turning with 53 ft trailers

My school uses only 53" trailers. They have trailers that are both loaded and empty so we can get an understanding of the differences involved between the 2.

 

Sorry, but this made me laugh!

For added confusion, use your air horn AND your regular steering wheel horn. Then launch some bottle rockets and roman candles for that All-American feel.

On a serious note, let us know how you're doing with your turning and driving with a 53 footer. Practice, practice, practice!

Glad to see some of you liked my first post.

 

Same here. They have some shorter ones (40-something feet and 28 foot, I think) for practicing with doubles and triples... this is so you can check out converter dollies. I think they only take students on the road with the 53' ones, though.

I wish the trailers at my school were only 53" instead of 53', too!

 

Your joking, Right?

This is why Monkeys throw there S--t at people. LOL

 

its the same concept. be in your mirror, watching whats going on back there. take as much space as you can, its really just a common sense thing and you should be able to get a feel for it pretty quick.

i trained on mostly 53's, and a lil bit of pups. doing 28s is good training as well because of how much more sensitive they are. doing forward with 53s isnt really any harder and i dont think require all that much training, but you should be able to get some practice backing them idealy. they are easier if you ask me, but still going to require a learning curve when your used to shorter.

when im delivering in urban type areas and weights allow, i have my tandems way up to get around tighter. but remember you have the tail swing with your 53's, that gets people.

so my advice with 53's is basically always take all the space you can, just on rights do not leave room for a car because those idiots WILL get in there if you leave the room. they wont teach you in school, and DO NOT do it on your tests, but you need to get used to the idea of using other lanes, including the opposing lanes. might have to get on some sidewalks too, just watch out for poles and trees haha. oh and lil old ladies.

 

That's true. 4 wheelers usually don't watch your signal... even if they do, they assume you're not turning right if you don't eat that corner with the nose of the truck. They forget that tractor trailers need more room to turn right. Even with a warning placard on the trailer doors with a PICTURE of why to sneak in on our right sides... they still do it. This is why you only leave 4-5 feet of room from the curb on your right. It pretty much eliminates any chance of a cut-off. If they still cut in... you will be fine, because you did your job and watched your mirrors... catch my drift?

 

you shouldnt be leaveing 4-5 feet....they WILL use that space (think Motorcyle). You shouldnt be more then 12 INCHES from the curb (trailer that is) you can have your tractor across all three lanes just make sure that the trailer is all the way to the right.



American Trucker

 

I learned this from someone here (don't remember who or when), but as soon as you start to turn the wheel your rear tires will start to go in that direction. I started watching and I'm getting pretty good at putting those trailer tires right where I want them to be....which is as close to the curb, or curved lines, as I can get.

 

Or a 65 ft stretch trailer with a 12 foot wide load. or a 12 foot wide with all of the overhang on the right side.

 

Everything listed above is good advice. But every one of us has screwed up an approach to a turn at some time. Sometimes you misjudged something and started to cut too soon and had to stop. Just watch your mirrors and what everyone is doing around you. Make the proper adjustments and proceed safely.