Donnyboy:
If you’re turning that tight pull you’re air lines off and press shunt button
If you did this every time at Nutricia’s yard you never get the job done its so tight there. Just make sure you are in Maneuvering mode (Scania) as it puts the power down very evenly, no jerking at very low speed, & take your time, if you do have to stop half way around make sure you put the H/brake on or it may pull back a bit.
To get an artic in to our workshop requires a tight 180 blindside and trailers must be empty even if it means unloading and must be lines off on shunt button. Failure to do this isnt a union sanctiined warning its a screaming match from the boss. Any of our other yards tyre scrubbing isnt tolerated as its avoidable.
Do supermarket deliveries and it’s pretty standard to be giving the trailer tyres some grief spinning round in tiny tight congested yards with a 13m tri, fully loaded. It makes me cringe doing it sometimes, but thats the job. Theres actually a store I do where the manoeuvre is similar to that red tanker in the video.
Actually its not so much of the suzies but the rear of the trailer…I have often wondered (Being a bit slow!!) when I have past bent lamp posts and road signs that are away from the kerb that obviously have been hit by a truck. Then it dawned on me that as we know trailers pivot at the centre. The driver has done a swift 360 and belted them with the tail.
In one without stopping, roughly the equivalent of 4 lanes. Just make sure you won’t hit anything with the arse end. I’ve been in situations where you look out the passenger side and can see all 3 trailer wheels, it’s a bit odd as you only ever see them in the mirror.
I agree with Rob doing supermarket work and some of the yards you have to get in and swing around missing all the junk in the yard gives the outfit a hard time. Add to that the store managers car dumped in the way that no one will dare get moved.
One other thing to look out for is when you turn that tight the rear of the trailer actually goes backwards
Look for makers of trucks being spun around like black lines on the ground or smashed up lamp posts, if a place is small u won’t be the first to spin it around so can sort of follow the marks on the road, or if none ask the goods in guy where trucks spin round. as all aways if not shore get out and look best to take 10 minutes to get it right, then 10 minutes explaining to the boss later how the skip just jumped out in front of you
When I was a noob at Stobarts I did a U-Turn where I probably should’t and the wind deflector ended up kissing the side of the trailer. No slide rails on the trailer either but I still eventually made it round, nothing broken.
Having said that I ripped my electric line off recently just turning right at some traffic lights. If they get snagged on something there isn’t much you can do.
Terry T:
When I was a noob at Stobarts I did a U-Turn where I probably should’t and the wind deflector ended up kissing the side of the trailer. No slide rails on the trailer either but I still eventually made it round, nothing broken.
Having said that I ripped my electric line off recently just turning right at some traffic lights. If they get snagged on something there isn’t much you can do.
I sometimes start to wonder if there is collusion between curtain handle and susie manufacturers.
Carryfast:
Anything beyond an L shape makes more risk of damage than it’s worth and means that you’re trying to turn in a place which is too small for job.
Yes, to a point, I have seen worse than lines and tyre scrub like the hanger torn off the chassis rail but, having said that, if you’re somewhere unfamiliar, and a realistically doable u-turn opportunity presents itself it’s always better than getting stuck further on.