Starting with Prime on the 27th anyone else?

Also any pointers on all the backing would be helpful. Im about to stress myself out on that #### backing pad. Spent two hours out there today and yesterday and still only can do off set to the right and straight line. Wish I had done more backing out on the road. But didn't get to...don't know if it would of helped but might of made all this a bit less stressful.

 

whats your trainer saying? I haven't done the 90 alley dock yet, but if you want, I can explain the parallel in a way your guaranteed to get it in the box every time lol

 

Remember its all in hitting your markers. ill write this up for the sight side, just reverse it all and find a new marker for judging your distance.

Ok so, you want to be starting out straight, as tight to the box as you can. begin by backing the trailer until your front driver side tandem is just barely past the cone marking the start of the box. STOP here, and anytime you have to make a directional change, stop any vehicle movement.

now, turn wheel to left, begin backing to start turning the trailer in at this point, and angle your mirror down to give a clear view of your driver side drives and landing gear. keep turning until you see roughly half of your passenger side landing gear pad lined up with your rear d/s drive. STOP, lol. crank wheel hard right and get back under it. STOP.
your gonna need to find your own marker for this point in the maneuver to set you up for the rest of the maneuver. the goal is to get you front passenger side tandem just touching the box. play around with either cones or counting lines of the box off the rear pass or d/s tandems, either way figure out a point you can repeat so you don't waste a get out and look. I ave been judging the distance the d/s tandems are in the box.
how ever you do it, back straight until you have that p/s front inside tandem just touching or barely in the box. Stop. this is where you use your get out and look. make sure your p/s front inside tandem is where it should be, and if looking down the d/s side of the trailer the sight line should be between cones 2 and 3 on the back inside line. Get back in the truck, turn the wheel to the left and start bringin the tractor into the box. soon as the driver side front drive touches the box, stop, wheel to the right, and start getting back under it . watch the inside line to make sure you don't break the plane with drives, and watch the back. hint, the 2nd inside cone by the tractor, don't let the mid point of the steers past that and youll never hit the back "wall". use your pull ups here if necessary to get it as perfect as you want, and to be safe, use your 2nd and final get out to make sure all parts of the truck and trailer are in the box.

It sounds like a lot, but its honestly 4 movements by the tractor. its simple, and don't be afraid of it. Im heading out at 5am if you or anyone else needs help and your trainers slackin lol.

 

and I may have the steering wheel directions reversed lol, just turn the wheel in the direction you need to get the desired result, im tired lmao

 

Thank you I appreciate it

 

Most folks over steer... too much turn of the wheel to get it done. When you're starting a manuever with the steers straight, put your hand at the 6-o'clock position, and only turn the wheel to the 9 or 3-o'clock position to start a backing turn. See how that does by looking at how the tandems are changing position before turning the wheel more. Don't look at the back of the trailer to judge where the trailer is going.

 

GOt it today. I was oversteering, overthinking and my instructor was also having a hard time explaining it to me so I could understand. Got it now, so no worries, thank you guys.

 

I'm officially official lol. Pulled the trifecta this morning! Headed back to Ohio to get my license switched and see the kids, then start tnt probably Tuesday. Good luck guys and mandi lol, all I can say is dont over think the backing and on road, and be prepared on the pre trip to answer questions.

 

Well I pointed out just as I got into the stall for my last backing maneuver...just couldn't get the front corner of the trailer into the parallel parking stall. Literally just a 1/2 inch over but enough to not be able to wiggle it. So back to test tomorrow. Pretty sure I have it. Think today was mostly nerves. Also switching trainers for TNT. Had a rough couple weeks with my trainer. I will say take more time with your trainer before you go on the road. Funny how after about a week some of them start acting different...(think honeymoon phase). Was on the backing pad with a different trainer the past two days.

 

gotta be calm. Ive been here a week myself.