switchlogic:
trevHCS:
but one thing to add is double deckers turn much quicker than std 3 axle trailers. Can confuse when switching from one to another.
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Do they? Why? The only thing to affect how a trailer reverses is axle position and spacing. If a triaxle double decker has same spacing and position of axles as a standard trailer it’ll reverse the same
Is that true though? Our double-deckers have smaller diameter wheels, which results in a relatively short, wide contact patch (though more of them, as ours have twin wheels in order to carry the same weight). It seems quite plausible to me that they won’t behave in exactly the same way as a “conventional” tri-axle trailer?
Conor:
Definitely not full lock or even close to it unless you’re in a really tight spot.
What you have to do and what you’re not doing is giving the trailer time to react to steering input before you’re adding more. You need to put a bit of lock on, start going back slowly, give it several feet so the trailer gets time to start to turn and you can see how much its turning by then add more lock to speed up its rate of turn or take more off to slow it down.
100% of the time the success of a reversing manouvre is decided before you’ve even put it in reverse by the position you start from. Lets assume you’re reversing on a bay to your right. As you’re driving parallel to the bays and come to yours, swing in right to it then back out wide to the left and then turn right. You’re trying to end up with the back fo the trailer just past the bay but pointing towards it and your cab parallel with the building. You can then start by reversing with the steering straight and as the trailer starts to turn more you put more right lock on.
Your wasted as a driver,you should be an artist 
Once you’ve honed your reversing skills to a high enough level you can then enter the yearly competition for driver of the year…
switchlogic:
Rob K:
sammym:
I did my first artic shift yesterday. Going forward is fine. Backwards is another matter entirely. Reversed into a very wide side road, and was totally on the pavement. I have watched youtube videos and am having another go tonight. Got a few hours dossing in the yard at start of shift. So I’m gonna find an unused trailer and have a practise.
I’m used to using full lock with rigids. But I think that this is too much for an artic. I know it depends on the reverse. But generally how many turns?
My problem is that the trailer gets away from me than it’s a real mess. I’m a bit dangerous at the moment - but want to get better.
(I was meant to get training from company - but then another driver got ill and then it’s ‘sam here is keys to double deckers crack on’. And I really don’t wanna kill anyone or damage anything. I don’t need to be like a shunter reversing god - but currently I can’t get it through the biggest gap and it’s worrying.
There is no answer to “how many turns” as there are a million different variables. No-one can tell you what to do, it will only come together with practice, but suffice to say using full lock when reversing a trailer is the best way to check that you’ve closed your back doors without leaving your seat.
Rob K?! I had to look at the date then as I thought it was a years old post but NO! He doth returneth
We just need KW to come back now.
the maoster:
Once you’ve honed your reversing skills to a high enough level you can then enter the yearly competition for driver of the year…
Quite impressive really, nice and straight and in line with the barrier!
general rule of thumb is
look at the trailers wheels when reversing and guide it in that way. goodside it in over blind side almost all the time where possible, how much you put on, is how much you have to get back.
Just a thought Sammym … please don`t take it the wrong way
Have you thought about paying for some more training ■■
Say, 2 more days 1 to 1 with an instructor, mark out some imaginary bays with bollards at different angles, practise reversing into the bollard bays. Drop trailer, pull out, put unit back under trailer repeat repeat repeat. Reverse and park between obstacles etc.
It would be a good way of getting 20 or 30 reversing and dropping trailers manouvres under your belt.
The reverse for the driving test is a joke and doesn`t prepare you for the real world
dodged600:
Just a thought Sammym … please don`t take it the wrong way
Have you thought about paying for some more training ■■
Say, 2 more days 1 to 1 with an instructor, mark out some imaginary bays with bollards at different angles, practise reversing into the bollard bays. Drop trailer, pull out, put unit back under trailer repeat repeat repeat. Reverse and park between obstacles etc.
It would be a good way of getting 20 or 30 reversing and dropping trailers manouvres under your belt.
The reverse for the driving test is a joke and doesn`t prepare you for the real world
I’d not ignore that idea. And think it’s a good plan for people who want to drive class 1 right now.
But the problem is - I don’t really want to spend any more money. I now have the license - but don’t mind staying on class 2 for a bit. I’m in my comfort zone and it’s easy.
I’d not ignore that idea. And think it’s a good plan for people who want to drive class 1 right now.
But the problem is - I don’t really want to spend any more money. I now have the license - but don’t mind staying on class 2 for a bit. I’m in my comfort zone and it’s easy.
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Sensible idea, get some experience. I was a newbie once , and shudder when I think of some of the drives I had
