Backing

[Bring Back Imus]

Hi Everybody! Can anyone give me any hints with backing for the test? It's the backing into a row of cones spaced 12 feet apart, from a 90, that has me worried.

[NHHunter]

90* alley dock? is that what your trying to do?

[Bring Back Imus]

That's the one.

[NHHunter]

Maybe this will help? Its hard to really explain, some days I can do it with 1 pull up sometimes a dozen

[jimjim]

Tip # 1, don't run over the cones
#2, take your foot off the accelerator
#3, have the mirrors set so you can see the rear of the trailer
#4, roll past the cones about 20 feet, truck in nuetral, parking brake on, flashers on, G.et O.ut A.nd L.ook
#5, make sure the truck and trailer are straight with each other
#6, with the wheels straight, place your hand on the wheel at 12:00
#7, turn the wheel clockwise until your hand is at 9:00 or 10:00
#8, LEAVE IT THERE! and start your back
#9, watch your trailer tires. get them as close to the cones as possible
#10, when the trailer starts to come around, slowly turn the wheels back to the left. When it gets into the cone lane bring the tractor back around in front of the trailer and turn your 90degree back into a straight back. If you get to the point that the trailer tires are going to run over the cones, stop and pull up. Use as many pull-ups as you need(if allowable)
#11 Take your time and you'll do fine

OR...

Turn on the CB and ask for help!! That always seems to work

[Bring Back Imus]

Thanks for all the advice but you lost me at "turn your hand to the 9 or 10 o'clock position". Do you mean 2 or 3? Im needing to back my trailer to the left so I need to turn my steering wheel to the right,, right?? We're all going to be confused by the end of this one!!!!

[jimjim]

Yes turn it to the right, almost a full turn or as I said to 9:00

[Bring Back Imus]

OH - DUHHH! I wasn't thinking straight when I read it. I'm going to print this out and next time I get to practice I'll have it with me. THANKS!!!!!!

[NHHunter]

Oops i forgot the link!
http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles...ng/Backing.htm

[jimjim]

It's kind'a like that movie "Wax On!, Wax Off!

Backing is something that you just have to get good at.....but it seems like just when you think you got it down....you end up getting sent someplace that it's next to impossible to get the trailer in the hole!

Practice, practice, and more practice!

[Bring Back Imus]

Thanks NHHunter! This one is helpful too. 'Can't wait to get back out there and practice. Now it'll be to get my nerves under control for the test.

[jimjim]

Go to a warehouse and watch the yard-jock's do it. :shock: Memorize everything they do and keep it in your "memory bank". Except you'll have to SLOW it down to atleast to a crawl! Them guys crack me up!

[golfhobo]

I agree with MOST of what JimJim said EXCEPT the part about rolling your tandems 20 feet past the cones (or nose of a tractor if in a truckstop.)

First, I NEVER attempt a 90 degree jack, if I can set up for a 45 degree one.

Second, the space between two trucks is usually about 5 feet wider than your trailer. Ttherefore, your tandems should be no more than 2 feet past the nose of the tractor... or cone. (in the case of a 45 degree back, they can be EXACTLY right off his bumper corner, but this takes LESS jack, and more UNJACK.)

IF you can track your tandems around the nose of the tractor, or cone, within two feet.... you shouldn't even NEED to G.O.A.L.... although, I don't say you shouldn't DO SO as a newbie! (and WATCH out for his mirrors!)

Fact is, what takes MOST new drivers 20 minutes to do, is because they don't realize that, IF you are "tight" to the truck on your left side..... it is IMPOSSIBLE to hit the one on your BLIND side! You'll have 3 or 4 feet of clearance on the blind side.

[the OTHER problem is.... fearing the blindside so much that you get TOO close to the nose, and have to pull up 15 times just to move the tandems a few more feet away! see next.]

Now, another... related... mistake is getting TOO close to the truck/cone on your sight side. This gives you NO ROOM to straighten out, as it is a common situation that you will wait TOO LATE to turn "out of" your JACK!

I'm sorry, but 20 feet into the "lane" will hit the blindside truck every time. [I can't help but believe JIMJIM made a typo and meant 2 feet, not 20 feet!]

Set yourself up as JIMJIM suggested (if it MUST be a 90 degree jack.) But only 2 or 3 feet past the cone/nose. Then crank the wheel as far as needed to make the trailer jack without moving the tandems (or in the case of a 45 degree back, move them a bit PAST his bumper and into YOUR lane.)

AS SOON as it starts to jack into the "lane," start turning your steering wheel (to the left) to lessen the jack. If you go too far, it only takes a minor correction to once again increase the jack.

You will ALWAYS need to "unjack" at least two feet (5 seconds) before you THINK you need to! Learn to be AHEAD of the game! I cannot stress this enough!!

G.O.A. L. if you NEED to..... but if you keep your trailer close to the truck on your sight side, and UNJACK early enough, there is NO WAY you will hit the truck on your blind side! (Unjacking TOO late, can cause the right FRONT of your trailer, or your tractor, to hit the blindside tractor!)

[Possible exception is tandems all the way forward, and too much "trailer swing" behind them.]

Here's the way I "teach" it. START in a spot between two trucks. When you pull forward far enough for your tandems to clear the nose, and you are turning to avoid the trucks in front of you.... STOP! GOAL, if necessary, but I prefer you look in your mirrors and SEE where you ARE, and your ANGLE to the slot! This is where you should be when backing INTO the slot!

So, when positioning to make the back.... be in a position with your tandems JUST outside the nose, and leave yourself enough room in front of the other line of trucks to jack as necessary!

This, of course, is more of a 45 degree back and not a 90 degree! This is what you will find in MOST truckstops or docks.

A 90 degree simply requires that the cab be CLOSER to the line of trucks you are jacking around, the severity of the jack be more, AND the lead time for UNJACKING be SOONER!

Remember, the tighter the jack, the SOONER you need to correct OUT of it! (and the more room necessary in front of your cab!)

And something that MANY have said.... remember you are using the tractor to PUSH the trailer into the slot. And I would add.... DON'T forget to watch the right side of the tractor!!! THIS is more likely to hit something than the trailer is! If not carefull, the cab will act like the head of a snake!! Because you will be MORE concerned with the position of the trailer than you are that of the tractor!

Simple, isn't it??

[Miloh]

All this stuff is good info but I did not hear this. always remember if your hand is at 12 oclock remember to push the wheel twards the mirror you want to fill up with trailor. if you push the top of the wheel to the left the trailor will fill up the left mirror and vise versa.

Miloh.

[golfhobo]

All this stuff is good info but I did not hear this. always remember if your hand is at 12 oclock remember to push the wheel twards the mirror you want to fill up with trailor. if you push the top of the wheel to the left the trailor will fill up the left mirror and vise versa.

Miloh.

Hmm.... I could be confused..... but I THINK you've got that backwards. Turning the steering wheel to the left is "unjacking," and will move the tail of the trailer AWAY from the left or sight side. I don't usually think in terms of the mirrors, but I believe this would make it disappear from the left mirror.

[Miloh]

I'm sure your right. It's been a while I knew it was one way or the other. Sorry if I got it backwards.

Miloh.

[Mad Fatboy]

It should be placing your hand at the 6 O'clock or bottom of the steering wheel and moving it in the direction that you want the trailer to move.

Mad Fatboy

[BiGG T33]

if you take the test (michigan) and you GOAL you fail instantly....

[Uturn2001]

if you take the test (michigan) and you GOAL you fail instantly....

Which is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Not doubting you, just saying that it is stupid to fail someone for trying to be safe.

When I took my skills test here in IL you could get out and look 1 time without being penalized any points. I don't recall the exact amount, but each time after that and you lost points and could potentially fail the backing test.

[Mad Fatboy]

if you take the test (michigan) and you GOAL you fail instantly....

Which is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Not doubting you, just saying that it is stupid to fail someone for trying to be safe.

When I took my skills test here in IL you could get out and look 1 time without being penalized any points. I don't recall the exact amount, but each time after that and you lost points and could potentially fail the backing test.

If this is correct then someone has their head up their AZZ in Michigan.

If in doubt, get out!!!

Mad Fatboy