truth! (even though this is the internet and everything IS the truth)