Help,help, help with 45 degree alley backing

THIS PART OF SCHOOL IS DRIVING ME NUTS. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT RITE, I ALWAYS TURN THE WHEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A CAR. IT'S MY 2ND DAY IN THE YARD AND I JUST 'T SEEM TO TURN THE WHEEL THE DIRECTION I NEED. CAN ANYONE GIVE ME ANY POINTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

just relax and calm down its your 2nd day in the yard. watch the other students and see who does what, learn from their mistakes. when you see someone getting it right ask them what they are doing, most important, learn how to use/trust your mirrors. it takes time, but eventually you'll know where your truck is with out even looking in the mirrors.

 

Hmm...well ... try visualizing in your mind what you're supposed to do. The set-up is the most important step when backing. Once you set it up properly and understand what has to be done it will get easier. In order for the trailer to begin making the correct angle to dock.... you have to turn the wheel to the right...that is if you're sight-side docking which I'm assuming you are. So set your rig up first, then turn wheel to the right and start backing. You will have to turn the wheel either more or less to make adjustments. When you see the trailer aligned to go into the hole, immediately counter-steer to the left .....you will then notice your rig starting to 'align itself'.... again make necessary adjustments. Ok, now if you start to see the view of your trailer in your left mirror disappearing... immediately and quickly counter-steer to the right ....but you must counter-steer enough to bring the tractor 'back around and in line' with the trailer. To shorten this up.... when you're straight-backing and you start to see more of the trailer in either mirror... turn the wheel in that same direction you see the trailer. ex: you see more of the trailer in left mirror...so you would quickly turn wheel to left and then when you see less of the trailer in the left mirror you quickly counter-steer to the right because if you look in the right mirror you would've seen more of the trailer in that mirror. Now that I confused you even more... get out there and practice. Visualizing helps. NOTE: If you don't see your rig starting to align itself, stop and pull up and try again until you get the hang up it. Just don't keep backing up because you'll jacknife or hit the trailer next to you ! The farther back the tandems are, the faster you will have to turn the wheel and counter-steer.

 

This is funny to me. Not that I'm making fun of you dano...just it's funny that someone else is having the same problem I did back when I was in school. I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.

I feel for you. I couldn't do a 45 to save my life in school. I tried and tried, retried and started over again!!! Still I could not do the 45!!!! LOL.

I was sweating bullets right up till I had to test on it. I swear to you this is EXACTLY how I did it.... I put the truck in gear...pulled up...swung out to the left....stopped..then I put it in reverse...closed my eyes...turned the wheel and backed up. When I thought I was close I opened my eyes...saw I was very close and set the brake. When I got out the instructor was out back and he looked at me, scratched his head and said your in there perfect. No one including me could have put it in there better. I walked away wondering how I ever did it. Still today I have no clue how I did it.

It's been 11 years since then. I've backed into some awful places. Still I can't do a 45 to save my life. Don't feel bad. Just do the best you can and if you pass just turn off your CB in the truckstops. The super truckers in there still make fun of my backing skills.

 

Just remember to keep your eyes open !!

 

DO NOT OVERSTEER...no matter what type of backing you are doing...the more the front of the truck moves the more the back of the trailer moves...just steer enough to get the trailer where you want it...DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GET OUT AND LOOK...OR EVEN PULL UP...To get your head around what you want the trailer to do...

 

Hahaa I'm laughing at my own thread. If that doesn't confuse you it sure as hell confused me. All kidding aside , I went a little overboard but two of the most important steps are the set-up and the counter-steer. ( counter-steering quick enough and turning the wheel enough rotations ).

 

Try just steering the trailer,,not your truck,if you get your set-up right,, then you pretty much just have to straightline it into the box.How is your box set-up?
I'm not sure how to put attachments on here,,or I'd give you a good idea of how to get your set-up to where you can zero it everytime.

 

when i first started in sachool I got some handouts that explaned step by step and did it down the paper just as it said as I was doing it. it took a few times practice but it came pretty quick

 

I've just finished my training and got my license, I am going to be working next Monday to get some experience.

I went through the exact same stage as you, this is how I did it:

You probably always want to back driver side, so think of it this way, if you steer right, trailer will turn, if you steer left, trailer will be straighten. But just thinking about the trailer is not the key, to me positioning of the tractor is more difficult.

I am still working on my backing, if given enough time and I can go back and forth, I can gurantee I can back between 2 trailers without hitting a thing, but I still cannot do it in 1 or 2 shots, that is the most difficult part.

Also, check this link out, it helps me a million! And this is what I am trying to learn, to back in 1 shot, if not just correct it once and done!
http://www.gonefcon.com/trucktcom/backing.htm

Notice where your front tire and your steering wheel should be positioned at each stage. Hope that helps!