Further to another post I made I’m still struggling with parts of my class 1 reverse. We have only been practicing from the 45 angle towards the “garage” with the truck trailer straight. I keep getting too close to the offside “garage” cones and having to shunt. I have been putting a slight right bend quite early.
I have watched the video on here and the diagram it looks like the driver does not start with a slight bend until his cab reaches parallel to the B cone also the diagram shows this. I was to worried about getting to far over the other side if I did this, but looking at the video starting the bend at this point looks correct.
All i can say is experiment with it. Try bending in the trailer at different points ect. That’s the best way i found out how to do it was just toi experiment, i too struggled with the C+E reverse, was really frustrating me ect, it all came good at the end of the 3rd day. I found that watching lots of youtube videos on C+E reverse helped me loads, i also closely watched the guy i trainined with too as he seemed to do it no problems, i picked tips off of him too.
Mainly though use very very little steering, this is the key!!, i found as i was going back just put a tad of left steering on and adjust as nessasary as i was going back. If as you are coming close to the garage you are not sure where the trailer is then put the steering on to the mirror where you see the most trailer in untill it straightens up, you can then see where your trailer is in relation to the garage. Also came test day i found i had miles more room for the manover than i did on the training yard, so maybe the trainer’s make it a tad less room for us to practice therefore we find it much easier on test!!
Im not very good at explaining it all but it’s trial and error mate it really is, experiment with it and try different amounts of steering ect. Maybe a trainer on here can help and guide you in the right direction.
All the best with your training and i hope it comes good for you
What you describe is a very common problem. There are several solutions but if I might suggest one that works for a lot of people.
Try to imagine another cone about 8 feet in front of the offside bay entrance cone (the 1 with the pole on the driver’s side). Try to bend the trailer towards this imaginery cone ignoring the real one. Aim to get close to it all the time keeping sight of the trailer in the offside mirror.
For this to work you must imagine the cone at least 8 feet (not closer) to the real one.
Once you miss the false cone apply some right hand lock to straighten up and in you go.
TIP: Don’t worry about taking a shunt. It will cost you just 1 minor fault but will take a lot of the stress away.
Cheers ROG & LGV trainer, you know to my mind that makes more sense would the idea be to give more “wiggle” room to turn/steer into the garage.
I must admit I have been aiming for the front cone as this is how I did my rigid manouver you went in at a slight angle through the front cones. Which there is no way you could with 45ft of trailer, in fact I did manage to pull it of a few time but was very close to the o/s cones.
Cheers guys only wonder why the trainer didn’t mention this.
P.S Am I aiming to touch this imaginary cone/spot with the rear offside trailer wheel.
Either touch or just miss it. Once the trailer wheels arrive at the imaginery cone straighten the whole thing up and you will be in fairly good shape to push the trailer home.
This does require some practice so try using different distances from the real cone until it feels right to you.
The secret lies in not letting the offside trailer wheels aim at the offside entrance cone. Aim some distance in front of it.
Like all this stuff practice makes perfect. Dont forget the tip about the shunt. Better to take the minor mark than die trying not to get one.
brawngp:
Im not very good at explaining it all but it’s trial and error mate it really is, experiment with it and try different amounts of steering ect. Maybe a trainer on here can help and guide you in the right direction.
All the best with your training and i hope it comes good for you
Cheers mate, if I ever get a job I’ll just have to reverse in the dead of night that way I can have all the shunts I want.
Red Lorry
Lots of candidates struggle with the reverse - if you are getting in the garage and only need one shunt I would not worry - whilst it is nice to be perfect , you only lose one minor for a shunt .
You need to have the trailer running more or less parallel to the garage prior to entering - as the nearside is your blind side you do not want to go too close on that side , if you enter the garage at a slight angle you will still be able to correct - avoid oversteering and if necessary take a shunt , better to have one minor than a fail for touching a cone .
I struggled as well but with practice you will not have any difficulty - if necessary make a number of practice reverses just at the garage cone to practice the angle and you will eventually get feel of where you need to straighten the trailer .
Redrorry:
Further to another post I made I’m still struggling with parts of my class 1 reverse. We have only been practicing from the 45 angle towards the “garage” with the truck trailer straight. I keep getting too close to the offside “garage” cones and having to shunt. I have been putting a slight right bend quite early.
I have watched the video on here and the diagram it looks like the driver does not start with a slight bend until his cab reaches parallel to the B cone also the diagram shows this. I was to worried about getting to far over the other side if I did this, but looking at the video starting the bend at this point looks correct.
Any pointers much appreciated cheers.
If its any consolation I have been driving 36 years there are days I could reverse into a macthbox and days when that trailer will not go on a bay first time however hard I try.It will click and fall into place when you least expect it, don t worry and relax.
I have been putting a slight right bend quite early.
but looking at the video starting the bend at this point looks correct.
