I am having trouble with the 90 degree "banana dock"

Try this : next time you get ready to do the docking pull your brakes on get out and walk up to your trainer and pull fifty bucks out of your wallet and say this fifty is what I plan to pay to have someone dock my rig for me since I can't figure it out, so do I pass or should I go to the nearest ATM. LOL
Really I've seen guys do this ..

 

One thing that helped me was realizing that I should get the tractor back under the trailer before it looks like I should. In other words start getting the tractor back under there before the trailer is lined up with the alley. Sorry, it's hard to explain in words.

 

See if they will let you do it two times in a row for each student. That helped a lot.

Also, I skimmed through the posts, get a model of semi and trailer. Being able to see from above what happens while you are backing the cab with your hand is a great learning tool.

also also, I think what you are calling the "banana back" is usually called a 45 degree back. hehehehe I have never heard it called banana, even though it is appropriately descriptive.

Mikeeee

 

I am thinking about getting the model of a tractor trailer and seeing if it helps. They let us go 2 times then switch to the next student(groups of 2).

Now that I think back, I believe I am getting the trailer straight in the alley as soon as it enters the alley and before the tractor is anywhere near straight with the trailer.

I.e I am giving it too much left turn and removing too much of the jack in the trailer.

I have wracked my brain over and over about it, I am so nervous because I want to pass and this maneuver is giving me trouble.

 

it is hard, but get the worries out of your mind before moving the truck.

As a wise, make believe, little green guy said, "there is no try. Only do."

Mikeeee

 

relax and it will be easier.
Don't wait till the trailer is where you want it to start chasing it with the truck.
Its like magic, done with mirrors.
You'll be fine.

 

Yea for my backing test I was not allowed any pull ups. Which I thought was a little BS. And it was not becouse I was a poor backer, I had years on the farm exsperience before I got my licence backing up. But the guy in front of me who took his test was in a single drive day cab, With what I would call a goose neck 20' flat bed trailer. So he had no problem in the small space. But when it was my turn in my dads 359 pete with 120" sleeper, 53' 3 axle trailer. there was bairly enough room for me to get into the lot let alone pull forward far enough to get the trailer lined up with the cones. I start backing like I normaly would, And given the situation I viewed it as a perfect manuver, needing to pull forward once.

Granted I did not know I was not allowed to pull forward to pull my cab around, when the intructor comes up and informs me I failed this portion becouse I pulled forward..... I asked him if he saw the size of this truck and trailer and resonably thought I could get it into the hole in one shot, he said no but that was the requirement.

Sorry to not offer any advice other then practice more but reading this thread reminded me of one of my old trucker stories and I had to share it.

 

Oh, I forgot!

Do it just like this!

[ame]http://youtu.be/fnXriMQN5sg[/ame]

 

Is the 90* back a company test? My son is getting ready to get his cdl and that isn't one of the backing tests he has to pass.

 

We couldn't do "GOAL" on our CDL tests. (Get Out And Look)

I did the ally dock with one pull up on my test and he asked me why I did the pull up. It's easier to look outside and say do this and that. Changes everything when you're the one behind the wheel faced with either erring on the side of caution or encroachment (in the real world, hitting the building/truck&trailer).

For practice/testing, look at the black top. Can you see the tire marks going into the "dock" area? If so, put and keep YOUR tires on that path.

I really can't give any more advice on HOW to do it because indeed it IS a bit different every time. Just remember this; You can always put MORE JACK into the trailer but you can't get it out once it's too much. That's what we were taught and it's true.

I could SHOW you several things that helped me but it's too complicated to explain. Depending on truck (sleeper birth?) when you're doing the FIRST turn (wheels to left) you put JACK into the trailer till you see your GLAD HANDS in your left mirror OR, if there is a cone by your right front wheel then back until you almost hit the cone - then straighten back about 2 seconds.(?)

PRACTICE is all I can say. At first everyone was having problems with it. As time went on even the ones that were the most bone headed were getting it.

DON'T get frustrated with yourself. Like I tend to do. It will NOT help you to lose your cool. Even IF it's against yourself. lol

good luck