Frustrated With Alleydock ;(

So tomorow is my last chance to pass my eval skills. I passed straightbacking and offset right with no problem but when it comes to 90 degres alleydock I suck! No mater how I try I still couldn't get the logic or could not get my trailer inside the money cone. I always ended up cutting it too early..

I am getting frustrated! Why I can't get the 90 degres if I can get the offset with no problem?

I badly need tips. I have 2 hours left before my test tomorow. I have enough points to kill it for some pull ups but the problem is the logic! I can't get when is the correct timing to turn my wheels! :( :(

Take a deep breath Flatie. Everyone (including me) has trouble backing in the beginning, you are not alone. The good news, there is a trailer full of information on 45/90 sight side backing on TT, click this link for starters: 45/90 degree backing information.

Beyond that it sounds like maybe the setup is a bit off. You should be able to see the cone in your mirror, with the trailer tandems lined up with it at approximately a 45degree angle. Visualize a straight line from the edge of each tandem tire back to the inside edge of the cone (this visual line should be at a 45 degree angle to the inside of the cone). As you ease the truck back, look to see how the tandems begin to move towards the cone and make small adjustments so that you proceed back in a gradual arc, towards the inside of the cone. Resist the tendency to over steer when making adjustments, give the trailer several feet to respond to your initial adjustment before making another one. Go slow, but try not to stop during this process. You can also look over your shoulder if that helps, as long as you do not stick your head out the window. Remember all you need to do is get in the hole, you can pull-up to straighten yourself out so that all you are doing is a straight-line back to finish.

Everybody learns how to do this differently so I expect you will get a lot of input.

Good luck!

I wrote this for Rainy a few days ago:

Ego Deflated p. 2
-- Last entry on the page.

Flatie writes:

I always ended up cutting it too early.

If you "always" cut too early, how can you fix that? Think hard :)

It takes about ten feet of travel before you see the trailer start to do what you want. (If you turn the wheel to the right, it takes about ten feet before the back end starts moving left.)

This means that an inch taken now will be a foot once the trailer starts doing what you want.

Tiny turns, Flatie, tiny. No, that's too much already. I said tiny.

Patience. Every failure is just more preparation to do it right.

I do not want to throw a monkey wrench in and confuse you, but search YouTube for there backing videos. The best ones I have seen are done by a CR England trainer.

Urg the alleydock failed me! I was able to make it but I run out of pull ups! The moment i was in the hole and hit the cone I cant pull up anymore coz I used em all.

I finally figured out when to stir and read my trailer. I will have to extend one more week in the academy and start all over again with all the backing skills.

So more weeks to master the skills!!

Was this the state test or just an evaluation?

I will have to extend one more week in the academy and start all over again with all the backing skills.

Welcome to the Extra Week Club, Flatie! You aren't alone, and you should have some of your classmates joining.

I wish I could tell you more, but actually you must work it out in your head. Just be calm, smooth. Remember 1 inch at the start will make for 1 foot at the end of your move.

DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP!!!

I extended my training a week too because of the alley dock and downshifting. Let me tell you, a week can make a WORLD of difference!

You've got this! You show such determination and drive that I know you won't let this defeat you.

I'm cheering for you Flatie! You get 'em girl!

Here's a trick I figured out to help with backing. Sooner or later your brain will get confused about which way the trailer will go when you turn the steering wheel say, left. Is the back end going to go left or right??

Make your guess, turn the wheel with the brake on. Look at the nose of the trailer in the mirror. Let the clutch out a tiny bit and back up only one inch distance. Stop.

Now you can tell which way the trailer will turn and you hardly used any back-up distance!

You hang in there Flatie..I believe in you..you can do it! You are already doing things you have never done before so don't let it bring you down.