Backing Help Needed

ok, watch the left mirror. Look down the side of the trailer, when you start to see the trailer tandem, turn the wheel left (do small movements, not big turns) until you cannot see the tandem. Look in right mirror, if you see the tandem, turn right a little, until you cannot see the tandem. If you cannot see the tandem in both mirrors, keep the wheel straight. Use the big flat mirrors. Make sure you can see in both mirrors. Keep your back pushed flat against the seat, this way you limit your sight changes in the mirrors.
It is the hardest thing to learn, as your brain is wired for a car, not a trailer. Remember, drive the trailer, not the truck.

Best of luck.

 

Haha everyone felt the same way on the first day. You will get it, it is one of those things that is only learned through repetition. Just say to yourself "backup right, turn left" and vice versa until you get it. Do not wait until the trailer swings out too far. When you see the trailer looking like it is too much fix it then by turning the wheel in the other direction. Try to pay attention to the wheel path of your trailer. I used to imagine a line from the tire to where I got to go and keep your tire on that imaginary line.

It is so easy now I have no idea why I struggled the first two weeks in class and you will feel the same way. I would have never believed that on the first day as I couldn't see anything and it seemed like the trailer was swinging in every direction quickly on its own. Now I can backup in any direction without even trying and fit into tight spaces around objects with no problem and you will too.

Oh and another thing that the teachers never explained that I figured out on my own... you know in your car when you are driving down the interstate and you are making minor adjustments left and right without even realizing it to keep your car straight? Do the same thing when backing up. When the instructor told us to turn a certain way, we just turned it hard and held it there until we got into a bad position. When I turn hard, I gradually lay off the wheel, then may have to cut it back and make micro adjustments back and forth smoothly just like you do when driving your car on the interstate. So don't just turn the wheel and hold it there the whole time, make those tiny adjustments where needed. That just comes with getting used to how it turns to be able to do that.

EDIT

One more thing that will always save your life and I still do it everyday. Knowing how to fix a mistake is one of the best things to learn imo. This may sound weird and feel wrong, but the instructor told us this and it WORKS. If you are in a bad situation when backing up, stop, make your wheels straight, and pull forward. That resets your mistake for you to redo the turn. So if your trailer is going too much to the left, stop, straighten wheels, pull up as much as possible, then turn more to the left and your trailer will stay more to the right.

The same applies when going forward too. If you try to make a turn and there is not enough space in front of you but you only need a few extra feet, stop, straighten wheels, backup and your truck will jackknife a little, then turn the wheel all the way to left or right depending on which way you want to go, and you will gain those extra feet needed to turn.

 

Go to you tube.There are lots of video's on backing.There is a video by the safety director from CR England.Good video to watch.It's 15 minutes long and shows the different ways to back up.

 

I felt the same way as you when I was going to school. Know that I've been doing this for ten years, it's almost natural. I always fun when you bump a dock and you walk inside and people tell how hard that looks I made it look easy.

 

IRRESISTIBLE!!

Talk about OXYMORON.....Safety Director at CR England, good video????

 

Don't know about the guy from CRE but I searched "backing a tractor-trailer" on YT and got 633 hits...Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear....0.5.5.0.192.1944.16j4.20.0...0.0.FqS1o8MjgEc

 

Slow and time. Just like mentioned. Let the trailer come around.

When I was in school and learned on a 53' van, I was always told whichever side I see more trailer in on my west coast mirrors - to turn into that. If I see more mirror on the driver side, turn the steering wheel towards the driver mirror....and vice-versa.

In other words, Turn into trouble.

No one is perfect in backing...well maybe BW9 but virtually no one else.
It's just like floating or progressive shifting techniques. Anyone can tell you stuff but until it clicks (and it will one day) - it can be frustrating.

Many years ago I was always afraid of being in neutral and not being able to 'find' the gear I need to be in and stopping in traffic. Everyone has a fear of something and all it takes is time and practice.

 

Hey guys do know if ya'll help the person that ask the question but ya'll helped me....I am a newbie. 3 months and backing is my biggest problem. Thanks for the tips.

 

Don't oversteer. As soon as your trailer starts to turn, turn the wheel slightly back. And remember that you are basically driving the tandems around with the rest of the truck; its your pivot point. Aim the truck where you want them to go.
Also there is no gold ribbon for backing into a spot the fastest. Slow and steady wins the race.
P.s.- always get out and look,even if you think you're fine. Because the one time you don't- SMASH!!!!

 

"Always be safe- your $20,000 a year job depends on it"
This message from safety director of CRE.
Thank you for your attention.