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Post by truckertom on Feb 22, 2004 0:33:53 GMT -5
"Isn't the brake fluid resevoir beside the flux capacitor?"
Really!
I did show them how to adjust brakes and one asked the question "If most modern slack adjusters are mostly self adjusting, why should we know how to adjust them?"
And I answered "Because they don't always adjust themselves."
God! That sounds dumb....but it is true!
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Post by SilverBullet on Feb 22, 2004 8:38:08 GMT -5
I did show them how to adjust brakes and one asked the question "If most modern slack adjusters are mostly self adjusting, why should we know how to adjust them?" And I answered "Because they don't always adjust themselves." God! That sounds dumb....but it is true! I drove a Tandem Axle Dump Truck, and a Tandem Axle Crane Truck (Boom Truck) for about a yr. Both were Volvo's with self adjusting slack adjusters on them. They never worked properly. I was under those trucks about once a week adjusting them.
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Post by truckertom on Feb 22, 2004 12:22:09 GMT -5
I know, I really don't like them. There is nothing Auto about them!
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Post by fozzie on May 2, 2004 6:19:24 GMT -5
Back to the subject of backing... Next week, I start working for a company where they have a peculiar way of backing the tail trailer in a 40'-25' combo. Instead of breaking up the trailers and pulling the dolly like we've been taught, they leave the dolly under the short trailer to eliminate the chance of it falling on it's nose. So, Friday last week, we set up a 28' with a dolly and attempted to get used to backing the set. Let me tell you... it's freakin' hard to do! With the few days remaining in class, I plan to continue to practice until I can make it 50 yards on a straight back without more than three or four pull-ups. I still have yet to try and back a 45 or a 90 degree angle, but that will come. It's all fun... but kind of nerve racking too.
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Post by truckertom on May 2, 2004 15:13:26 GMT -5
Sounds to me like you are well on your way to backing doubles........never trust a dolly! LOL!
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Post by GMC1500 on May 19, 2004 4:48:32 GMT -5
hi everybody been in schhol now 2 days, day 3 today, been backing up OY VAY . not as easy as my husband makes it look. i'm having fun learning though. LOL OH WELL sigh.... it's hard to change your way of thinking. it doesn't understand that you can't drive a truck the same way you drive a car. keeping the back tire insight is new too. i could probably drive my pickup in my sleep it's so automatic. today on to a new skill WOOHOO! i must be learning though I can stop and fix what i'm doing wrong so that's a plus. i even got that sucker in there a few times without a pull up. i sure hope that truck isn't bugged though---been talking to myself BIG time. been asking ?'s and listeng to the answers too. SLOW SLOW SLOW. oh well i'll get going now have school ya know. ;D oh yea truckertom your right about sweating clear thru to the seat though PHEW and that was just me. LOL thanks to everyone for all the good tips and the encouragment. this is great place and i have recommended it to others.
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Post by truckertom on May 19, 2004 19:31:22 GMT -5
I had a student drive back to the school when we switched seats, I got my back wet! I name my students, and many times it sticks as a C.B. handle....this fella is now known as "Sweaty Gypsy Dave."
There was a school in the same location as we are now, and this other school had a car slam into the back of one of thier trailers resulting in a death. So we make the instructors drive them back in.
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Post by GMC1500 on May 31, 2004 7:26:10 GMT -5
sad to say I didn't pass my driving test cause I didn't set myself up right for alley docking. I go again in 2 weeks and need some ?!? help here. I'm really having a hard time with this any ideas welcomed. thanks
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Post by truckertom on May 31, 2004 8:01:29 GMT -5
I know this is going to sound really dumb but it is true. The same steering moves you use pulling out will put it right back where it was. When you pull away from the curb in P. Parking, you turn left, right straight, right then left to sraightien out your set up. Well to P. park it, it is left, Right, straight Right and left.
I know this sounds crazy but it is true and most of the time students way over steer and the trailer looks like a drunkard with an inner ear infection who just dropped a tab of acid coupled with a bad case of "I don't know what I am doing".
The harder you turn your wheel one way, the faster the trailer is going to start going the other. Getting your trailer straight is like beating your little brother to the last slice of buttermilk pie. If you are too far from it, you are going to lose, if you are too slow with turning the wheel, you are going to lose. And catching up with your trailer and the timeing of that is a HUGE part of backing one. That trailer is going to keep drifting off until you are perfectly set in front of it. So the only way to keep a trailer from turning a unwanted radius is to stay in front of it. The only way to keep a trailer from going too far when you WANT it to turn is to get the timing right. If you turn you wheel and by the time you are straight with your trailer you have gone too far, then you started your catching up with it too late. Start the process earlier.
And it does take a while to get straight in front of a 53 footer. Too late and there is no pie for you! Your little brother is eating it!
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Post by Fozzy on May 31, 2004 16:07:18 GMT -5
Backing is a VERY tough subject to "teach" because its an acquired ART. It's different for everyone on a personal level. While we instructors can SEE the mistakes and try to lend tips to learn backing, the student themselves will "get" the concept only on their own time schedule. Until it "clicks" the whole backing experience is probably one of the most frustrating things that a human can endure! Instructors also are at a disadvantage because it "clicked" for us years ago and backing is "automatic" for us. We are adjusting to the trailers movements really without having to "think". Thinking takes time and when moving backwards..all the thinking is just making recovery less and less likely.
SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK-SHUFFLE-LOOK!!!! ;D
One of the best ways to keep everything straight to (like Tom says) is to keep everything centered! The only way to do this is to keep you eyes moving from mirror to mirror. Your neck is made to swivel..it wont hurt! checking BOTH mirrors ALL the time is mandentory!
You have to be able to take the sight from 2-D (looking in one mirror at one fixed object) to 3-D (moving your sights to various objects in various distances) to see everything. It's like the old "rubbing your belly and patting your head" trick.
The main problem I found with people is that they STARE in one mirror trying to catch movement on one side of the trailer (mainly the drivers side). They stare until they see that the trailer's side is moving. Then and only then do they attempt to "catch" the trailer. If you continually swivel your head and eyes from mirror to mirror you can SEE the trailers wheels on both sides and keep them there.
It helps some students to keep straight by "shuffling" the steering wheel! Shuffle small corrections into the trailer even if you dont see much happening! By shuffling and watching you learn to feed inputs (corrections) into the trailer and you are an active participant other than mearly an "observer". Get involved! LOL ;D
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Post by Fozzy on Jun 1, 2004 5:54:31 GMT -5
Wait a sec. There another fozzy on the board, but he spells it "fozzie". Since you're new, care to change yours to avoid confusion? You may have to re-register. Sorry, but I do not post under other names, This has been my nick name since 1980 and its the same no matter where I go. If Admin here would rather I just not post to clear things up, all they have to is ask. Fozzy
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Post by fozzie on Jun 1, 2004 20:17:50 GMT -5
Hey, I have no problem with it! My nickname ends with "ie" and my avatar is different. All you readers... get used to it!! ;D
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Post by GMC1500 on Jun 2, 2004 7:55:35 GMT -5
ok i've asked for and have recieved some good advice about alley docking since i don't have access ( hubby said no go on his truck for practice) what about hooking up a trailer to my pick up, i could rent one and practicing my alley docking that way? I know it's shorter than what i'll be testing with but i need to practice
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Post by maineiac on Jun 2, 2004 8:54:26 GMT -5
dear gmc why won't the school give you some more help and time to practice?
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Post by GMC1500 on Jun 2, 2004 13:04:16 GMT -5
according to the owner ( read jacka**) he's fulfilled he's part of the contract. the day before my test 6 guys just didn't show for class ( unemployment's paying ) and there was only 3 of us there, he sent me home saying my hrs were up yes they were but he knew as well as his instructors that was where i needed the most help. when i failed the alley docking i went to the school to ask for more practice and he only wants to give me 2 hrs now if i didn't get it practicing all week some days for 5 hrs straight how am i gonna get it in 2? i even told my husband to stay in the truck cause i knew he would talk to him and not me. several times in our conversation i had to remind that he wasn't talking to some kid or someone who did not understand the english language. i paid for this with my own money not my husbands. when i want something i pay for it. so i'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. as far as i'm concerned he's broken the contract cause he guaranteed i would pass. he tried to tell me i would have to pay for the retesting that didn't work. now the 14th will be here before ya know it and i need to work on this.
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