Been driving artics now for some time but still can’t quite get my head around how I can take a corner and the trailer will follow the unit without cutting in too much. I mean like part of my journey at work at the mo involves a 15 minute drive down some, not quite country roads, but not very wide either and It was never explained to me why at lower speed the trailer will cut in and at higher speed it will follow the unit.
I’ve heard a few people say too that they’re only “just realizing the trailer with follow the unit”. So, has anyone got a better explanation for a tool like me?
At higher speed you won’t be taking as tight a corner as at low speed, and at lower speed you won’t be taking a jack knife manoeuvering turn that would mean crawl speed, obvious reasons of either tipping or sliding.
A 3 axle trailer still pivots on the middle axle regardless of speed unless you find undulating or loose ground.
Sam Millar:
It was never explained to me why at lower speed the trailer will cut in and at higher speed it will follow the unit.
It wasn’t explained to you because it’s total bolox, unless you have a steering axle on the trailer the trailer will cut in no matter what speed you’re doing.
The amount that the trailer cuts in depends on a number of things such as trailer length, number and position of trailer axles, even the position of the 5th wheel will make some difference but speed will make no noticeable difference … unless you get the trailer into a skid of cause
sam trust me its a frame of mind thing, as above its all bollox its only inexperience thats making you worry about it. after a time you wont even give it a second thought because in your head you will know where your trailer is and how its going to behave under different loads and road conditions. meantime keep using your mirrors properly and try to think ahead if you see or know a dodgy/tight/sharp bend is comming up, set yourself up for the corner and i assure you the trailer will take care of itself i.e. follow the unit round the corner. on sharp left turns you are always going to have to take a wide cut to the right first just to get the trailer round the corner anyway but this is the best practice to see how a trailer behaves.this also applies to reversing because basically you are lining up the trailer then the unit reverses in behind it, i.e follows it to a straight line again. hope this helps, good luck
