Failed final DMV test :|

Haha. Thank you, I like that answer.

 

Ok had my first practice time on the lot (I purchased 3, 1 hour sessions). My theory that me lining up the tires with the cones instead of the rear of the trailer being the only defect to my parallel parking maneuver was wrong. When I attempted to do the parking 4 times, I failed 4 times. The instructor finally walked out and indicated I was coming in too steep and when backing into the space, begin cranking the wheel hard to the left when the end of the trailer reached the imaginary line that goes from the outside code to the outside cone. (which end of the trailer? the end left corner, end middle of trailer or end right corner?). My new method is to initially crank the wheel hard to the right, back until about 10 degrees before the front corner of the trailer is on top of the frame. Then straighten trailer. Back trailer until (I am using rear left corner of trailer) crosses imaginary line, then crank wheel hard left, then hard right to finish. Doing it this way I was able to accomplish the backing with greater sucess. BTW I was able to do this backing fine a few weeks ago in school but it seems way harder nowadays.

 

I had my 2nd DMV tests this last Friday 7/27/18. Because I passed the Pre Trip last time, I only had to do the in cab air brake checks and brake tests. Then on to the skills. Straight line backing not a problem, offset backing passed as well. Then the examiner gave me the exact same parallel parking back I failed last time. I set up, cranked the wheel over, then cranked the wheel over again, but this time I used a reference to determine if my trailer was correctly aligned with the space. It was not. The trailer should be pointed at about 80 to 90% of the way down the parking spot. It was pointed at about 60 to 70%. I pulled forward to correct and re aim the tailer, and when I did the examiner told me to start over from the beginning which I found surprising. I started over, this time when I cranked the wheels over the two times to set up up, I did so a bit less because on the previous attempt the trailer was pointing too steeply into the space. When completed thank god the trailer was pointing to the right place at 80 to 90%. I backed until my driver side trailer wheels where in the middle of the space, used a get out and look to confirm, then did the crank the wheel one direction then the other to complete the back. It worked and it passed, whew! I did the drive test and passed that. I have a full CDL now. Thank you all very much for your help and support.