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Best way to set up to back in this situation?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bp88, Mar 1, 2014.

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  1. Mar 1, 2014 #1
    bp88

    bp88 Light Load Member

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    Apr 20, 2013
    Orange County, CA
    0
    Hi, new local flatbed driver here with a backing question. So far I've been doing pretty good but one of the customers I deliver to has a pretty narrow driveway and street. The worst part is there are usually a bunch of cars parked on the street and in the driveway on the sides. What's the best way to set up for this kind of backing?

    Here's the actual driveway in question; it's the one with the white Ford pickup in it: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.881...m4!1e1!3m2!1s7_9Ue2vMn4537JVGu-yi7w!2e0?hl=en
     
    bp88, Mar 1, 2014
    bp88, Mar 1, 2014
    #1
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  3. Mar 1, 2014 #2
    Boardhauler

    Boardhauler Road Train Member

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    Ballin' in it for Shakey
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    No offense, but that doesn't look hard from the picture. Ease it over the curb & through the grass if you have to.
     
    Boardhauler, Mar 1, 2014
    Boardhauler, Mar 1, 2014
    #2
  4. Mar 1, 2014 #3
    CargoWahgo

    CargoWahgo Road Train Member

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    Louisville, Kentucky
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    Pull in nose first.

    Now back out.

    Now do that on the other side cept backwards.
     
    CargoWahgo, Mar 1, 2014
    CargoWahgo, Mar 1, 2014
    #3
    gpsman Thanks this.
  5. Mar 1, 2014 #4
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

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    Looks like it should be an easy sight-side back up so I'm guessing you are having to blindside in? If so (& you can't turn around down the road and come back lined up for a sight side attempt) get a rectangular scrap piece of mirror from a glass shop and affix it to your passenger sun visor (I use rubber bands). You can change the angle of the visor to see how the trailer is lining up rather than having to stop and get out every couple feet (or try to see whats going on uaing the convex mirrors). Of course you still want to GOAL if at all unsure where obstacles are in relation to your trailer...
     
    double yellow, Mar 1, 2014
    double yellow, Mar 1, 2014
    #4
    Pmracing Thanks this.
  7. Mar 1, 2014 #5
    madman118

    madman118 Light Load Member

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    Mar 13, 2012
    Sacramento, CA
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    You should be able to set up for a sight side back. Just take it slow and GOAL.
     
    madman118, Mar 1, 2014
    madman118, Mar 1, 2014
    #5
  8. Mar 1, 2014 #6
    Glp

    Glp Medium Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2012
    Oakland, CA
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    Look out your back window if you have a daycab, if you need to blindside
     
    Glp, Mar 1, 2014
    Glp, Mar 1, 2014
    #6
  9. Mar 1, 2014 #7
    VisionLogistics

    VisionLogistics Road Train Member

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    Jellystone
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    Yep. Looking at the tire marks on the curbs and road that's what it looks like others have been doing too. You could always casually ask the guy on the dock how other trucks set up for it, too. If there are cars parked on the far side of the street you'll probably have to jump the curb.
     
    VisionLogistics, Mar 1, 2014
    VisionLogistics, Mar 1, 2014
    #7
  10. Mar 1, 2014 #8
    bp88

    bp88 Light Load Member

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    Apr 20, 2013
    Orange County, CA
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    Hmm, I never even thought of just hopping the curb. I always thought that was a no-no but lately I've noticed a lot of drivers do it... and from that picture it doesn't look hard, but there's usually cars on both sides of the street and one of their broken-down trucks is on one side of the driveway and people park their cars on the other so I couldn't use the grass. I don't know why they park there when they know we have to back in there. It always seems to look easier in pictures.

    What I'm trying to ask is how should I be approaching the set up when there are cars on both sides? When there are few or no cars I can back it in there easily but once people start parking all around the driveway it messes me up. I'm not the only driver who's complained about that spot...
     
    bp88, Mar 1, 2014
    bp88, Mar 1, 2014
    #8
  11. Mar 1, 2014 #9
    Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Philadelphia Pa
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    Um, that looks easy. Line up for it by driving ont he wrong side of the road with your driver door close to driveway. Pull forward, then hard right, then hard left. Back her on in. If you think thats tough, you better not go some of the places i do. Your target driveway is pretty wide which makes it easy. If you have a dump valve, use it to make the turn tighter. The hardest part is figuring out when to start your turns. If cars are parked on opposite side, id start turn late so you have more time to get the trailer to jacknife on in. If no cars on other side, just back sharp and put drives of truck near other curb, then ease truck back in front of trailer.
     
    Richter, Mar 1, 2014
    Richter, Mar 1, 2014
    #9
  12. Mar 1, 2014 #10
    gpsman

    gpsman Road Train Member

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    Because if motorists think at all it is solely to determine what asshattery will be in their own best interest.
     
    gpsman, Mar 1, 2014
    gpsman, Mar 1, 2014
    #10
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