How long does it take to perfect 90 deg backing

You only get the ONE TIME and ONE CHANCE to get it in the hole correctly, NOT PERFECTLY for your road test.

All other times..??


just get it in, and be done with it........

If you want perfection, go work for the Donald Trump Presidential Candicey...

 

I had a fair amount of experience pulling trailers with my pickup truck before I got my CDL so I picked it up relatively quick. It's easier when you turn on your good side. I usually pull the trailer a few feet past the point I want to back the trailer in to and leave a few feet of space for the front of the truck to swing into as I straighten out. Just get the trailer to cut in the direction you want and steer the truck so the trailer goes where you want it. It took me a couple tries solo but I was able to get it in straight first try very consistently after that. You just need to practice and find out what works for you. Pay fairly close attention to the initial set up because that makes a HUGE difference in how successful you'll be.

 

A week was plenty for me and then we had a few extra days the final week before the examiner tested us. I nailed it in one go during the exam with the only two free pull ups we get. I also got out to look to make sure the back of my trailer was in the correct position. If they let you..take full advantage of getting out to look (only two times allowed for us).

 

It takes 47 minutes to perfect it......

 

You can increase your angle easier than decrease it in a 90 back up. Keep your angles open until you need to tighten it.
Steer the trailer. At my present job if you can't back it up you shouldn't be driving it. We back up off road for sometimes 2 miles down a single track.

 

I went to cdl school 7 days. On the 7th day I got it down. Not perfect but, just where it counts

Some years later and now I do things like this without a panic attack or them crazy sweats

I'm standing right next to the fence where this happen took two tries and there is some where it took me 10 tries

 

This might help you....print it out and share it with your class:

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 right 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 driver’s 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 driver’s 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 driver’s 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.

 

For some reason i'm better at 90 then a 45

 

Cause you're trying twice as hard?