Spent all day parallel parking ,still not getting it .

Are you in truck driving school where you have cones OR are you talking about real on-road scenarios?

How I was taught in school was to cut the wheel to the left until you see the 2nd triangle of the landing gear frame in your mirror. You only want to see just a small portion of this triangle. If you're too far back than that suggests you didn't cut it too far to begin with you need more of an angle.

**Note: Turn the wheel as appropriate depending on which side you're trying to parallel park on.**

 

Sounds like it will take another day or two. Keep practicing, try the different turn times, it takes practice.Besides the timing of the turn, the amount of wheel turn is crucial. Perhaps find a toy truck and watch it as you push it backwards.
You can do it, takes practice. It will finally click, and you will be fine.

 

I know it sounds stupid, but if you find yourself having problems maneuvering just go to a toy store and buy you a tractor-trailer. The problem you are having is that you aren't working the geometry out in your head correctly. Using a toy truck and looking down at it from the top as you try to parallel park it will give you an idea on what to be doing. If you can park it without making the steer tires slide sideways in the process you know you have the correct way to do it that can be applied to the big truck. This will work with your alley dock too. Truck driving is physics and geometry my friend and once you've figured it out your job becomes much easier.

 

Maybe some of these might be of some help

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=parallel+park+trailer

 

Without seeing you it is hard to tell where your problem lies but from your question it sounds like you may be making a very common error for new drivers. Over Steering. Keep the angle between the tractor and the trailer as shallow as possible. It just takes a small angle to start the trailer drifting into the spot then you can straighten back up and about halfway in start back the other way. If someone is trying to teach you to back into a tight spot you might ask them to give you some more room until you get the hang of it. Good luck. Be patient and you will get it.

 

just imagine the truck the truck behind you is a dock at an off set angle and you have to be square on it, just don't bump the dock

 

I'll 2nd getting a toy truck. It also wouldn't hurt to get a video game and practice with a top-down view.

The objective is to get a prospective of how the truck and trailer responds to wheel input in relation to the space you're backing into.

 

Nearly 12 years later and I still probably wouldnt hit it with two pullups. Out in the real world you can adjust and pull up as many times as you need to though.

 

I have not gotten that far in school yet but have given it a try with my 21ft car trailer just trying to get it close to a curb.
I like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM_pIOApuuE and going to see how it works out in school.
I hear stories from students that the field teachers don't always help too good when you are having issues.

Now we have gone out to the field a few times with the class room teacher and he has given us clues and one of them for the parallel parking was not to stop moving wile turning the steer wheels. He told us if you stop then turn the wheel then move it takes about 8ft before the tractor will start to make the trailer move as you need it to. BTW the teacher made it look so easy in 1 shot I plan to do the same when the time comes to do so.

Good luck on your parking
Dave ----