New trainee any tips on offset backing

I know this. I hauled many 20ft shipping containers and a 53' is easier anyday!

 

Backing, period, is learning how to get that trailer EXACTLY where you want it. Some tricks I learned:

1. The shorter the trailer, the more wiggle room you have to fix a mistake. On the other hand, it's aslo a lot more squirrely, so ANYmaeuver you make is going to happen very fast.
2. On a 90-degree backing scenario with limited room in front to pull up (If you HAD room, you'd make it a straight back) the longer the trailer, the closer to the space you want to back up, so you're not nosing your frint barrier as you cut the trailer into the available space.
3. A little bit of steering goes a looong way. Watch out for over-steering.
4. GO SLOW. Use the clutch to govern your speed. Ride that sucker all you need to.

After that, it's alllearning how the trailer works wth the truck. It takes time. If you get stuck, STOP, set the brakes and get out and look so you can see what you need todo or understand how you messed up. Use your instructors.

Good luck. I struggled a lot with backing, but if I can get it, ANYONE can.

 

So that video is pretty much exactly what I suggested. You will see the driver STOPS and then turns his wheel. When you stop and then turn the wheel, it doesn't matter how slow or fast you turn the wheel.

Find reference points that require turning the wheel all the way to the lock. That way you don't need to worry about over or under steering. When you hit your reference point like shown in the video, stop and turn your wheel all the way. Then proceed.

How is your straight line backing?

 

Take the tractor completely out of this. Now, pull your car out of a parking space so that you can back into the one next to it. What would you do? Got a good image of that in your head? Good, now do it with your trailer. Here's the only difference, the tractor turns the front wheels of that "car" instead of the steering wheel, so that means you can only turn those wheels when you're moving forward or backward. SO the fastest way to be able to react to BOTH directions is to have the tractor straight in front of the trailer before changing from forward to backwards. So as the trailer is coming straight to the spot you're going to back into, turn the tractor back to get in a straight line with the trailer. Basically, drive the trailer, not the tractor.

That's all there is to backing. Every single back, no matter how complex it looks, it's really just steering a really big trailer into a spot. Just PLEASE stay aware of what's in front of and on the sides of the tractor. Your truck sticks out a little further when you get your tractor in front of the trailer instead of being off to the side. Think Austin Powers turning the little truck around in the hallway for the general idea of how to solve that problem. Honestly, I think all the instruction makes it more confusing than it needs to be. Look at it in a simpler way, and it'll become a lot easier. There's still learning and getting used to it. You're not going to be amazing at it right away, but don't overcomplicate it. Just put the trailer where it needs to be.

 

Next time you get in the trk go to a straight line back. Practice making SMALL steering inputs, watch the rear of the trlr, notice how it reacts, then as said before get your ref points take it SLOW, and practice making small steering inputs. Over correcting is probably the biggest habit to break. It takes time but remember go slow, you are still learning. But it does sound like you are just missing your reference points, then over correcting tryin to get back on track, remember you can always G.O.A.L. to see how you need to move the trlr. I adapted the mind set of, if I have even the slightest doubt about my clearance or my position I alway get out and look.