BACKING MANEUVERS-pulling up

This.

Too far left? Pull out to the right then turn back left to angle the rear of the trailer to create space.

Too far right? Do the opposite.

Key is to drive the rear of the trailer, not so much the truck at this point.

 

If you only need to correct the trailer, remember one thing: you have multiple steering wheel positions between the full right and full left position.
Don't steer too hard for correcting.

 

Most rookies, and old timers that back like rookies, will pull forward and steer TOWARD the side they want to move toward.

In your example you said you are too far left. Most bad-backers will drive forward and steer toward the right. That only works if you have TONS of room in front of your spot, which is a very rare thing. Pull straight forward some, but then steer TOWARD the left. This causes your trailer rear to point toward the right. That's what you want.

You can't back a trailer into a spot until you point the rear-end at the spot you want to wind up. Once you see this a light goes off.

 

After all this good advice I hope he finds something that will help him in the field.

 

"Steer to the side you see."

 

remember this. it takes 10 feet for a steering correction to take affect. so when you pull up. make sure you pull up 10 feet or more.

 

as you described & want to pull forward. start pulling forward getting to the right. watch mirrors on right side. when trl tires look to be near center of the box, steer left. watch left mirror. when trl is almost straight in line with box, steer back right til tractor/trl is straight. stop, look in all mirrors, should be near perfect.
it will take a few times to get the hang of it but, it will come. when you steer, remember not to cut too much or you will hit the wall. good luck

 

When you pull up, always make use of every inch of space that's available to you. If you have enough space to pull up and line up for a straight back into the dock space, then that's what you do. Otherwise, use all the space that you have available to make your back into the dock as straight as possible.