Irrational Nervousness About TS

This is goi ng to sound stupid..... but now that I'm more comfortable with backing... my problem is pulling out from a parking space lol

Some of these TS have wider distance between the rows than others. The past couple I stayed at seemed so narrow between the two that I seriously didn't feel I could get out of the space. Luckily there was a pull thru and the next row was wider.

I've actual almost hit the truck in front of me while trying to avoid the one beside me. Since I drive nights... parking isn't an issue but getting out is. If I have a choice I try to pick a spot that has an aisle in front so I can pull straight out.

So what's ur secret

No secret, it's why I don't like to nose-in, pull through a spot. Rule of thumb. If you can back into a spot, you can pull out of it. I try if at all possible to pull out of a spot where I am able to make a left. Easier to see what's going on, as is with backing.

If you went slow backing in, go as slow getting out to enable sharp turns of the wheel and not a bad idea to GOAL when necessary.

I know what you're talking about though. As with backing, use all of the available real estate.,

I think I know what you mean, you park when no one's next to you, but there are trucks on either side when you leave. I don't think that's irrational, it *can* be tight getting out. And if your tandems are forward you can't see what's going on on the other side. I don't have any secret (as I have less experience than you do and don't frequent truck stops), but as long as you're nervous about it you're doing OK, I think.

Here's one secret:

Suppose you want to turn left to leave your parking spot. The first moments of pulling out, drift your steering to the right. Don't forget to watch in the right mirror so you don't hit/ scrape whatever's on the right side.

As you get out into the lane, do your left turning, of course.

That tiny right drifting at the start will get your tandems over a precious few inches to the right, this gives you more space/ safety on the left as you make the big turn.

The secret to close quarter maneuvers is you are not driving the front end of the truck, you are always dragging the rear end along in a safe way. Think of getting through a crowd holding the hand of, and leading, a small child behind you. The full description of Grand Tour driving is at the bottom of this topic: Took my Test today...

I have this same fear.

And to make it worse, most of these truck stops are so stinkin dark it's hard as heck to see your trailer when you make the turn!

I always try to turn left out of the spot if at all possible. Less likely to clip something than on a right turn.

Stop a dollar store and get a paint marker (Not a black one) if it's really tight pull forward hop out and mark where your tandems are and the move them all the way forward. Back up and do what Errol said... scoot the tandems which ever direction opposite the way you want to turn... get out and move the tandems back to whatever hole you marked..

I think I know what you mean, you park when no one's next to you, but there are trucks on either side when you leave. I don't think that's irrational, it *can* be tight getting out. And if your tandems are forward you can't see what's going on on the other side. I don't have any secret (as I have less experience than you do and don't frequent truck stops), but as long as you're nervous about it you're doing OK, I think.

Yep this. I was in a TA that was so old it was made for 35ft trailers. I could tell as soon as I got there. Trucking path comments stated as such so I 0arked in one of the spots woth grass on 2 sides in the corner. Easy to drive straight out.

Tonight I'm in a flying j.... and the Swift across from me looks out farther than the others..... are any of u in NE???? Move ur truck back for me hahhaha

I think I know what you mean, you park when no one's next to you, but there are trucks on either side when you leave. I don't think that's irrational, it *can* be tight getting out. And if your tandems are forward you can't see what's going on on the other side. I don't have any secret (as I have less experience than you do and don't frequent truck stops), but as long as you're nervous about it you're doing OK, I think.

Wait..aren't you the one who likes to nose into spots? Haha

I do what Errol suggested. Really helps to give yourself a little more room for the turn. I'm usually worried about hitting the truck on the other side with my trailer overhang behind the tandems. That's the part I can't ever see when turning. But like G Town, I typically back in, even if there are pull through spots (I just like backing --i'm weird). If you can back in, you can pull out.......MOST of the time anyway.

I remember a couple months ago I backed into a spot at a TA in the afternoon--a little tight but not bad. When I tried leaving in the morning while it was still dark out, it just seemed so darn tight. I GOALed--my instincts were right. *Not happening*

That's when someone pointed out to me the trucks in the rows directly in front of me were illegally parked. Once I got one of them to move I had no problem getting out.

Wait..aren't you the one who likes to nose into spots? Haha

Yeah, that's me. I still do it sometimes, I just make sure I do it in a place where no one will park illegally in back of me. It's amazing how quiet a busy TS is when your sleeper is parked between two trailers.

Wait..aren't you the one who likes to nose into spots? Haha

Yeah, that's me. I still do it sometimes, I just make sure I do it in a place where no one will park illegally in back of me. It's amazing how quiet a busy TS is when your sleeper is parked between two trailers.

Haha whatever works for you man. I pulled forward into a spot the other day when I was bobtailing and didn't like it at all. I like sitting up in the driver's seat for a little while just looking out the window. Nothing to see when I pull forward--my lonely trucker world just gets lonelier lol. Plus, if I were to back out into the open and someone rammed into the side of my trailer, Swift would probably label it as a preventable.