How to back up a tractor trailer

http://thetractortrailerbook.com/ The basics of backing up a trailer

Category:

Education

Tags:

• tractor
• trailer
• backing
• how
• to
• back
• truck
• tractor trailer

[blackapricot1]

Say the steering wheel is turned all the way to the right - does the whole trailer move in a clock-wise direction as you're backing? And counter clock-wise if steering wheel is turned all the way to left?

[jimscee]

@blackapricot1 I never thought of it that way ,but yes, it would move clockwise as you're backing up if the wheel was turned to the right, and just the opposite if turned left. To take your clock example further, if the tractor and trailer were starting out in a straight line with the tractor pointed at 12:00 and the back of the trailer at 6:00, if you backed with the wheel turned to the right the back of the trailer would start turning towards 9:00.

[jimscee]

@jimscee You wouldn't be able to go all the way around the clock though, unless you had the wheel turned slightly one way or another. If you backed up turning the wheel all the way to the right and kept the wheel all the way to the right, by the time the back of the trailer started getting to 9:00 the tractor would be jackknifed up against the trailer, possibly damaging the tractor. But with the wheel turned at less of an angle and keeping it at that angle, you can keep going around in a circle.

[Kopihucky]

I've heard backing a long trailer like a 53 for example is easier than backing say.. a uhaul because the bigger trailer is less responsive during backing. Is that true?

[jimscee]

@Kopihucky Yes, I think it's true. With a small trailer every little turn of the steering wheel makes a big difference in where the trailer goes, where with a large trailer you have a little more time to adjust where it's going. One of my videos is about backing a short trailer.

[lon3ly2008]

Thank you so much! These videos helped me to understand how to back them up. I am currently learning how to drive tractor trailers and backing up is confusing for me. Your video explained what I am doing wrong. Can't wait to try it out now :) Thanks again

[yamahonkawazuki]

@theblacksheep1000 lol you can that is true

[yamahonkawazuki]

@jimscee i agree. i would have loved your instruction back in 1997. lol. but i learned from a good instructor. anyhoo imho its far easier to drive something this size. once you get used to the size of it, it is far more controllable

[alzym1]

your videos are great , nice job , it really helped me .thanks.

[cascaritaful]

Thank you

[crzzymnn911]

Awesome videos! Im going for my CDL in a month and i figured id get a leg up on the competition and your videos have been very useful, thank you.

[WindowsSoftwareDe]

i will soon make the driving licence for trucks so your videos are very helpful, thanks!

[717sport]

Yes Sir, Very helpful

[TheGreatguy27]

Not Bad Thank You

[smb611]

@lisaKDL You know, I'm in school right now for my CDL, and the videos that he's making have put the turning into the right perspective for me. But, yes, if you are already driving and don't know how to back up then you are f***ed! These are the things you need to get a license, so drivers already out there wouldn't need this as much! Learning this job is the hardest thing I have done yet, and I have been a mom, a pharmacy technician, and had various other jobs.