As I have said before, I am gonna do my C&E as soon as I get some money. Thats probably gonna be well after Easter now.
I want to get an idea of whether my experience of reversing a Horse Trailer using my Land Rover will have been a help or a hindrance to me when I eventually start to learn to reverse an Artic and Trailer.
Comments / Advice please!
I know what Mr Smythe will advise - Wag and Drag especially as my little 110" wheelbase landrover plus horse trailer will probably have behaved a lot like a W&D combo! (But DO please give me your advise Peter.)
Hi - some unbiased advice. Yes, your experience should help but listen carefully to instruction from your trainer.
The basic principles for Land Rover+horsebox apply to both artic and W+D. They all differ, clearly, but the BASIC principles are identical. One of the biggest differences is reaction time ie artic reacts more slowly than your current combination or a w+d. So an artic wont run away from you easily - but if it does, you’re stuffed. W+D reacts very quickly (similar to Land Rover + horsebox) but if it goes wrong you can recover it easily.
The trainer I have chosen to use only has an artic unit plus trailer, so thet was the biggest factor in my decision to do Artic training for my licence.
BUT I think I will find somebody local with a W&D to give me 2 hours after I pass C&E so that I can take any work with complete confidence.
As I said, listen carefully to the trainer and you should be fine. Remember that the trailer will react much slower than you are accustomed to. Keep the bend small. If it bends too far, pull it forward straight away as it’s difficult to recover. This applies even more on the new size area which, we’re told, will be in place at all test centres by end March.
I will 90% use Atherton which is a DSA Multi Purpose test centre halfway between Bolton and Wigan.
I am sure I wont be able to afford to take training or test before end March, so I will most likely have to learn to get in garage using the smaller lengths.
BTW, what are they please? Cone A to B?, then to first garage cone?
LandyLad:
I want to get an idea of whether my experience of reversing a Horse Trailer using my Land Rover will have been a help or a hindrance to me when I eventually start to learn to reverse an Artic and Trailer.
What do you think ROG?
It was only 2+ years ago when I first reversed a B+E and my artic reversing experience was invaluable … I still needed a shunt
Hi again Landylad
Im sure you will be ok mate but I think that the garage space does change at the end of this month as you know Paul uses the car park at the club and its well set out even down to the yellow painted box .
you will fine that you have a lot more control in the artic than you will have in your landrover just take your time no mad rush … thats the only part of the test i was confident on
regards Roy
BTW, what are they please? Cone A to B?, then to first garage cone?
Will the width of the test area change also?
The exercise itself remains unchanged - just the dimensions.
For a rigid:
Garage = 1 vehicle length
B cone = 1.5 vehicle lengths
A cones = 3.5 vehicle lengths
For anything with a trailer:
Garage = 1 vehicle length with a max of 12 metres
B cone = 2 vehicle lengths
A cones = 4 vehicle lengths
Width reduces in all cases from 18 metres to 11 metres.
All lengths are from “finish” box.
Rules are the same ie 2 forward shunts allowed, permisable to get out and check final stop position and move it further back (no mark for this) but then cant get out and check again.
I’ve been using these dimensions since October with great success. We’ve had 2 reversing fails since then. I would love to try it with an artic should anyone choose to nip in and try my coffee and leave their keys in by mistake! For certain, it’s very easy with w+d and rigids.
lol Landylad
The wifes still dizzy after going round that roundabout all afternoon last friday mate lol oh and twice on saturday morning at silly oclock am …
works fine now the dead spell seems to be clearing a bit Im on at Clive Hurts Tomorrow 7.00 start for Acorn was at 21st Century windows tuesday 12 HR Day uh but i like the work there so was ok … Drivers Direct say gotta take my licence in the day it gets back then its on to Class 1 work they are a good agents if you struggle with getting work mate but ive been with them since April so they know me now and they know what i will do and what i wont do . and thats the way i like it .
Anyway back on thread are you going back to Paul for the C+E training mate reversing that Daf is a doddle
and hey if I can do it you can That was my big worry before i started my training and I was shocked how easy i found it .pitty i didnt drive the test route and that bloody roundabout in reverse the first three attempts .
all the Best Roy
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