Is there a trick to keeping trailer from bumping curb?

I am still in class and luckily I haven't hit any curbs as I turn really wide but sometimes too wide for the teacher's liking. Is there a trick to know how wide to turn and to keep it wide or do you just look at the trailer and turn when you feel that it is too far away from the curb?

 

No trick, NashGuy...it's ultimately experience that will reveal that. I say that because your trailers will change (length, tandem settings i.e. distance from kingpin, etc) and all that obviously has effect on your turn radius.

It's good that you're concerned at this point about that though. Might save a lot of trailer tires and telephone poles, street signs, etc...down the road. Before you know it, you'll be sizing up McDonald's drive-thrus....

 

Experience, experience, experience. When you're driving the same truck and trailer day in and day out, you just know. The next time you make the perfect swing for your instructor, note where you are in the tractor in relation to the curb, and try to make it the same every time. If your nose is at the stripe, or whatever, always let your nose be there. In the real world, when your on your own, always swing as wide as you can without interfering with other traffic, or leaving a tempting hole for a 4 wheeler to try and pass between the curb and your trailer ( I average seeing one of these wrecks about once a year. There will be plenty of times you HAVE to run over the curb, don't do it when you don't need to. Swing wide in the real world, whatever the instructor says in class.

 

The Glockster has a very good point there about the 4-wheelers sneaking in beside you at a turn like this....and it's worth repeating for emphasis. Never let your guard down in that instance and keep an eye on that mirror to know what's behind you as you approach the turn. They WILL find a way to get between you and the curb even when you think you didn't leave enough room for it to happen.

 

Showing how smart I am......

It's called a mirror.

Seriously though. You'll have to do your turns as instructed for now. Buttonhooks. When the "real world" reality is. Take as much room as you think you need, then add 3 feet, when making a turn. Buttonhooks will still be needed throughout your career..

Generally, the 3 lane rule is an acceptable guideline .... It's going to take 3 lanes to make the turn. 2+1 or 1+2 . That doesn't give you the right of way at intersections. It's just the perception.

Tandem location will vary, and cause adjustments in turning technique also.

Experience will eventually catch up. And you'll be fine....we hope.

Real world --- all of us have made a right turn, from the left lane to the left lane at some point in time. Some city streets have been in existence for over 100 years, with buildings right up to the curb.

 

Become one with the truck grasshopper. It's one of them things where practice makes perfect.

I'd rather you go wide than hit the curb or run over a hood any day. I guess they think you'll hit something with the other end of the truck? Just like you are suppose to pinhook into the street you are turning on. Sometimes traffic won't let you and you have to pinhook before the turn. It's where school meets practicality.

 

if you are making a 90 degree right turn go straight ahead until you can look out the pass window and see all the way down the lane. this is when you start your turn. same principal applies for a left. but not all corners are 90 degrees. thats when everyones advise of experience. hate to say it but trial and error. practice makes perfect. stick with it ull get it.

 

you just have to pay attention to where your tandems are and compensate for them. there are times you cannot avoid it though. but 98% of the time you can avoid it.

 

very very true...noone can get it everytime at first. practice practice. any down time i had when i had students, i made them park all over the truck lot for a good hour or so until they finally got the bad nerves out lol.