Parking

I'm sure you're right. I figure when I no longer get EXCITED when I 45 into a bay in one shot then I'll be ready (or confident enough) to do it with property at stake. But it's always dark and I'm pretty tired when the time finally comes to try, so I always just put it off and go find a rest area or ramp.

 

LOL, when you no longer get excited? I laugh because I still get excited. I still get nerves going to places I never been. Doing things I've never done. I believe that's what's kept me safe all these years.

 

I'll share something with the two of you that was hard for me to learn. When I started driving OTR I had been driving a grain truck on the farm first and never had to park at a truckstop or any other tight place. WOW, the first few nights i ran late and tried to get a spot was i in for a treat. Well long story short i started parking anytime i stopped. during the day. I would find a spot that i would be scared to back into that was maybe open on one side and practice those manuevers that were intimidating when both trucks were parked there. After enough practice you know where your truck is gonna go and how much room you need and it makes it a whole lot easier when the lot is full at night and those other trucks are circling because they don't want to try it and you can just slide right in. Keep Practicing. Practice don't make perfect but it makes you a whole lot more confident come game time.

 

Thanks. Half my problem has been in the setup though before even backing. My confidence is down a bit because last time I realized I had already screwed up before I had even put it in reverse... so If I sucked there it wasn't going to get much better.

in plenty of open space backing is no problem of course. But my mind keeps telling me that the further away I am from the spot, the more corrections I can make. Well anyway I started off parallel to the opposing row, well of course as soon as I turned the wheel the tractor was about to plow into the whole row of trucks. So I pulled off in shame and aborted the mission.

Well next time I figured I need to be as close as possible the the row I'm going to back into. Well now I see I have to do a 90 if I start there... aborted, drove off. There's GOTTA be a happy medium! So since then I haven't tried unless there was a good 2 complete tractor/trailer lengths between the opposing rows and just start in the middle.

Even since then I've realized I don't need that much space if I'm diagonal when I start! Confusing. So now I think I know that I need to hug the trucks on the left side as I go by, then pull away at a 45 until I am out of room, and somehow time it perfect when I stop so I'm in good shape for the hole. I've gotten that much, but I don't always see the hole in the mirror when I set up... more abortions lol....

 

With that grain bucket, you've got it easier than a guy pulling a 53' with 5 to 10 feet of overhang... your axles are at the back... no overhang to swing out and hit stuff.

That being said, when you set up for the back, hang close to the row you're gonna back into. Pull out at a 45 degree angle to the row and at the last minute, turn your tractor towards the row so your truck is already angled to the trailer.

Start your back, aiming the back corner of the trailer to be as close to the truck on your sight side as you can get... all the while turning the tractor into the trailer. Just watch that you don't crank it over 90 degrees and crush your fairings.

When the back of the trailer gets pretty close to the spot, you should have the tractor at almost 90 degrees to the trailer so it pivots into the spot. The back of the trailer will sit 'n spin... acting as a fulcrum as you line it up with the hole. Ideally, a few feet of the left corner of your trailer should be in the spot as you do this.

When it comes within 20 degrees or so of being parallel with the hole, start turning your tractor back away from the trailer to straighten it up. Watch the right front corner to make sure you don't bash the nose into a truck opposite the row you're backing into.

If you can't get it in one shot, just work the truck back and forth a few times, after the trailer is parallel with the hole, to get the whole thing parallel. With that short little trailer you got, you should have enough room, even in a Pilot, to have the complete unit perpendicular between the rows.

When everything comes into line with the hole, slide it in.

 

I love it thanks for the story

 

Driving ability will vary from day to day,some days are better then others and THE REST JUST PLAIN SUCK.
A little trick for backing in those poorly designed Flying J(short/narrow spots) and pretty well all the rest.
Run parallel to the side your parking on(left),when your tandems
get in front of the truck next to the spot you want to hit
start moving right at about 30*.
Keep "your" tractor NO FURTHER then HALF your length away from
from the row on your left,when you see your about half your length out then break to the left and look for your trailer in the left mirror.

You should see your parking spot come into view,just as it(I mean just as)
soon as it comes in,turn two full wheel turns to the "left" and stop.
Put the truck in reverse and DO NOT LET the truck roll,put two full turns of the wheel to the RIGHT.

Then start your backing,any corrections made should be no more then two wheel turns to either side.
If you turn the wheel 3 times its over steering and will have to be corrected. Using a TWO TURN trick lets you know where your wheel is at all times. Yes there will be times when 3 turns will be needed to get the trailer heading in at a good angle but its the "two turns" you should be most aware of.
The more you practice this,the better at it you will get.

Its all about the set-up.

Do you pull forward from a spot when leaving and turn the wheel more then two turns ? Then why do it backing in ?

 

Yeah its all about the set up on the backing, and I always use slow minor corrections when backing. Heck nowadays seems if you give me a truckstop or dock with two spots open on each side of the spot im trying to hit i'll have to do a crap load of pull ups. But give me a hard tight spot and ill get er in there quick. But you guys gotta realize that some time soon your gonna have to back er between two shiny petes cause thats the only spot, just get out and look and keep the cb on cause more then likely they're watching you. Also dont be afraid to ask for help to back in more than likely a seasoned hand will help you out a lot. Just my 2 cents

 

I love this forum! And I love you people!

Okay, I sucked up my fear and backed this baby into 90 degree spot between two other tractortrailers. Yes I had numerous pull ups but I did it. Then I did it again.


Thank you Biscuit for saying

I learn so much from y'all. I just love you.......why I'd even let y'all buy me pie.

 

Years ago - had to deliver a partial load to a mall in Palm Springs- from the front - asked a lady who was parked in the yellow if she could please move her car - she refused - Made a nice 60 degree parking angle - tractor blocking the front, trailer blocking the rear - It took me a loooooooong time to unload, while she stood there . . .