Generally speaking, how close must a truck be backed to a dock

Can you please move door 3 over a few inches? We can't get the plate in it...thanks.

 

Too fast for conditions?

 

Up tight to the door so the dock lock hook will hook your bumper , trailer will walk away from the door while loading jamming the hook on the bumper , and yes you have to back up and bump it again to release or leave your bumper laying on the ground.
Does anyone check the dock lock before backing on it , it should move up and down freely if not it will bend your bumper , I've seen plenty of them.

 

Most of places I been, their dock lock doesnt work

 

That’s an interesting point, but I think the damaged trailer bumpers have more to do with drivers pulling forward without realizing the hook is still on. I’ll have to check my trailer to see if there is a bent on it. I’m sure the bottom of the bumper has lots of scratches. I’ve been using the same trailer for about a year and a half.

 

As long as the hose can connect to the external valve and the vapor recovery hose reaches, your good to go.

 

Same here but instead of a vapor recover hose its the mill air hose.

 

You definitely hit it. The dock is the one thing you WANT to back into. The real art is achieving the soft bump, so it doesn't jar the truck and scatter everything around your sleeper

 

I back up until I bump the dock, then another 3/4 turn of the drive tires to get it good 'n tight, then set the brakes.