Conor:
Here’s how I do it which I learnt when doing shunting in one of the smallest yards I’ve ever seen because it requires less room than trying to do it in a large arc. I drive along the line of trailers about 15ft away and then swing in towards where the empty bay is, swing out sharply towards the left and then put some right lock on which puts the trailer pointing at a nice angle towards the gap and you end up in the position in the image. You’ve then just got to put some left lock on if you need to and reverse in. Doesn’t matter if you’ve pulled too far forward because all you do is just get the unit in front of the trailer and reverse back straight a little bit but ideally you’re aiming to judge it so the rear of the trailer is maybe a foot forward of the corner of the trailer that’s next to the space you’re wanting to be in and a few feet in front of it if possible. It’ll then nicely curl round into the space.
Far easier to reverse into a gap when the trailer is already pointing some of the way towards the direction its going to end up in.
The biggest mistake people make is not giving the trailer time to react to steering input and putting more and more lock on. They then end up in a situation where their cab does a mile going left to right, right to left for every couple of feet the trailer goes back.
(drawing isn’t quite perfect but you get the idea…)
If I ever need to reverse on a giant piano I’ll refer to this pic
I shall be tinkling the ivories myself this evening and this picture will come in very usefull, especially as im also driving a giant tampon.
Thanks everyone for replies, and that drawing is really helpful! I think perhaps I’ve been trying to go in from a right angle too much. I didn’t have to drop my trailer in the trailer park today so didn’t get to try any of the tips out but I’m sure tomorrow I will! Thanks
Best advice I was given was to think of the rear wheel of the unit as the steering wheels of a long rigid. Use the front wheels to get the “steering” wheels in the correct angle.
Worst problems I had were with rear steer trailers.
after a lifetime driving tractors and trailers I found reversing to artics was harder than it should have been until I realise that while with agri kit the prime mover directs the trailer, with artics the ‘tail wags the dog’ if you get the trailer going the right way then the unit will follow.
Never be afraid to take another shunt or two
If in doubt get off yer @rse and look ‘while you take the number plate off the trailer’
We all have off days, when we couldn’t hit a bull on the @rse with a shovel
Could always go the whole hog and get a can of the white line spray the footy refs use, its a good method for newbies but after a while you will instinctively know how to position yourself.
Only proves he has a question really. His imagination will be needed to use our method of seeing stuff that aint there. I pretend im Neo from the matrix and plot whole grids of lines and algebraic calculations whilst dressed in black pvc.
I have a little cone (thats what she said), I carry around and place 10 feet ish in front of the corner of the vehicle im parking next too, 5 feet at alconbury truckstop, as it can be a squeeze when rammed (she said that as well).
In fact all new drivers and some old ones as well should carry a little cone as its a great aid when having to force yourself into a tight hole (there she goes again).
