My advice on backing

I guess I'm in the "Just Do It" camp.

Whenever I'm backing and for some reason start thinking "left this top bottom right that", I screw up.

What works for me is to forget about the steering wheel completely and imagine that the truck is a long stick pushing on the kingpin.
I know how to back a vehicle, so I know how to change the angle of the "stick". (imagine a 12" toy trailer you are pushing backwards with a wooden ruler).
I guess I drive the trailer from the front while watching the back.

I never complicated it with arcs. I just do straight line for a few feet, then recalculate the next angle for few feet...and so on.

Or put another way...

Straight back...change angle....straight back...change angle...(repeat, repeat).

 

I'm the same way. I know which way the trailer needs to go. The only time I think about anything else is when it's a tight lot and the front of my truck is close to the opposite row of parked trucks.

 

Your an ole timer! T33s!

 

Yes and no. The Air Force Academy used them for rides to the incoming cadets.

 

Pipeline setup. Was a lowboy driver hanging at the lay down yard 1 day and 2 company pick ups roll in. Hop in says this foreman in a southern drawl we have a truck that needs moved. Union thing. They pull up to a bus with a 1 axle generator hooked to it on a narrow right of way with the ditch on one side. Had a mile back up to a plug. Turn around. You couldn't see the gen in the mirrors. By the time you saw the trailer it was already jacked knifed. Lets get one those Oregon boys this should be fun. Guess who had the last laugh. Take pride in your craft!

 

Well..... I passed my test I have my license now. Backing up was the least of my worries by the time I had to take the test.

 

Congratulations....who will you be driving for?

 

Congratulations! Stay alert and be safe out there.

 

Don't know yet... You have any good companies in so. cal.

 

Thanks