Help with backing a 53 footer

The secret is practice and experience.

You will get better with time. Do not rush yourself. Take your time and GET OUT AND LOOK.

Trust me you have only been driving for two weeks. Be cautious at all times and you will continue to improve over time.

 

time and practice. backing is a hard thing to teach or talk about because every time is different. the advice i got years ago from my dad was you are pushing it where you want to go and until yo figure out the physics take it slow. like i said, not much help. All i can tell you is practice, empty parking lots, your yard, your house if possible, get a feel for it. sorry i can't help more, but my first six months backing scared the $#(& out of me.

 

Practice Practice Practice.... here are some tips

1. The Set up: get the trailer tandems exactly where they need to be to put the trailer in the hole.
2. Watch the tandems: follow them into the hole
3. Walking speed only: make corrections before getting into trouble.
4. G.O.A.L. - when in doublt Get Out And Look!

 

Hopefully you have the concept of what to do with the tractor to move the nose of the trailer like you want. Kind of like pushing a wheelbarrow.

popmartin has good advice. The setup is very important and makes your backing the easieast possible. Watch your tandems and visualize your track or use aides to help you. Sometimes you'll see old tracks coming out. Follow them in. Painted lines? Use them. It could be as simple as a rock lying on the ground or an expansion crack in the concrete. Pull ups are free and even the most experienced driver uses them.

If you are totally lost, go buy a toy 18 wheeler at Walmart and play with it on a table. I know, it sounds childish. But it will help a clueless person learn the basic concepts of manipulating a trailer. Then you take the toy back, lol.

Practice makes perfect and it won't happen overnight.

 

This is the best list. And I would add to it to watch your swing area.
set up, set up, set up

 

back in with the doors closed, then pull straight out and open the doors (if you have room to do this)

then back in and let the ****** start unloading you.

 

The fun starts when you gotta blind side back into a tight dock between two trucks at nite.

 

The biggest issues I've seen with fellow students is not knowing which way to turn the steering wheel and grossly over-turning the steering wheel. Keep the movements suttle with the steering while watching your tandems. Don't back up a tractor length in the wrong direction. You should be able to recognize what the trailer is doing within a few feet and adjust. The other thing that would help any newbie is practicing on your off time with any combination vehicle. A pickup truck pulling any trailer is a combination vehicle. The steering mechanics are the same. The more you practice backing with any combination vehicle the more instinctive the steering will become.

 

The advice listed is great, I would also say, NEVER be afraid to ask for help.