Big Problems Over Thinking and Oversteering

You are 100% right backing is something you learn by doing

 

And some days I can't hit three dock doors, and then some days I can hit a dock where super truckers on both sides are angled in and then their tracker steer is sitting on the line of the empty lane I'm trying to get in! It takes lots of practice, and then remember what happened!

 

It helps to work with model trucks or paper cut outs because you can sit at home and move them and see it. Think about the king pin as a pivot, visualize the truck and the trailer from above. Turn the wheel left then right. That's a beginner vision, as you are a beginner, don't be ashamed or frustrated. Sit down and stare into space imagining what turning the wheel causes the trailer to do at the king pin. It all starts there.

 

Each student is different but it will click in your brain eventually. Just keep thinking about it like you are doing.

The toy truck is good but you need someone instructing you "why" this does this and this does that. Without instruction it's just another toy truck instead of a learning aid.

Somethings you have to comprehend...

Trailer tires and how they track and how much room they take to react going around a corner. They don't turn on a dime unless you are in a full 90 degree spin.

Getting back under a trailer. About half way of your angle you should turn the steer tires the other way to get back under the trailer. So if it's a 45 degree back, roughly when the trailer is 22 degrees you should be turning your tires the other way. The trailer will continue swinging and by the time you are back under the trailer everything will be straight.

Little angles and maneuvers is when you finesse the steering wheel. You don't need to be moving the steering wheel crazily for little maneuvers. You find yourself over correcting and fighting too hard.

Take note how you pull away from a dock or such. Backing in ought to be just the opposite.

Forget about the truck a minute. Think of the trailer by itself like it's a wheelbarrow and you are pushing it. The nose needs to go this way to push it in there.... Then you need to visualize the truck and how to turn the steering wheel so the fifth wheel pushes the trailer like you thought of just a few seconds ago. For a newbie it's a two thought operation how to get that trailer to do what you want. Eventually it will become second nature.

Don't rush it when you are learning. Think about each move carefully.

Use yourself visual aids on the ground as something to shoot for or to help square a trailer up. If it's a gravel lot find some bigger or different color rocks and lay them on the ground like a trail for your trailer to follow. I done that like my first three months until I got better squaring up a trailer by different methods.

Once it finally clicks you still have a lot of practice. Only with practice will you get better.

Instructors need to be calm and patient. Yelling just makes a student more nervous. You can take even the best driver doesn't mean he can instruct. If you don't think you are getting anywhere with the current instructor seek help from someone else. More than one instructor is better than one unless he has a knack for teaching.

You'll get it. Just keep thinking and trying.

 

Does your toy truck have steering tires that actually turn? If not I cant imagine you learning much from it, and in fact it may be detrimental. You can make a toy truck and trailer with movable steers from an erector set if you are crafty enough. Be sure to make the dimensions as close to real truck and 48' trailer as possible. A buddy did it, and he set up little areas to practice backing into. It was fun to play with.

 

ted

Offset and parallel parking is a complete PITA! Spent weeks with the instructors trying to tell me how to do it and wound up being more confused then when I started. I think different people learn different ways and some of just need to be able to see the problem to be able to fix it. I found it much easier to back up angle towards the spot I was going to, get the truck in a straight line, stop, and then GOAL (Get Out and Look) see where the trailer is and see where you need to put it. I found it hard as h@ll to back the trailer up without being able to see the short little cones in the side mirrors. I finished school, still can't offset or parallel park very well, but I can get it done if I just take my time, and take a few extra minutes to get out of the truck and see exactly where it is in comparison to the lane you want to put it in. Just keep practicing and it will come to you.

 

Thanks that gives me good info to work with. I'm pulling a 28 foot flatbed. So it should take about 7-8' to react?

Mostly had trailer correction problems.

On more then one time today, I made it back to the cones ( but my trailer wasn't at an angle to do a straight back) I wasn't able to pivot the trailer into the lane of cones. Then I screwed up my pull-up by trying to pull the tractor and trailer directly in front of the cones.(I'd run out of space before I could get them straight).

Thanks again for the good info.

 

Love the tape idea. B4 backing, I always stick my head out of the trailer to check the front wheels. The instructor has started barking at me about that.

I might use scotch tape to make it less obvious.

 

You sound just like me when I first went to school.Overthinking will get you in trouble every time.Those cones are suppose to represent either a dock,people or cars.Focus mainly on the trailer.You're steering the trailer into the dock.You need to relax and quit thinking about what your instructor said as you're trying to back the trailer into the dock.Oversterring will also get you in trouble.Very little movements is all you need.You turn the wheel too much you're trailer is going to sway way too much either to the right or left then you'll never get it between the cones(in the dock).You turn the top of the wheel to the left then the trailer will go right and visa versa.Its very important not to oversteer.The trailer takes longer to react then how much your turning the wheel.You also need to think fast once you see the trailer going the opposite direction you want it to be.If you see the trailer swaying left then immediately turn the wheel to the right but very slight movements.Like I said you need to focus on the back of the trailer and make slight movements immerdiately once you see it going the opposite directions.Its quite simple after you get exp.But for now you're not going to be the perfect backer till after you're done with training and in your own trk.But you will get your cdl.Hang in there you'll ace the test with flying colors.Why don't you see if some of the other students can help you.One more thing,stop treating the semi like its you're own personal vehicle.Don't turn it like you would a car and don't shift the trk like its a car.You're going to find out both vehicles are nothing alike.

 

You make a good point. My toy tractor doesnt' have turnable steering wheels. I've had trouble finding one. Went to 4-5 stores including Toys R Us (went there today).

Basically I'm turning the tractor in a certain direction to see how it pushes the trailer.

But I've heard of folks who use paper truck models. Not sure how they're using the paper models. The remote control vehicles have turnable tires but haven't found a remote control tractor trailer.