Double L Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I did my first solo back up with a daycab and 53 ft trailer. I got her in with only ONE pull up. I feel so proud and confident of myself I rather just get a truck and go for the road test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I did my first solo back up with a daycab and 53 ft trailer. I got her in with only ONE pull up. I feel so proud and confident of myself I rather just get a truck and go for the road test.Actually, 53 footers are easy....ESPECIALLY behind short wheelbase tractors. Shorter trailers with longer tractors make things a little more interesting. When ya get good, you'll be able to back a trailer off a 2-lane road into a 1-lane driveway in high-reverse at full throttle. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double L Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Actually, 53 footers are easy....ESPECIALLY behind short wheelbase tractors. Shorter trailers with longer tractors make things a little more interesting. When ya get good, you'll be able to back a trailer off a 2-lane road into a 1-lane driveway in high-reverse at full throttle. That is true, that totally slipped my mind but I had fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 That is true, that totally slipped my mind but I had fun.And when ya get to the point where you could practically back up in your sleep, you'll be backing off a 2-lane road into a 1-lane driveway in high-reverse at full throttle after a 1-day round trip that shouldda taken ya 3 days to complete Then ya get 2 days off at home while your truck catches up to ya Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lmackattack Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Good job 53' trailers back easy but the blind spots can be a PITA.and yes a backing a long tractor with a short trailer is no fun ....even when your good LOL!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Good job 53' trailers back easy but the blind spots can be a PITA.and yes a backing a long tractor with a short trailer is no fun ....even when your good LOL!!!I have enough "fun" with my 240" WB tractor and 39' trailer. I could turn the wheel full lock in either direction and drive around in circles and never get the trailer to pivot on it's axles. A 28' trailer would absolutely suck behind my truck. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double L Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 The worst part about it all was my left leg was shaking when it was all said and done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambi80 Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I have enough "fun" with my 240" WB tractor and 39' trailer. I could turn the wheel full lock in either direction and drive around in circles and never get the trailer to pivot on it's axles. A 28' trailer would absolutely suck behind my truck. I'll see your 28 footer and raise you my 23 footer. When you know you have the hang of it is when you jump in a dump truck/tandem/whatever and when you're backing up you turn the wrong way, as if you're still backing up with a trailer. I've hit stuff doing that. Quote Ever wonder how a blind person knows when to stop wiping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 The worst part about it all was my left leg was shaking when it was all said and done.I'm sure the clutch felt the same way Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Im new to the site,just starting out? backing is probably the hardest thing to master,just stick with it,keep your patience,watch what you're doing and REMEMBER no one was born knowing how to drive a truck! its important to get out and look!...i have been driving for almost 30 years,and i still do!...believe me,if its something you WANT to do,it gets easier with time and practice!.....best of luck,mark Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Im new to the site,just starting out? backing is probably the hardest thing to master,just stick with it,keep your patience,watch what you're doing and REMEMBER no one was born knowing how to drive a truck! its important to get out and look!...i have been driving for almost 30 years,and i still do!...believe me,if its something you WANT to do,it gets easier with time and practice!.....best of luck,markHell, I may as well have been. Grandpa taught me how to back a trailer as soon as I could reach the pedal on the lawn tractor...been doing it without any trouble ever since. The thing to remember whenever you are hooked to a trailer is that you are NOT driving the truck pulling the trailer. You are driving the trailer, and the truck is just the steer tires. Visualize where you want the trailer to go, then put it there.If ya really want a challenge, though, you oughtta try driving wreckers. Hook a car from the rear that has it's front tires turned in either direction. Yeah, it'll be dog-walking behind you all the way back to the yard. Now back it into the space ya need it to be in 'til the owner comes to claim it. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I'll see your 28 footer and raise you my 23 footer. When you know you have the hang of it is when you jump in a dump truck/tandem/whatever and when you're backing up you turn the wrong way, as if you're still backing up with a trailer. I've hit stuff doing that.I had that problem when I first started driving school buses. I didn't hit anything, though... Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Hell, I may as well have been. Grandpa taught me how to back a trailer as soon as I could reach the pedal on the lawn tractor...been doing it without any trouble ever since. The thing to remember whenever you are hooked to a trailer is that you are NOT driving the truck pulling the trailer. You are driving the trailer, and the truck is just the steer tires. Visualize where you want the trailer to go, then put it there.If ya really want a challenge, though, you oughtta try driving wreckers. Hook a car from the rear that has it's front tires turned in either direction. Yeah, it'll be dog-walking behind you all the way back to the yard. Now back it into the space ya need it to be in 'til the owner comes to claim it. Sure know what you mean! my grandfather and father taught me too! but i have to say, (not because he was my dad) but my old man was the backinst'up S.O.B i have ever seen! lol! Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lmackattack Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I consider my self good at driving and better than most backing up. But the best guy I have seen backing up was this old guy named Don. he was in his late 50s and always a live wire. to much caffine? drugs? I dont know. He was one of the drivers that helped me get my licence and while teaching me the correct way to drive 99% of the time, once a week he had to show me some new "trick". He drove a 87 mack with a air shift 7 speed. would always back up in 4th and could get that 22' end dump trailer in any spot in his first try. (2nd try if he saw a hot chick walking across the street) Seen him do front wheel stands at a stop light. drive thru any soft muddy wet ground and make it look like he was on dry pavement. dump a load in spots you would think he should have gone over... talk his way out of a ticket. have 10k more of a load in his trailer but walk you from every stop light... you name it he could out do you. Not a guy anyone would really want in your truck but he was good at what he did and a pro at backing. And even with all the abuse he put the trucks thru he never tore stuff up like the others did..always wondered how he did it LOL!!!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterj Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 (edited) I was sitting at a truckstop in ND, watching the 30 day wonders backing in. A few got backed in after many trys. most gave up and found a pull though or parked in the driveway.... A canadian came in.. looped around, and backed in ,pulling up once...,BTW... the canadian was pullig a B train.... Edited April 10, 2010 by peterj Quote peterjhttp://forums.aths.org/Instantforum2010/topic72786.aspx57 mack h67 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK Trucking Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Some days I could thread a needle with a RGN or dump trailer, and some days it just ain't happening!. Quote "If You Can't Shift It Smoothly, You Shouldn't Be Driving It" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Some days I could thread a needle with a RGN or dump trailer, and some days it just ain't happening!.I know the feeling-some days I ain't too good at going forward, much less backing up. Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I was sitting at a truckstop in ND, watching the 30 day wonders backing in. A few got backed in after many trys. most gave up and found a pull though or parked in the driveway.... A canadian came in.. looped around, and backed in ,pulling up once...,BTW... the canadian was pullig a B train....Man i'm amazed at some of the foolishness i see on a daily basis on the road anymore! I think there are as many idiots in trucks as cars these days,thats a sad state of affairs! Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vision386 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I know the feeling-some days I ain't too good at going forward, much less backing up.Man i know that feeling! lol! seems somedays i can hit the worst blindside dock in one shot,but give me a wide open dock with lines painted on the ground and i can't get straight to save my ass! Quote Mack Truck literate. Computer illiterate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double L Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 For some reason driving a 18 wheeler comes natural to me. All I got is a permit. I may end up saying screw the trucking school and going to get a truck and that the road test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Man i'm amazed at some of the foolishness i see on a daily basis on the road anymore! I think there are as many idiots in trucks as cars these days,thats a sad state of affairs!Just remember...everyone who starts driving truck has been an idiot driving a car for several years prior...and a good size chunk of them failed at prior careers (if they even had a job) before climbing into a truck. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambi80 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Man i know that feeling! lol! seems somedays i can hit the worst blindside dock in one shot,but give me a wide open dock with lines painted on the ground and i can't get straight to save my ass!Wouldn't it save your ass if you were though...? Quote Ever wonder how a blind person knows when to stop wiping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambi80 Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I had that problem when I first started driving school buses. I didn't hit anything, though... Still can't see you driving a school bus. Where'd you put the gun rack?All the bus drivers with the exception of one, bore a very close resemblance in all respects to Roseanne. Quote Ever wonder how a blind person knows when to stop wiping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK Trucking Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Wouldn't it save your ass if you were though...?Reminds me of that old joke:Whats the first sign of AIDS?Severe pounding in the rear.. Quote "If You Can't Shift It Smoothly, You Shouldn't Be Driving It" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Still can't see you driving a school bus. Where'd you put the gun rack?All the bus drivers with the exception of one, bore a very close resemblance in all respects to Roseanne.I did it for a semester...worked out great, because I could drive a morning route, go to class, drive an afternoon route, then go to my regular part time job. Extra $125/week. On the nights I wasn't working my other job, I would pick up routes in the city bus. I have every endorsement on my license...and the only restriction is a J12. Only vehicle I can't legally drive on the road is a combination bus, 'cuz the passenger endorsement is only good up through a class B. I need to find a passenger vehicle and a 10K+ GWR trailer to pull behind it and go get that restriction removed... Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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