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End of week 1 at academy. Having trouble(PLEASE Help)

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Xzay, Jun 5, 2016.

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  1. Jun 5, 2016 #1
    Xzay

    Xzay Light Load Member

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    From my last thread yall know Im at Swift Academy.
    I passed the first week(classroom) with a 91 overall. Not the best considering how easy it is, but still a pass.
    I also got straight line backing down and passed my evaluation on that.

    Heres where I'm having trouble.

    Our week 1 instructors said they were going to introduce us to: Blind Side Parallel backing, Side sight, and offset, so that when we do them week 2 we won't be as confused.
    My issue is I CAN NOT DO IT.
    I did side sight once, perfectly, lol idk how, but I did but ever since then I haven't done neither one. Haven't even attempted to offset yet.

    Heres where my questions lie.

    -How do I know if my tires of straight, without getting out of the truck?

    -How do I properly align my mirrors?

    -How do I know when my trailer is straight during a pull up(sometimes I think it is, only to back up and find out it wasnt.) <<<<This issue, im guessing is a problem with my mirrors not being correct or my tires not being straight.

    -How Do I blind side back, how to I sight side back?

    At our academy we have a formula for each, I wanted to know if this was a universal formula or what.

    Our blind side backing formula:(assuming the trailer is straight and the bumper is 2 to 18 inches from the cone):

    1 Full left
    Hard Right
    Straight Line Back
    Hard Right
    Hard Left

    The side site is the opposite.

    I'm having trouble knowing when to do each turn of the steering wheel.
     
    Xzay, Jun 5, 2016
    Xzay, Jun 5, 2016
    #1
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  3. Jun 5, 2016 #2
    street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Ok, ive been doing this awhile.... you just confused the livin hell outta me...


    Anyone else? Buler? Buler?
     
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    #2
    ZhenyaP1991, Blackshack46, TGUNKEL and 11 others Thank this.
  4. Jun 5, 2016 #3
    Xzay

    Xzay Light Load Member

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    What confused you
     
    Xzay, Jun 5, 2016
    Xzay, Jun 5, 2016
    #3
  5. Jun 5, 2016 #4
    street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    That formula of yours, its missing tons of info, if you start full left, when? How far past your spot are you? Assuming there is actually enough room for a standard blind side, second how long are you being instructed to hold full left before hard right? Oh crap, your talking parallel blind side arnt you...
     
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    #4
    Starboyjim Thanks this.
  7. Jun 5, 2016 #5
    Xzay

    Xzay Light Load Member

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    I dont know thats the problem.
     
    Xzay, Jun 5, 2016
    Xzay, Jun 5, 2016
    #5
  8. Jun 5, 2016 #6
    street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Ahh well, the easiest way to envision it os to get a toy tractor trailer, with your fingertips on the hood above the steer tires, push it backwards and see how the act of turning affect it. (Actually a rc semi is best)
     
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    #6
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  9. Jun 5, 2016 #7
    street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Your formula is for parallel parking on the blind side. And its accurate as far as a general description of your movments are concerned. The full left gets your trailer pointed at the curb, the hard right straightens you out, the straight back gets you into your gap, the hard right brings your trailer parallel with the curb, and the last hard left brings your cab in line with your trailer
     
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    #7
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  10. Jun 5, 2016 #8
    tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Backing is something everyone will understand and explain differently. The toy tractor is a great idea to help you envision what's going on when you're backing.

    The mirrors, well, drive forward in a straight line and look in the mirrors. If it doesn't look straight adjust until it does.

    The biggest issue with backing is over thinking it and losing your cool. Just relax, watch your drive tires and your trailer tandems. With practice you'll get to know how long it takes for the tractor to straighten out and how much the trailer will still turn while that's happening.

    There's many good threads on here about backing. Read as many as you can, file it away, forget about it, relax and just do it. It will come to you.
     
    tinytim, Jun 5, 2016
    tinytim, Jun 5, 2016
    #8
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  11. Jun 5, 2016 #9
    tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    It comes easier to some than to others but with very few exceptions it takes a good bit of practice. And then, ten years down the road, you'll be faced with a straight line back into a wide open dock and you'll struggle like hell. :)
     
    tinytim, Jun 5, 2016
    tinytim, Jun 5, 2016
    #9
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  12. Jun 5, 2016 #10
    street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    I got 3 square miles of open concrete, and i cant hit that #### dock!




    Its ok driver, i got a sharpie, I'll draw some hair on it!
     
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    street beater, Jun 5, 2016
    #10
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