Is making turns the same as in a 4 wheeler or do you come to a "dead" stop?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by mcmanly, Jul 5, 2014.

  1. mcmanly

    mcmanly Light Load Member

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    In a four wheeler once I get used to the car I can usally keep cruising on through turns but I feel like in a truck it would be a slow and painful process where I'd need to come to a near stop (~5mph) to actually get the turn done
     
  2. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    Yes. You must stop completely and count to 10 Mississippi.
     
  3. sherlock510

    sherlock510 Road Train Member

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    Depends if you're a good shifter or not.
    Cruising at 45 then come up to a turn, downshift to fifth then turn.
    When I first started that was kind of difficult for me.

    Unless "no turn on red" or it isn't safe, ya shouldn't have to come to a stop to turn.
     
  4. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    If it's a red light you need to stop, always. If turn on red is allowed you can turn after you stop.
     
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  5. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    Yeah, you won't get away with making an intersection turn at 25mph. :)
     
  6. razor1983

    razor1983 Medium Load Member

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    I suggest you attend the swift school of truck driving where they will teach you what S.W.I.F.T is an acronym for. After that they teach you appropriate speed for negotiating turns.
     
  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    turning. it comes with practice and experience. and those things take time to learn.
     
  8. NewNashGuy

    NewNashGuy Road Train Member

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    Be sure to accelerate and turn the wheel very quickly through your turns.
     
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  9. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    It's not painful but just a different type of driving. Just like any type of equipment operator you learn your machine. You are dragging a 53' trailer behind you. You have to take your turns wider to allow for the trailer tracking or you run over all kinds of stuff. Then you have to consider your freight as it will increase your center of gravity. You don't want to be throwing excess sideward G's or you lay her over. So you take a turn at a safe speed for what you are driving. A short heavy truck like a cement mixer or a roll off with a compactor will flip quicker than anything because the weight is high and concentrated.

    It's nothing to be scared of. You get taught, learn and execute. The first thing you do is forget about how you hotdog in a 4 wheeler. An 18 wheeler is not a toy. It's your tool to make money. You develop new good habits to remain safe. Play with bad habits and eventually it catches up with you.
     
  10. littleduck

    littleduck Light Load Member

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    S.W.I.F.T SWING WIDE ITS A FREAKING TRAILER, lol
     
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