Going from a aero truck to a hood

I always liked the way TMC used to hide their spot mirrors behind the bug deflector. @shorty102292 good luck with your new ride, I'm sure it'll become second nature over time. I've sat behind a few long hoods and they can be a little intimidating at first but eventually you don't even notice them. Your experience with oversize is a plus as you already know how to "calculate" the boundaries of your truck. As for "only seeing stack" in your mirrors, bobtailing doesn't really count because there's not much else back there to focus on...I'm guessing when you get hooked to a wagon, you'll be able to adjust the mirrors to see something back there...

 

The pipes are a problem. I like my pipes stuffed behind the side shields over the catwalk. That way the mirror sees straight down.

With that freighter, I probably will be halfway out of that driver door craning around past those pipes while backing.

I am not particular with the exception of weed burners, Ive been choked by those early in my youth waiting for the #### thing to warm up in the cold. That would be quite enough of that.

In cabovers I take cars out. But in that nose? it's perfect. More or less.

 

Move your mirror pivots forward so they are straight out from the cab and then retilt yoir mirrors. The stacks are out a bit too far.

When youre in tight quarters air your seat way up so you can see some of the front fenders better. The hood glare will suck. Have double sunglasses for emergency. First pair regular size and over pair gaga sized. It can be like staring at the sun on occasion.

 

If the glare from the hood is bad I recommend blacking the top of the hood with a flat or matte finish, or even a non reflective white.
I drove a few with the black top hoods and they were easier on the eyes day and night, snowstorms too..
It wouldn't look bad on that truck or take away from it, kinda like this.

(Steve's pics, facebook, lots of cool trucks)
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You’re welcome.

 

Hell i have hood mirrors and a aero hood pete 386 and some car was sitting on my right front tire at 0130 couple days ago onthe interstate . Dont know how i didnt clip them as i was changing lanes. I got an adrenaline rush as i changed lanes and 5 seconds later see a car pulling out from in front of me ."what the ####?! Where did that ####in guy come from?" I thought i was seeing #### being so early in morning , i had to come within inches of their bumper. Now let me say i was watching my mirrors and taking note of cars in my mirror like always and i saw this car coming on right lane then couldve swore i saw him hit the exit and so i decided to change lanes but nope he was right there somehow on my tire by this point. So i wasnt paying attention and my seat is on the ground and didnt check my blindspot. Got lucky on that one , dang california

 

Once you get your parameters memorized youll be able to spot that "not enough right hand lane to make it in that left side gate" situations before attempting. When youve got to squeeze her in where she shouldnt go, drive the truck completely straight and go past the entrance until your 5th wheel is lined up center or a little past center of the entrance road. Now cut the wheel full right and reverse, swinging the tractor nose to just clear the fence, pole, curb whatever. Its okay if that takes 3 pullups to jackknife into the gate. Doing this gives you the maximum clearance on your left side rub rail to get into the entrance. If youre pulling a spread, get a dump valve on the rear axle. That will also shorten your trail length by 5 foot. Sliding up your 5th wheel to the max it can clear during jackknife in addition to these other tricks will get a longhood into just about any place a setback anteater can go.

With backing tight or turning around in confined quarters you are at a disadvantage to the anteaters since you cant see the fenders, and the truck wont come around as fast. Your setup as you are preparing a reverse is much more important on a hood. I see guys who obviously arent good at setup making it into jackknife parking spots from terrible positions successfully with sissy tractors and closed tandem vans that a hood pulling a spread couldnt ever dream of. With your hood truck, the going forward portion is probably more important than the reversing. putting angles on your trailer while rolling forward in order to aim at the target and divide the 90 alley dock into smaller portions with very well planned pullups is critical. You just wont have the extra space available in small spots that you used to. A longhood uses up ground very quickly compared to these new car trucks.