Depends whether anyone’s watching.
Normally I can put a trailer within an inch or two of where I want it to go, no messing. Right side or blind side, makes no difference. Neither does weights or axle configuration. However, every very rare now and again I have off days when I couldn’t do it to save my life!
robroy:
When I started I was the world’s worst,.I did not learn to reverse until well after I passed my test.
I got to the stage just like other vastly experienced drivers where I could put a trailer in anywhere,…I used to even surprise myself sometimes.![]()
However last few years,.I’m experiencing upper arm tendon problems., that paired with the ■■■■ poor driving position of the Craptros, like every other aspect of my life…I aint as good as I used to be.
There’s a country & western song by Toby Keith with the lyrics: “I aint as good as I once was…but I’m as good once as I’ve ever been”… that’s my moto in life - well that’s what I tell the Mrs anyway !!
Harry Monk:
Depends whether anyone’s watching.
can relate to this sooooooooooooooooooooooo much
robroy:
When I started I was the world’s worst,.I did not learn to reverse until well after I passed my test.
I got to the stage just like other vastly experienced drivers where I could put a trailer in anywhere,…I used to even surprise myself sometimes.![]()
However last few years,.I’m experiencing upper arm tendon problems., that paired with the ■■■■ poor driving position of the Craptros, like every other aspect of my life…I aint as good as I used to be.
Look on the positive side tho, you’ll be dead soon
I can usually get it pointing in general direction needed. Provided direction is north east south or west
Better than very good.
Mind, I’ve not set foot in a lorry yet so it’s an estimate
switchlogic:
robroy:
When I started I was the world’s worst,.I did not learn to reverse until well after I passed my test.
I got to the stage just like other vastly experienced drivers where I could put a trailer in anywhere,…I used to even surprise myself sometimes.![]()
However last few years,.I’m experiencing upper arm tendon problems., that paired with the ■■■■ poor driving position of the Craptros, like every other aspect of my life…I aint as good as I used to be.Look on the positive side tho, you’ll be dead soon
Cheers Luke…that’s took a weight off my mind.mate.
I passed day test in July 2020.
Started on class 1 3rd August.
Some of the places we go to are bloody tight and some are tighter than that.
Was a very steep learning curve.
Now 16 months on, I’ve got the hang of this going backwards thing.
I’d say I’m reasonably good now, some places still need a shunt or 2. My biggest issue is sometimes not getting back under my trailer quick enough and ending up with a little too much bend. Easily rectified with a 5ft shunt forward and back under the trailer quicker. Much easier issue than not having enough bend in the first place.
Muscle memory took a while but it’s there now. No more turning the wrong way! [emoji1787]
It’s a learning curve for sure, in my case a steep one.
For the new passes that read this, it gets easier with time and practice, stuff that used to make me crap myself, is now straightforward.
Above average. Varies from day to day, harder with a mirrorcam for sure, every driver with those pretty much hangs out the window reversing!
Some days Im a god at reversing other days cut in too sharp on nearside trailer so a few shunts needed.
Like previous posters say, sometimes its better to have a tight space, worst reverse positioning is usually in a row of empty bays!! Ive even got on the wrong bay once without noticing
I once worked for a company who, after the driver made a reversing blunder, had you park your own car in the middle of the yard then have you make several attempts to reverse within 2 inch of it. No-one ever hit their own car. So the moral of this experience is - it isn’t about the skill, it’s about the application of concentration.
Some drivers are prone to hitting the panic button when they are faced with a tricky reversing manoeuvre, and their judgement goes right out of the window. Take your time, keep your cool and be confident in your own skills.
adam277:
I’d say very good.
I’ve had to reverse pretty much every trailer including a-frame trailers.
So I’m kinda like a legend at reversing.When the drivers in the office tell the clerk’s that they can’t deliver here because it’s too tight they point at me and say well he done it loads of time. Then the drivers looks at my in awe. Reassured that it’s doable and he doesn’t have to go out with one less drop.
I’m very popular at work.
And then you woke up
I voted average as an across the spectrum.
As primarily a rigid driver on a 12m 8w for years I’m decent and have no issues. For 14 years I have done holiday cover, occasional Saturdays and sickness cover on a stepframe lowloader. We usually run a 3 axle which I’m not too bad on, we had a 4 axle for several months with no (functioning) lift axle and a mid lift unit.
I struggled with it so started to doubt myself but the unit really struggled for traction with anything more than a slight bend in the trailer making tight jobs very tricky. I think that whilst the full time driver was undoubtedly better with it, some of the jobs would have been problematic for anyone as there often is not enough space available to manoeuvre effectively.
This week I have gained a triaxle drag to my 8w making me 18.75m long, so far that has been going well but I’m sticking on average!
Most days I can get the trailer just about where it needs to be , some days spot on , some days I need a couple of shunts to get it exactly right , but some days its like the trailer hasn’t read the rule book and just does what it wants . I was never scared to pull out reset and try again (go on this was inserted for the comedy )we do have some incredibly tight bays to get on - the kind with steel pillars each side that you actually have to squeeze a set of fridge doors between (designed for curtainsiders not fridges ) keeps it interesting and keeps you sharp.
When I used to do agency work before I retired there were 2 companies in the Leeds area who operated wagon and drags who used to ask for me personally because I was competent with that type of vehicle.Most likely though it was because I was the only one who would do it.
Even further back in time when i used to use ferries out of Felixstowe regularly with my own rig I complained to P and O about being forced to do a u turn on deck when loading and ripping out air lines.They allowed me to reverse on board provided I did not delay proceedings.
I am to reversing what Ronnie O’Sullivan is to snooker. I’ve even gone home once or twice with lipstick on my collar.
Driver’s side reverse on a sunny day in a RDC, almost never a shunt.
Blindside somewhere tight at night in the winter with rain and salt over the mirrors, probably loads of shunts or get lucky.
Depends on the situation, probably some think they are marvelous but never do anything hard. All I know is I’m better than some, as good as most, but some are better. On the other hand you can have drivers that are technically good reversers, but they are too lazy to ever get out and have a look or take a shunt to get a better view, so in this case someone with less reversing ability but a more cautious approach is actually the better driver.
When on the drays for Carlsberg with an urban artic, I could put that little sweetheart anywhere - it had a better turning circle than a London taxi!
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GCR2ERF:
When on the drays for Carlsberg with an urban artic, I could put that little sweetheart anywhere - it had a better turning circle than a London taxi!Sent from my SM-A415F using Tapatalk
Urban artics are pretty fun for spinning around in a high street just like a taxi