Help,help, help with 45 degree alley backing

Guys, there's very little in trucking that "can't be done"; just some things that are harder than others. What's beating you now is your own mind and lack of confidence. If others have done it (and thousands have) you can too.

You need to develop a mindset that I still use every day.... "Whoops, a hard one. But I can do it. Might take me awhile, but yep I can."

But watch out for the dummy who wants you to back a 102 inch wide trailer down a 90 inch wide alley (downtown Boston) or the idiot with a yardfull of short wheelbase day cabs and straight trucks and you've got a long wheelbase highway tractor and a 53 foot trailer (Montreal).

 

Until I stopped turning like "I was driving my car", I made sure I stopped a lot and looked at what was happening, basically, not trying to make corrections on the fly...Say to yourself, "which way do I want trailer to go", then consciously tell yourself to turn the opposite direction...Making small changes and seeing what it does will help you from getting to the point you need to make large corrections...Here's something I saw them do with someone else that sounded like he was in same boat as you...They would pull straight forward then put a bend in it, either to the right or left, and then work on getting that corrected for a straight back...Keep increasing the bend until you're basically doing an offset then set up and do a normal offset...I'm sure more experienced folks will chime in with more, and probably better, info, but I've seen that help someone get used to which way to turn the wheel and what it does to the trailer...Good luck and keep us posted!

 

just take your time and dont over turn...i had a bunch of problems because i was overturning...most of the time half turns work very well...also i had someone tell me to grab the bottom of the steering wheel(because if you want the trailer to go to the left you grab the wheel at the bottom and start to the left, which is the same thing as turning the wheel to the right if grabbed from the top if the wheel) it helped as well...but get out and look to see what the trailer is doing every time you turn the wheel... once you understand what happens when you do something it will help you in doing the right correction in the cab... good luck buddy and you will get it!

 

Without a doubt you will get it...just keep pushing to learn and continue to learn even after you think you know all there is to know...I am still learning to this day and will continue to do so until I decide to stop driving...Ask a lot of questions regardless if you think they're dumb or not...

 

I honestly think I was a better backer fresh out of school than I am now. I used to be able to whip into a parking lot and throw it in reverse and put it in a spot just barely big enough for the truck and trailer.

I was at Springfield MO a few weeks ago and the only parking spot I could find in town was at the Waffle House across from the KW dealer. I looked at it a couple of times but it was between two ex hood Petes both were reefers. I HATE REEFERS. That sound drives me nuts at night. Anyway I didn't even attempt it. I just thought what if I hit one and i will be here for an hour doing paperwork or getting my ### kicked by a pissed off Pete driver.LOL

I just left and drove over to the T/A. Maybe that's what's wrong with me. Now I just think too much. I know when I first started driving. I didn't care. I just wanted to hurry up and get my job done so I can get back home. Now I'm way too overcautious and think way too much.

 

It is tough startin out but everyone on this thread so far has given you excellent advice. Take your time, do not be afraid to get out and look and in no time you will be crankin it into less than ideal docks in an alley like this without even thinkin twice about it. Best of luck to ya bud.

 

It is ok it is not easy you can try this and keep it in mind it helped me out when i started when you trun your steering wheel to the right your trailer is going to trun left and when you turn your steering wheel to the left your trailer is going to turn right always note that the front of your truck is going to turn in the same as your trailer it will get easer over time.

 

Use the steering wheel to your advantage! Everybody teaches "steer the opposite direction"...bad thinking, poor instruction!

Your visual part of your brain is already doing a "reversal" with all the information coming in through the eye...it has to reverse the image to be processed. So when you try to think "opposite" you actually are stressing yourself a bit more. Here is the trick I taught all my students for 15 years:

The top of the steering wheel turns the direction you want going forward, the bottom of the steering wheel turns the direction you want to turn going backwards.

The set up is the most important part of backing into a dock or parking location. Let's learn what I call the "Banana Profile":
1. With the units in a straight configuration, drive across the front of the location until the space between the tractor and trailer is at the midpoint of your location.
2. As you cross this midpoint, turn left to a 45 degree angle away from the point. Drive straight (45 degrees from the location) until the tandems are at the midpoint of the location. (you must be watching your drivers side mirror) As the tandems attain the midpoint turn the wheel left (again) to put a bend in the tractor/trailer until you have achieved the "Banana Profile". (The tractor/trailer has the same shape as a banana.) Now straighten up and continue until you have clearance of the drivers side rear corner of the trailer and the location the trailer will be backing into.
3. At this point, you should be able to smoothly "track" right into the "hole". Just visualize the line and adjust the turn aspect (declining) as you enter the hole and straighten up as you go.

LET THE TRAILER DO THE WORK...ADJUST TO THE TRAILER, DON'T FORCE THE TURN MOVEMENT BY OVER STEERING. The longer the trailer, the more time it will take to show its movement. Don't get anxious, be patient, and let the trailer make some movement, then you correct the tractor to the movement of the trailer.

1. When backing, place your hand palm down on the center bottom of the steering wheel.
2. Use the bottom as your guide for the direction you want the back of the trailer to move.
3. Having your hand, palm down, gripping the wheel will prevent you (with the natural limits of movement) from over-steering. DO NOT LET GO OF THE WHEEL!
4. Grip the window post (the separation bar between the wing window and the door window) with your left hand, and again, DON'T LET GO. This "anchor" stops you from moving around in your seat...every time you move it changes the visual perspective in your mirrors...SIT STILL!
5. A tractor/trailer combination will NEVER back in a straight line...you need to "add" and "subtract" turn movement constantly. A little adjustment either way will keep the units straight and where you want to go.
6. If there is no "guide line" painted on the surface, visualize the straight line you want to line the drivers side (sight side) of the trailer then the tractor onto.
7. When you start backing, pay attention to the tandems (trailer wheels)...these are your first and primary points of lining up the unit. As soon as the tandems have gone into the box, begin reducing the turn aspect of the tractor (bring the nose around to the "square line" with the trailer. Now change your focus to the midpoint of the trailer...just before the midpoint gets to the "line", get the tractor square with the trailer so there is no turn occurring...you have achieved the aspect of straight line backing once the tractor is square with the trailer and the midpoint of the trailer is in the box.
8. Keep in mind there are 3 "pivot points" to a tractor/trailer combination.
8a. Tandems are the rear pivot.
8b. King pin (drive wheels) is the center pivot.
8c. Steer tires are the forward pivot.
To move the tractor trailer either direction (right or left) you must accomplish an "S" configuration/movement with the tractor/trailer. Which direction you need to move the units is the direction you begin the movement. (This is for forward adjustments...if you have not centered the units in the dock.) To move it will require 3 steering movements...make sure the movement is sufficient (far enough forward in distance) to achieve the moving distance required (right or left). Just imagine you are driving on an "S" painted on the ground and follow it COMPLETELY.

 

SETUP SETUP SETUP is the key to backing. If you setup right you can hit any hole that has enough room for your truck to fit into. If you setup up wrong you'll fight it until you get your setup correct. Also SLOW is your best approach don't get in a hurry when backing up.

Here is how I set up to back in ( this will vary a little based on amount of room you have available ) This is also easier to explain in person when you can see it first hand so bear with me.

All this should be done at a speed of idling no pedal at all. Pull up to the dock lane, or parking spot you wish to back into with it on your left side. Stay out several feet from where the end of the spot is where your truck hood will end up when your parked in the spot. Pull forward till your drive tires are at the "left side" of the parking spot. At this point turn your wheel all the way to the right. Pull forward until your tractor has made a 90* turn to the right. Then turn the wheel all the way to the left until your tractor makes a 90* turn to the left. At this point you can stop. If you did this setup properly then you should be lined up or fairly close to about a 45* angle from your trailer into the spot. Now all you have to do is "chase" the trailer in to the spot. What that means is that now you start backing up and trying to back the tractor under the trailer by turning the wheel all the way to left until your tractor backs under your trailer and you should be very close to being straight in the spot with maybe a pull up or 2 to straighten up. I'll see if I can draw you a diagram and post it for you to better understand. Hope this helped and did not confused you.