About to solo soon!

Only one trainer,ever showed me the secret,of a good 90 degree,or 45 degree back..straighten the steer tires..two turns from lock..and pivot the trailer..to get the correct angle.
After perfecting this manuever,it makes backing into tight spaces...so much easier..,you just need to be able to see,when it is needed.

 

Best of Luck to you

 

Take your time...your backing skills will develop rapidly once you are solo. It is a successful back if you don't hit anything. Best advice I ever got about backing was to watch how the previous driver pulled out...when applicable...reverse the process and bingo.

As for winter...just be smart and take it easy without becoming a hazard. Keep alot of space and expect #### to go south quickly.

 

remember the trailer pivots on the tandems not the end of the trailer

 

I delivered to a place last week...it was a lumber yard in the middle of a residential area. It was tight enough just getting to it (with construction going on and everything else). I had to back into the yard off the road (wasn't too bad)...then once in the tight yard, had to blind-side into the dock.

A guy came out, and asked if I wanted him to spot me during my blind-side back...said he's been doing it for years, and if I do as he says, when he says, won't be nothing but a thing. I said "absolutely".
He said the only reason he asks is because most drivers turn him down. WHY?!? Don't be too proud to accept help. I been at this for nearly a quarter of a century, and I will take a spotter any time someone asks.

I listened to every command he made as he made them, and backed in perfectly on the first shot (just as he said I would)---who knows how long I would have been fighting that lot, pull-up after pull-up to get it right on my own.

Moral of the story: Backing is an animal in and of itself. Regardless of how much experience you get, there is always gonna be a new situation. Don't be too bull headed, proud, ####y, or confident to accept help from a spotter.

That being said; there are going to be those that want to help, and their intentions are good, but end up being more of a hindrance than anything else---you'll just have to deal with that scenario when you come upon it...and you will. The guy I spoke of above was NOT this guy...he knew that maneuver better than anyone, and proved it.

 

Give it time backing will come to you. Personally I've never done 90 degree turn, I always use that hook thingy, never fails. As for the winter, its a #####. Just pull over if you not comfortable or just take your time. Last winter we had a snow storm here in wi. I couldn't even get my truck drive at 40mph, it would slid and slide. While others would pass me at 65 or faster.

 

Another tip, sliding tandems can be your friend in tight situations. Start with them all the way back, leave them unlocked, set up your back, and when you get the trailer tandems to where you want them to pivot, pull the trailer brakes. Make sure you have enough room for any swing as the trailer begins to slide on the tandems, and go SLOW. Like, idling slow. once the tandems are slid about halfway, follow the trailer around. Just don't forget to readjust them either before completely docking (as some shippers/receivers require tandems all the way back), or before you leave. And, dont forget to lock them back in.

This has helped me more than a few times to wiggle into places it might have been more difficult to get in to. If you find your tandems still arent where you need them, just try again. No rush.

Might want to practice this a little in an open empty parking lot some time at night thougj, before using it, and get out and look numerous times to see how the trailer reacts with the tail. Also, you don't want to do this with much angle on the tractor to the trailer. You may break something that way.

 

That's not bad advice Hudson_MacBeth...but most manufacturers these days are going with the "air slide" release, and once you release the trailer breaks, the pins lock back in...so doing a 'slide' on the go is becoming impossible with new trailers.

 

Wow. Leave it to the engineers to #### up a good thing.

 

1) make sure you pack snacks, and fresh water, and change your under wear frequently.

2) my first winter was snowy and cold.