I bought a semi truck from Toys R Us

As a newbie, I loved the videos.

 

Has a beat up old Barbie doll come up asked if you wanted some company?

 

Great learning tool. I was one of those students that had a really hard time understanding what was going on with the truck when backing.

It should help you out visualizing situations.

 

One of my instructors had a toy truck he used to demonstrate some backing maneuvers. Being that the toy was damaged, he always had to hold both the tractor and trailer with his hand as the trailer wouldn't stay connected.

I had a collection of 1:64 scale NASCAR trucks, and gave him one of my Jeff Gordon haulers, which he still uses.

 

Don't let these well seasoned Big truck truck drivers rattle
your cage NewNashGuy.
Truth be knowed, they'd have a tough time backin' a little toy
of a Big truck up. I'm thinkin' they'd need three or four pull-ups
to git-er-dun.

The day will come when you'll find it easier to back a 48 or 53 footer
into a tight dock than to maneuver a little toy of a Big truck into an imaginary empty door.
It's twue!
It's twue!

Just remember to swing the doors first before kissin' the dock bumpers. Nothin' more embarrassin' that to spend 30 minutes sweatin' bullets tryin' to back 'er up to a dock while lookin' ever so cool, only to find out that the trailer doors are still closed, --- requirin' you to pull back out and correct the situation.
Then back 'er back in, ......... again, --- while everybody watches you.

For awhile it'll seem like the only time you manage to put 'er in, --- one shot, no pull-ups, is when NObody is lookin'.
I'm told that's just the imagination playin' games.
But I ain't convinced.

 

On that note since the OP is a newbie Im gonna give you some advice.....Too lazy to go look and see what his username is.

IF POSSIBLE, dont even worry about your doors. Back the truck into the door you need, get it nice and lined up, and then pull straight out, enough to be able to open the doors. Like I said, do this if its possible. Many times it is not. It will be possible anytime there is enough room directly in front of the door you are going to to pull straight forward and have your trailer clear the trailers/walls/fender killer poles by about 5 feet to have room to open the doors.

This makes it easier, especially when its tight, for a newbie because you wont have to worry about backing at an angle and clearing your open doors.....You will just be backing the regular box. Seen a couple newbies tear swing doors off, surprisingly most carriers dont really like that.

 

Funny thread, but I bought a toy truck when I was in school too. You'd be amazed at what tends to "click" when you are setting it up for backing exercises. Instructor at ASD in Fontana suggested it, we all thought it was insane, then we tried it and realized he was on to something.

 

Some people are visual learners and I can see where this would work. especially with some loud mouthed trainers that thinking yelling it louder will make you understand it better

 

I've been driving a truck for 23 years, ought my nephew a remote control semi a couple of years ago, It was 2 to 2 1/2 feet in length, tried to back it up in a little cource my nephew set up, and man!, I had a very hard time, it's not no where near the same as being in a real semi

 

Crap, I thought this was a thread about someone with a new Volvo.