I’m taking my c+e test on 11th jan but with wagon and drag. How much difference is there between artic and wagon and drag as I’ve been offered a job if I pass driving a artic and tramping?
Markhlm:
I’m taking my c+e test on 11th jan but with wagon and drag. How much difference is there between artic and wagon and drag as I’ve been offered a job if I pass driving a artic and tramping?
They do act differently but the principals are the same
It is recommended that you do say half a day on artics after doing it all in W&D
ROG:
Markhlm:
I’m taking my c+e test on 11th jan but with wagon and drag. How much difference is there between artic and wagon and drag as I’ve been offered a job if I pass driving a artic and tramping?They do act differently but the principals are the same
It is recommended that you do say half a day on artics after doing it all in W&D
+1.
I passed on WnD and did 4 hours on Artic.
Got into a few different Artic setups since without a problem.
No matter which you pass with there will still be first timer nerves.
Best of luck with your training.
basically, an artic is easier to reverse due to the longer trailer, but the W&D is better going forwards, as the trailer will follow the prime mover line more
Wagon n drag is easier to reverse unless it’s an A frame (front steering axle)
I passed in an artic and then did artic work for a few months and then did wagon and drag (draw-bar) work for a few months and had no problem jumping between them.
Also done a-frame, but that’s a completely different kettle of fish and the 1st day of trying to put that git on a bay was hilarious and tiring in equal measure, but god I loved it going forwards - well, would’ve done if the engine had more power than a skateboard being pushed by a lame asthmatic 
Just out of interest … Has the length of a wagon and drag increased since I left the UK in 2000 ? … I only ask because my last job for the 3 years before leaving involved me driving a Scania rigid with an exhibition/ hospitality unit trailer that was 65ft long, the limit at the time was 60ft but I was exempt due to the exhibition status of the vehicle. I will point out that I enjoyed driving that truck far better than any artic either before or after.
(Probably because it involved a couple of days driving, a day setting the show up and 3-6 days getting drunk and partying on full pay LOL).
Still 18.5 meters what ever that is in feet. A lot have that extending coupling set up so it can be almost touching in a straight line to get maximum body length.
kr79:
Still 18.5 meters what ever that is in feet. A lot have that extending coupling set up so it can be almost touching in a straight line to get maximum body length.
I’ve noticed how close they run sometimes, how does that extending coupling set up then, does it just push the trailer back as the unit turns?
I think most driving schools use wag & drag outfits these days - partly because of the costs and partly because it is seen as easier.
On the three occasions that I have taken a new driver to teach them on an artic, two had no problems but one had trouble not clipping kerbs.
They all had to be shown how to couple and uncouple, how the gears on the landing legs worked, and only needed a little practice on reversing. All three were only used to a straight six-speed gearbox so that was perhaps the hardest thing to get used to. Most trucks are auto’s now but the driving schools aren’t because you want a full manual licence. Get someone to show you how to use an auto box - it is very different, but a lot easier.
Remember - take your time, don’t be embarrassed to get out and look if you aren’t sure where the trailer is going, and always ask if you don’t know what you are supposed to do. Oh - and take good care of the paperwork.
Hello Markhlm generally the W&D is an easier vehicle to handle going both forwards and backwards unless of course it is an A frame trailer.
Of course it depends on the type of trailer but the more axles the slower the trailer will react which in turn will give you more time to steer and control it.
Most W&D trailers will have two axles and as the bending point is far further back than an artic it is easier to see exactly what is happening.Also there are less blind spots when driving and reversing.
Good luck with your training and test.Always better to have a little training on an artic if you pass on W&D but if you cannot just take your time and get the feel for it as it will feel quite strange after what you have driven.Try to get a wide open space and practice some reversing.It’s not hard,just like anything else,a little practice and you will be fine.
Its quite funny to watch someone who drives an artic to try and reverse a draw bar as they do the lock to lock when they really only need to make minimum steering wheel movements.
i passed my class 1 in a waggon n drag, i really enjoyed it. It was a flat bed so good visibility allround, i dont think they use flat beds anymore, isnt it boxes now■■? anyway i worked at panic link in the 90’s as a loader/drivers mate and they had waggon n drags with aframe steers at the front of the drags, i dothed my cap to the lads who could reverse them and i must admit having a go there was a couple of drivers who would let me have a go at reversing them, great fun 
tango boy:
i passed my class 1 in a waggon n drag, i really enjoyed it. It was a flat bed so good visibility allround, i dont think they use flat beds anymore, isnt it boxes now■■?
Basically yes
tango boy:
i passed my class 1 in a waggon n drag, i really enjoyed it. It was a flat bed so good visibility allround, i dont think they use flat beds anymore, isnt it boxes now■■? anyway i worked at panic link in the 90’s as a loader/drivers mate and they had waggon n drags with aframe steers at the front of the drags, i dothed my cap to the lads who could reverse them and i must admit having a go there was a couple of drivers who would let me have a go at reversing them, great fun
Yes tangoboy it used to be all flatbeds and straight gearboxes till the regs changed back in about 04 I think.We used to train the military on artics until they realised that the W&D was far better for the test hence the pass rate then went up!
I also drove aircraft refuelling tankers which were W&D with an A frame trailer.Enjoyed reversing them but you had to be on the ball to keep the trailer under control.Everything was designed so no actual reversing was needed but nice to have a little play now and again.
albion1971:
tango boy:
i passed my class 1 in a waggon n drag, i really enjoyed it. It was a flat bed so good visibility allround, i dont think they use flat beds anymore, isnt it boxes now■■? anyway i worked at panic link in the 90’s as a loader/drivers mate and they had waggon n drags with aframe steers at the front of the drags, i dothed my cap to the lads who could reverse them and i must admit having a go there was a couple of drivers who would let me have a go at reversing them, great funYes tangoboy it used to be all flatbeds and straight gearboxes till the regs changed back in about 04 I think.We used to train the military on artics until they realised that the W&D was far better for the test hence the pass rate then went up!
I also drove aircraft refuelling tankers which were W&D with an A frame trailer.Enjoyed reversing them but you had to be on the ball to keep the trailer under control.Everything was designed so no actual reversing was needed but nice to have a little play now and again.
i just scraped through then cos i passed my class 1 in 06 in a merc flat bed and drag, 6 gears, same truck as my class 2 in 03, with john orpwood, good man.
tango boy:
albion1971:
tango boy:
i passed my class 1 in a waggon n drag, i really enjoyed it. It was a flat bed so good visibility allround, i dont think they use flat beds anymore, isnt it boxes now■■? anyway i worked at panic link in the 90’s as a loader/drivers mate and they had waggon n drags with aframe steers at the front of the drags, i dothed my cap to the lads who could reverse them and i must admit having a go there was a couple of drivers who would let me have a go at reversing them, great funYes tangoboy it used to be all flatbeds and straight gearboxes till the regs changed back in about 04 I think.We used to train the military on artics until they realised that the W&D was far better for the test hence the pass rate then went up!
I also drove aircraft refuelling tankers which were W&D with an A frame trailer.Enjoyed reversing them but you had to be on the ball to keep the trailer under control.Everything was designed so no actual reversing was needed but nice to have a little play now and again.i just scraped through then cos i passed my class 1 in 06 in a merc flat bed and drag, 6 gears, same truck as my class 2 in 03, with john orpwood, good man.
Ah ok maybe got my dates mixed up but actually thinking about it that was probably the year we got the new vehicles rather than the date it was implemented.