So today was my first lesson. Although i have a lot to get my head round i have learnt alot. My instructor must have the paitants of a saint with my stupidity.
We started off doing the couple procedure with all the bits we have to check on the trailer come back so far and check its all in line then drop susspention reverse back to the next point then raise susspention then finaly hook up and tug test then (k)calb then lower susspention to road height and lastly light check on the trailer. Then came the uncloupling procedure which is obviously the reverse.
We did that a couple of times each then we had the rest of the morning and the majority of the afternoon on the reversing pad. I think i have the basics down and which way to turn the wheel however i keep second guessing myself and changing my mind. then screwing it right up. I think the issue is that if im seeing the left hand shoulder in the left hand mirror i put right hand down/left hand up but i always seem to end up getting more of the left hand shoulder before it goes away so my dumb brain thinks i have turned the wrong way so i start spinning the wheel round the other way and before i know it i have lost all track of the trailer and where the unit is and wheels are.
The other issue i had was i would put a certain amount of lock on then when i wanted to take it off to go back in a straight line i would only take off the same amount so the wheels of the unit was straight but the unit wasnt square to the trailor.
Then for the last hour or so we went out on the road and did a few rounderbouts and “moving offs” just to give us an idea of how the trailor behaves on the road. I kept getting told off for palming the wheel and lazy mirror work.
all in all a day that i feel i have learnt and achived at. Yes lots of improvment needed but rome wasnt built in a day.
The only advice I can give about reversing is to put both hands at the bottom of the steering wheel, decide which way you want the trailer to go and lift (turn) that hand.
Then when you want to straighten up, whichever mirror the trailer is in, pull that hand down.
“I think the issue is that if im seeing the left hand shoulder in the left hand mirror i put right hand down/left hand up”
I think your problem is that’s not how to straighten up.
With reversing it’s all about the position you start from and not oversteering. I still do it now after 10+ years!
wheni say more trailer in one mirror i mean the headboard/trailer shoulders
The good news is, eventually you get muscle memory and don’t even have to think about it.
Right now though, it’s just practice.
Regarding the reverse for the test, I have never done a reverse like that since passing my test 35yrs ago.
A more realistic reverse would be to approach a coned bay on your righthand side, pull past and drop it in. That is the type of reverse we do 99% of the time, we can leave trick reversing for the days when life is not going well.
Todays lesson started off with a drive down the m2 to get some go go juice. I drove on the way there and the other student drove on the way back then straight out onto the reversing pad. Here all kinds of unholy hell broke loose. i could get the first bit right and get myself straight with the b cone visable but just didnt seem to be able to kink the trailer round enough to get into the “garage” and kept nearly reversing out the area by the time the trailer was pointing at the garage. then every time i took a shunt fwd no matter how far i went forward by the time i had the lot in a straight line i was almost back on the midline and unable to see inside edge of the bay. so would try and hook the trailer towards the edge of the area then have the same issue as yesterday of covering the shoulders.
There was just time to do a couple /uncouple practice before my 3a. I did my black perfectly then had a brain ■■■■ and went to lower the susspenstion on the unit before i had pulled forward off the pin. pulled fwd droped the susspention fwd again and raise susspention pull fwd and parrelel park. Time to check the trailer before pickig it up. walked round did all my checks or so i thought pulled up in front of the trailer did mylower / reverse raise of the susspention and picked up the pin 2 tugs then kcalb all good lowered susspention to road hieght and light check all good. to be informed that i had forgoten to check the kingpin was present and undamaged on my trailer check.
11.30 came up quick and it was time for me 3a. I set myself up for the reverse and off we went nicely round the b cone then blow me could i get it anywhere near the bleeding box. Screwed it right up on the first attempt so took a shunt came back and the bloody trailer kept wandering off to the middle line again kept trying to put it right the more i tried the more it wandered. took a deap breath and thought sod it ill have another shunt (Apparently i was fine if i had just held my nerve). Pulled right along the pad and got myself squared up. back i came the right at the wrong moment i noticed a shoulder peaking and panicked and steared the wrong way. cought it but desperatly wanted to shunt but had used all my shunts so had to screw it round trying to get it into the back tight on the cones. Stoped had my confort check and saw i was still about a foot from the required stopping point so brought it back and passed that bit.
Onto the uncouple/couple Examiner said please pull foward to the 21 meter mark imust of looked confused becausehe said ill walk down there and tell you where to stop. As a conciquence i ened up the the trailer slightly out of line with the yellow line down the middle. did the uncouple of remembering to pull fwd before dropping the susspention. and paralel parked the unit. all good. time to check the trailer started at the headboard checked trailer brake, walked down the offside checking side markers and legs and tyres supprestion equipent back of the trailer check the lights are there no damage etc same up the other side. (eagal eyed readers will be thinking he’s bloody done it again) Now it was time to put the unit in front of the trailer IN LINE 5 mins later im umming and arhhing if its good enough(was told thats fine) so lower susspention back to sencond position raise susspention so the legs are off the ground. got back in the cab just about to put it in reverse to grab the pin and i remembered i hadnt checked the thing was there. so back out and check its there. yep its there and undamaged so come back pick up the pin double tug (i did three as one was a bit half hearted i thought) and do black light checks and susspention. To be greated by the examiner with a handshake and a well done you have passed!!
Time for a well deserved cig and brew while my fellow learner has his practice and 3a test which he passed as well. Then we went for a drive around sheppy concentrating on road position and lots of tight bends and meeting situations.
All in all a good day and tomorrow we can just concentrate on the driveing.
thehairyarsedtrucker:
Regarding the reverse for the test, I have never done a reverse like that since passing my test 35yrs ago.
A more realistic reverse would be to approach a coned bay on your righthand side, pull past and drop it in. That is the type of reverse we do 99% of the time, we can leave trick reversing for the days when life is not going well.
The test is as it is because it only requires an area 66m X 11m.
What you are suggesting would probably require 66m X 66m.
I don’t understand why you were taught to lower and raise suspension. I didn’t have to do any of that! One less thing to worry about, but bloody well done for passing [emoji106]
stu675:
I don’t understand why you were taught to lower and raise suspension. I didn’t have to do any of that! One less thing to worry about, but bloody well done for passing [emoji106]
Proper technique should be to raise the legs before engaging the kingpin, mainlynto make sure you don’t actually go over the top of it and miss it. It also stops any damage to them during a particularly aggressive tug test, and takes the trailer weight off them making them easier to wind up, especially if there is a decent amount of weight on the trailer.
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stu675:
thehairyarsedtrucker:
Regarding the reverse for the test, I have never done a reverse like that since passing my test 35yrs ago.
A more realistic reverse would be to approach a coned bay on your righthand side, pull past and drop it in. That is the type of reverse we do 99% of the time, we can leave trick reversing for the days when life is not going well.
The test is as it is because it only requires an area 66m X 11m.
What you are suggesting would probably require 66m X 66m.
I dont see the size of the test area to be a problem because if the space was not available at the test centre a suitable area would be available on test route somewhere.
thehairyarsedtrucker:
stu675:
thehairyarsedtrucker:
Regarding the reverse for the test, I have never done a reverse like that since passing my test 35yrs ago.
A more realistic reverse would be to approach a coned bay on your righthand side, pull past and drop it in. That is the type of reverse we do 99% of the time, we can leave trick reversing for the days when life is not going well.
The test is as it is because it only requires an area 66m X 11m.
What you are suggesting would probably require 66m X 66m.
I dont see the size of the test area to be a problem because if the space was not available at the test centre a suitable area would be available on test route somewhere.
It would have to be at a test centre or other approved site to make sure all test candidates were able to do it under the same conditions. There would be very few places on a standard test route that would offer such a space anyway, unless you’re suggesting trying to find spaces in a MSA or hoping some random company will let random vehicles in just to attempt to back onto a loading dock?
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Day 3 of my lessons. Straight out on the road today with my co-learner driving. We went round sittingbourne and did all the tight bits around there… some of it is hair raising lol. We covered most of the roads that we will be asked to take in both directions as its kinda a circular route.
Then out on to the 249 towards sheppy first layby and its my turn to drive. So i had to drive it over the new sheppy bridge (deep joy) and round the tight bits of sheppy. Some of it twice because i took the wrong turn and the instructor had to spin it round. Then the fun and games began all in abiut 1/4 of a mile. on a blind bend on a one way system i had a stand on escooter come off the offside pavement and shoot right across the front of me onto the nearside pavement. Then at the end of that particular road i was turning left but had to wait till both sides of the road i was turning into were clear to miss the railings etc and someone in a bmw decided they couldnt wait came up the outside of me (it was a 1 way street i was turning out of) and turned left across my bows just as i was about to go.
Our next turns were both our best runs. my co-learner did sheppy and i had a go at sittingbourne. Both times the instructor was able to sit back andjust give us directions on where to go and basic advice on bits we hadnt done before. However we decided we would go get a coffee and have lunch at the m2 services so came up to the 249 from sittingbourn town and i decided that it was a good idea to change my mind about going right on the rounderbout so would of thrown it all away on that onr mistake.
After lunch we bioth wanted to go back and have another practice at the sittingbourne bits which made it clear we were getting tired as we both started making silly mistakes. Then back to the center and get our instructions for tomorrow. My test is booked in for 9.30 and my co-learners is straight after.
Terry Cooksey:
thehairyarsedtrucker:
stu675:
thehairyarsedtrucker:
Regarding the reverse for the test, I have never done a reverse like that since passing my test 35yrs ago.
A more realistic reverse would be to approach a coned bay on your righthand side, pull past and drop it in. That is the type of reverse we do 99% of the time, we can leave trick reversing for the days when life is not going well.
The test is as it is because it only requires an area 66m X 11m.
What you are suggesting would probably require 66m X 66m.
I dont see the size of the test area to be a problem because if the space was not available at the test centre a suitable area would be available on test route somewhere.
It would have to be at a test centre or other approved site to make sure all test candidates were able to do it under the same conditions. There would be very few places on a standard test route that would offer such a space anyway, unless you’re suggesting trying to find spaces in a MSA or hoping some random company will let random vehicles in just to attempt to back onto a loading dock?
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Just needs to be flat and have some cones, lets not over complicate it
Sad to say i failed quite badly this morning. Just a whole string of things happened that culminated in me failing my test.
My issues started as soon as i got to the center i was nervouse. Had a quick spin around the yard as it was a different unit and trailer (3 axel unit instead of 2) 9:15 and im infront of the examiner doing the paper work and licence check etc. Went out to the vehicle while the examiner had a quick brew and used the toilet.
Examiner came out and got in and asked me a couple of quick questions then off we went. Welcome to Sittingbourne demolition darby 2022!! Straight out of the gate we turned right to be faced with cars dumped both sides of the road and people milling around in the road. Managed to deal with that turned left on the rounderbout and went along the road. Out of the corner of my eye i could already see him tapping at his tablet but tried to ignore it and just concentrate on what i was doing. We did my first and second please pull over manouver then onto the next rounderbout “please turn left” bugger my instructor told us if your on your free drive dont go down there its tight under the bridge as its arched and you have to take the middle of the road all the way out. Nevermind deep breath get on with it.
This is the start of the mayhem at the end of the road i had to turn left. I put myself on the outside lane of my line but left space for cars etc to come up the outside of me. so imediatly started telling myself off managed to pull it together and come up with a plan of attack before the lights changed. Lights go green and i deliberatly do 2 compleate mirror checks giving the cars to my right time to exit the junction. Out we go as far foward as i dare trying to nick a little of the right hand lane and round we go nearly scraping the front bumber on the middle island and watching the headboard round(ill cremate the gnat on the headboard later) only to watch the n/s trailer wheels joyously running over the curb.
at the next rounderbout i was asked to take the first exit slightly down hill so rolling the vehicle into the rounderbout and mr patiant in a 4x4 with a trailer decides he has to be infront of me overtook me and cut infront causing me to break sharply to miss the trailer as he cut infront. deep breath turn left at the rounderbout and up the hill towards faversham. Then suicidal jack decides its a brilliant idea to ride across the road oh his pushbike in front of me and behind an oncoming van. Then not happy with that manouver swerve out from behind the van and ride between us. I was so shaken and shocked i couldnt even swear properly (im a real potty mouth most days)
Carried on up to the lights and was asked to turn right desperatly trying to calm down and stop shaking. Lights went green and i turned right but still shaken from the two near misses in the last 2 minuettes i forgot my mirror checks i realised whenit was too late. The road i had turned into has parked cars and is extreemly residential. The examiner asked me to pull over on the left after the driveways. All i could see along the length of the road (as far as i could see) was driveways so i said “im sorry i dont understand where you mean” The examiners responce was by the grass between the driveways the only place i could see that i might just beable to squeeze into had parked cars oppersite and in my head i thought if i stop there i will be blocking the road. So queried the instruction again and was told dont worry we will try somewhere else. so now i have it in my head that everything is going to pot in less than 1.5 - 2 miles. came round the corner to be faced with parked cars both sides with a van at the end of the line on the n/s. As i am squeezing through i see someone step off the pavement and walk between the parked cars as if they are going to walk between the lorry and cars to get into thier car so i am watching them like a hawk. failed to realise how far i had traveled and nearly ran into the back of the van. Just saw out the corner of my eye the examiner curling up into a ball.
Needless to say i had definetaly failed at that point with whatever had gone on before hand. so will just add that from there in i think i only managed to miss 3 kerbs on the rounderbouts and the whole thing just went to pot.
Good luck for next time mate
Try not to beat yourself up - treat it as practice for next time. Also, don’t worry about the examiner tapping on his pad - there are lots of things to be input that aren’t necessarily to do with something you’ve just done. And they wait for a ‘safe’ place before taking their eyes off the road to enter stuff. So for instance, he could just be entering that he has completed a “normal stop”. He has several legal requirements to enter - it’s not all marking! So pay no attention to that bit.
If he tells you to pull up in a specific place, do it. He won’t be trying to trick you, he may need a specific requirement. If, however, he says to pull up “in a safe place” then it’s down to you to choose somewhere suitable - but there will be one in the immediate area.
Never assume you’ve failed, just drive as well as you can. I’m an ex car examiner and candidates often gave up if they thought they’d failed, when in fact, at that point, they hadn’t. You know what to expect now so hopefully you’ll nail it next time.
Unlucky mate, hopefully next time it’s a pass.