Do you find it harder to back with your tandems all the way to the rear?

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FlintIron@reddit

Not at all. No overhang, pinwheel that guy all day long. Been in some tight yards where it seemed counterintuitive but worked like a charm.

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I find that tankers are the easiest thing ever to back up due to you being able to see damn near around the trailer and being short enough to maneuver into some tricky spots. I love being a tanker yanker

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ZacDidntDoit@reddit

I scoot them all the way up and slide them back at the dock. I learned with a tail swing and i compensate for a tail swing.

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Different_Zone_8999@reddit

Depends on how much space I have or what the situation allows

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ComparisonGeneral825@reddit

Make sure your trailer is air up all the way before you pull out the pin to slide your tandem. If it doesn't move check out the air pressure. Make sure you set the brakes. 👍

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seneeb@reddit

Once backing actually clicks for you and you stop trying to force the step by step processes that were drilled into you during school and training it gets easier to adjust to any variable.

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curtsy_wurtsy@reddit

No

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No_Strain794@reddit

All the way back. At that point, all you have to do is watch the tandems.

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mwonch@reddit

Nope. In fact, I find it easier. And sometimes - believe it or not - some tight spaces are easier to hit with tandems all the way back.

The key is there isn't any tail swing, so all you have to do is watch the tires. If you try this, you'll find you tend to watch the tires rather than the tail every time anyway.

All you really have to do is position well enough to not scrape the nose.

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homucifer666@reddit

Both have advantages. There are some places where one might be easier than the other.

Personally, I have them in the front most often, therefore that is what I'm most accustomed to and thus easiest for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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polarjunkie@reddit

Why would you drive around with your tandems all the way forward? The reason states mandate your tandems be at 40 to 43 ft is because of how wide the lanes are so when you make a turn it doesn't kick out into the next lane. The tighter you're turning the more it kicks out and the more issues you cause. I've been in maybe two situations in New York City in 15 years where sliding them forward mattered and those returning into alleyways with specialized equipment where trucks don't go anyway. I've also driven a step deck with tri axles all the way back all over the country, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and never had an issue.

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

I almost took out a light pole in downtown Nashville with my tandems to the back. So ever since then I ride with them slid foreward.

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polarjunkie@reddit

What do you do when your weight requires you to move them back?

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

I doo food service and have 3-5 stops a day so I ride to my first stop with them back, then move them foreward after I u load my first stop.

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polarjunkie@reddit

Is it really any harder to do that first stop?

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

Is what any harder?

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polarjunkie@reddit

Driving around with your axles not all the way forward.

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

It’s almost impossible to get in and out of all the restaurant parking lots with the axles all the way back.

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polarjunkie@reddit

Obviously not all the way back but at 40-43 feet where most loads sit legally and most states require.

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

I’ve always just slammed em foreward after first stop

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Thegrandestpoo@reddit

Me too. I’m with you

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vfittipaldi@reddit

Much easier, no tail swing.

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mattattack3212@reddit (OP)

Yeah I lowkey would rather have them all the way back. I find it easier but I’ve talked to a few drivers that say it’s harder.

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OGbigfoot@reddit

Yeah, ever back a 28'? Squirrelly mfers.

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

Food service with a pup, he reeeeaaaaal good at backing 😂

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thewolfesp@reddit

Many, many, times a day. LTL

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OGbigfoot@reddit

I was second as yard dog at a. Ltl dock. Otherwise I was dock lead.

Lived jumping in the goat and fucking up some trailers.

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Freightshaker000@reddit

A 38' with our twin screw day cab was a humbling experience.

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vfittipaldi@reddit

It could be harder if its a very very tight spot but otherwise its better.

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Mindes13@reddit

Tighter spots just means a different mind set and knowing you can hug that corner more and go deeper before needing to correct because there's no tail

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Existing_Inside5200@reddit

Definitely harder for me. I back up with tandems forward, line up at dock then slide. But then again I'm still a rookie. I also find it harder to back a hotshot truck with a 40ft trailer than a 53' semi because it's a little different

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Sharp_Requirement_50@reddit

Because the shorter the trailer the quicker they turn. I learned how to back with a pup and that thing gets squiggly as hell backing up.

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polarjunkie@reddit

You should start moving your tandems back. It's easier all around but it takes a different setup approach in a tight spot.

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mattattack3212@reddit (OP)

That’s me with landscape trailers. I swear to God they fucked me up.

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Existing_Inside5200@reddit

I know right?! This hotshot rig is only 6 ft shorter than a semi yet I still struggle a month later with this damn thing

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Jssr22@reddit

I rented a trailer from Home Depot a while ago for some home improvement shopping. It was hell backing into my parent’s driveway. At one point even my mom was like you sure you drive truck for a living? I was like yeah fair whatever lol

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madtowntripper@reddit

Ahahahaha. That’s the worst.

I rented a u-haul car trailer a few months ago and had to back it (empty!!) into my driveway and it was a NIGHTMARE.

Yes, entire fucking family I have done this before

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Tera_Geek@reddit

A lot of it has to do with vehicle to trailer size and location of the pivot point. They both impact how fast the trailer responds to input which can make them rather twitchy

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DrillTheThirdHole@reddit

thats because shorter trailers are harder to back in general. the only time longer sucks is when you need the extra room, which isnt often.

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Accomplished-Cat-632@reddit

That’s the way.

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DANO8503@reddit

You need more room but the movements are much more predictable.

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Peterbilt281@reddit

I never had a trailer over 48 foot.

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Waisted-Desert@reddit

Different, not harder.

All the way to the rear has the advantage for parking in narrow spaces. No tail swing to hit a neighboring truck, trailer, or wall.

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MagTex@reddit

I still have trouble backing at times & today I backed a trailer in & forgot that the tandems were slid all the way back. Nailed it. I’m gonna go buy myself a cookie.

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Evil_Space_Penguins@reddit

Its easier to fit into tight spaces with the trandems all the way back. But you need a little more space in front of you.

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Financial-Prize9691@reddit

I slide my tandems all the way back when I don't have a lot of room in front of me.

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Evil_Space_Penguins@reddit

Cons of Rear Tandems:

Less Reactive: The trailer requires more steering angle to turn, which can make it feel harder to maneuver in tight spots.

Wide Turning Arc: Requires more room to set up and navigate tight docks.

Front Swing Risk: Creates a wider swing in front of the trailer.

That's what I meant.

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Enigma_x23@reddit

It’s easier since the tail swing is so slow

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BigPete786@reddit

I guess you like to work

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luddite86@reddit

I’m Australian, our trailers don’t usually overhang anything close to the way yours do. Mine certainly don’t. Ive always imagined it’d be a bitch getting around with how much it must swing. Especially with being so long

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nekaiser@reddit

˙sƃuᴉʍs ʇᴉ ʍoɥ puɐ sᴉ lᴉɐʇ ɹnoʎ ǝɹǝɥʍ ʍouʞ ɐʇʇoƃ ʇsnɾ no⅄ ˙ʇᴉ oʇ pǝsn ǝɹ’noʎ ǝɔuo pɹɐɥ ɹǝdns ʇou s’ʇI ˙suɐʌ pɹɐʍɹoɟ ǝlxɐ oʇ ƃuɐɥɹǝʌo ɹɐlᴉɯᴉs ǝʌɐɥ ǝʍ ʇnq 'uɐʌ uᴉ ʎɐs ʎuɐ ǝʌɐɥ ʎllɐǝɹ ʇ’uop I os 'ɹǝppǝqʇɐlɟ ɐ ɯ’I ˙pɐq ʇɐɥʇ llɐ ǝq oʇ ɯǝǝs ʇ’uop ʎǝɥ┴

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Next-Big2627@reddit

It depends on kind of space you have while backing up. If you have lots of room in front to maneuver, then it would be easier and there won’t be any tail swing either. If you are backing up from a tight space having tandems all the way back makes it harder because your truck will swing wider than it would with tandems in the front.

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MostlyUseful@reddit

My rear axle is always at the rear of my trailer. Front one is 10’ ahead though. 😉

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Exnoss69@reddit

Its not harder its just slower turning so you might need a but more space. Now tandems all the way forward is annoying. The trailer truns way too fast and you can find yourself just turning your wheel like an idiot trying to catch up

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Early_Club_9762@reddit

To the rear is ideal for tight situations where I need to see better cause of limiting the swing room. But usually I just keep at the 41’ mark.

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polarjunkie@reddit

Trailers are far more easier to control the further back your tandems are. You can always tell a newbie or someone that learned from a mega trainer who had 6 months experience themselves when they put their tandems all the way forward and they say it's because they have to make the tight turns.

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tvieno@reddit

What the hell are you on? I've been out here for 30+ years and I am always driving and backing with my tandems forward.

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polarjunkie@reddit

There's almost no instance in which your tandems should be all the way forward. The only time I've ever put my tandems all the way forward is when weight required it and that breaks bridge law in some states which means you can get ticketed if you get off the interstate in those states. There's also no way you always drive like that unless you're moving bags of chips that are mostly air around the country for 30 years. It's definitely easier, and more comfortable not to drive with your tandems all the way forward.

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tvieno@reddit

There's almost no instance in which your tandems should be all the way forward.

...when weight required it and that breaks bridge law

Which is almost every instance.

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polarjunkie@reddit

Honestly it's insane that you would make a statement that weight requires you to move your tandems all the way forward in almost every instance. I've had maybe two or three loads in 15 years that weight required the tandems all the way forward because they were so nose heavy. One of those was a piece of machinery and another one was a floor load with double stack pallets of rock salt in the front and a bunch of other shit just strewn about. Have you ever been to California where your tandems are set at 40 ft and that's the only place they can be set?

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

No, I just position my tandems for whatever back I'm doing really. Maybe it used to be weird but honestly I quite often find myself having to do backing with the tandems stretched. So maybe I just got used to it.

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Freightshaker000@reddit

As a former flatbedder now dragging a box, I hate having my tandems forward

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Landsharque@reddit

As a former day cab LTL monkey, I have to have mine forward in those tight spots. I know where my tail is

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polarjunkie@reddit

I do LTL right now in my company's only sleeper because they don't want to get rid of it just in case they need it. It's pretty funny going to the same places with the sleeper and a 53 whike everyone else is going with a 48 and a single axle day cab.

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Fishdude909@reddit

Not so much harder but it does increase the turn radius, but if you have the space it shouldn’t matter. Trailer pivots on the wheels wherever the wheels are.

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planetbuster@reddit

not harder so much as slower. apples/oranges.

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truckingham@reddit

Me personally I like to keep them at the 41’ mark as much as possible. That way my bridge is legal almost everywhere, more weight on drives for ride quality, and very little tail swing if any

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RoamingNomadSoul@reddit

This the way !

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ladrilare07@reddit

Easier to back in because most places make you slide your tandems at the gate. Its what im used to by now.

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King_of_Being_Basic@reddit

My company (mostly) only has tri axles that dont slide and they're all the way back, so that's what im used to. that's what im probably better at i suppose lol. But I will say, I get self conscious when parking because I stick out a bit further than the average truck, just cause there's not as much trailer over hang

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TrolledByDestiny@reddit

Its always been easier for me with them back, especially when i was still learning. But i do practice with them forward too , just so i know i can do it lol

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Virtual_Society_1852@reddit

It depends on the space. If I'm backing into a wide space that doesn't have a lot of room in front of it, I'll slide them to the front. If it's a narrow space that I can straight-back in to, it's easier with them all the way back.

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Riyeko@reddit

I have a weird take on this.

I drove OTR for 11 years, and the last year and a half I've driven a yard truck.

In a regular semi, yes. It's easier for me to compensate for the trailer overhang and makes the turning radius less of an issue on the truck, when the tandems are all the way forward. Easier to make tight turns, easier in crowded docks and warehouses, even easier to get into parking spots at truck stops.

In the yard truck, it's much easier with the tandems all the way back. The yard truck already has such a tight turning radius that having them forward throws off all the backing knowledge I have. Hell the first couple times I tried backing a 53ft refer with the tandems all the way forward, in the yard truck, I thought I was going to Jack knife it.

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FireryDawn@reddit

New zealander with a 3axle semi trailer.

We dont have sliding axles(definitely none iv seen or heard of) i just have to deal with it

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unloader86@reddit

It is easier yes. I'd only slide them back beforehand if the dock was super tight. If it is wide open and I don't need to worry about swing, just back her in as is, slide afterward.

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Fair-Recognition8245@reddit

I have been in spots where I had them back at some point and switched in the middle of my backing to gain a different advantage. Can’t remember a specific scenario. But I do know I’ve done it.

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PutridContribution41@reddit

Depends on the spot and your backing style (how fast / slow you turn the wheel with tandem radius speed).

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echo78@reddit

I prefer them as far up as possible. Makes tight backs so much easier.

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Choice_Manufacturer7@reddit

Always all the way back on tankers.

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Vast-Yak-8713@reddit

It’s ‘harder’ because it’s totally unlike backing with tandems up; there’s no tail swing whatsoever.

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Nero8762@reddit

Jesus ain’t you right. 🤣

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T_Track210@reddit

To me its easier to back that way instead of the all the way forward.

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gear_jammin_deer@reddit

I think it largely depends on how you learned. Me personally, I learned on 53' reefers that had the tandems slid forward more often than not, so I find it easier with the tandems forward.

My dad, on the other hand, started driving back when 40' was the standard trailer length, and learned on flatbeds and dump trailers that had fixed tandems all the way at the back. As such, he has a much easier time when there's no tail swing.

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Jaded_Loverr@reddit

Easier

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Ghost-1911@reddit

I prefer them forward. But I understand the no tail swing sentiment.

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CtSamurai@reddit

Slide forward for tighter bigger turns. Slide back for better control/accuracy. Its just geometry. Wait till you go back to a personal trailer and pick up truck 🤣

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jgremlin_@reddit

Like Bob Dole's underwear, depends.

Sometimes all the way back is the best way to do it. Sometimes all the forward is the best way to do it. Sometimes it doesn't matter.

Always do what's appropriate for the mess you're in.

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madtowntripper@reddit

Bob Dole reference!? Off the road, Grandpa.

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jgremlin_@reddit

Way ahead of you. Company switched me to driving a desk 10 years ago. Do I miss driving? Sure. Do I want to go back to driving? What'd you think?

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Proper_Joke2597@reddit

Not really harder it’s just different. Unless it’s a really tight spot you need to get into I usually have no problem at all backing regardless of tandem position.

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SlothyTendecies@reddit

It's easier for me after coming from 12 years of flatbed. I hate the tail swing when they are all the way up.

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TruckinTuba@reddit

What do you mean? Can they be anywhere else?

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Exciting-Car-3516@reddit

Much easier

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EntireRace8780@reddit

I don’t find it harder necessarily, but in tight areas it can be annoying.

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Thegrandestpoo@reddit

All depends on where I’m backing. If it’s narrow and no headroom, I like them to the rear. If it’s narrow and I have head room I like them slid up front.

I’ll say one thing though. I’m gonna run them all the way up if I can going down the road and getting around town. No question.

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goofybaseball_@reddit

When i was in school they would only have them all the way back i find myself messing up more when the tandem are sucked forward

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istayintheleftlane@reddit

Just follow the tires not the end of the trlr... No matter where the tadems are position....

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Correct_Writer_3410@reddit

If your tandems are all the way forward this is a good way to wedge your whole tail through half someone's sleeper on the blind side, all while your tandems haven't even crossed the line of the space you're backing into on sight side

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Motor_Start_4995@reddit

Imo it depends where trying to put the trailer. NYC definitely but I also did a couple Amazon runs for the first time and man talk about a lot of room. I don’t understand how truckers hit other trailers with so much room at those facilities. I’m thinking about switching to Amazon just for the easiness of it😂

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WinterConnection584@reddit

No

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Parking_Exit2297@reddit

I like them all the way back while backing into a dock but going down the road, no so much

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Outlandah_@reddit

I have never pulled box trailers any other way than pictured hahahaha.

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Cool_Thanks_4934@reddit

Better. Less tail swing.

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waveyvibez22@reddit

If it’s a tight yard and I don’t have to slide to the rear at the gate.. I line up in the spot with tandems forward then move to the rear if I’m worried about tail swing. Otherwise I typically keep mine around 41’ and can get in really anywhere like that.

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Actual_Handle_3@reddit

I have a 48' spread axle with a front lift axle. When empty, I only have the rear down which is almost the midpoint of the tandems of a 53' all the way back. Yes, it's a lot harder to back that way.

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UOLZEPHYR@reddit

Hole 8 is where I put my tandems for first weight, more often 8 or 9 worked great when I was OTR.

Once I was empty those tandems went to the front and away we go. Id much rather deal with swing and be able to have turns. Part of your set up is missing the trailer swing.

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Horus_Whistler@reddit

I find it harder. You get used to how much you need to steer when you have the tandems at a certain place while seeing the angle of truck and trailer, then it's different when you have the tandems in a different spot

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NorthP503@reddit

I drive 5 different lengths of trailer, without knowing what the length will be til I get there each day. If I’m in a 48/53, I prefer them slid up all the way cause it keeps my backing as close to consistent as possible.

All the way back isn’t exactly easier, but it gives you way more control.

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georgiatrucker@reddit

Safer, when you need to back in between two sleepers so you don't swing into a mirror.

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IllustriousLeek39@reddit

Having them all the way back increases your KPRH. It’s less reactive and usually needs more angle. You get used to it.

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Accomplished-Cat-632@reddit

Of course it is.

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Ill-Establishment803@reddit

I find it harder but it really depends on the amount of space I have but would prefer them forward then all the way back

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StonedTrucker@reddit

I like to have them forward but i wouldnt say either one is harder. Just changes the angles

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opinionated_penguin@reddit

Eh I just set up for it a little different. I did think it was harder in the past but I have grown as a person since then 😤

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Defiant-Medicine3014@reddit

I’ll get into a spot on shot no pull ups with them all the way up or even like midway down. But all the way to the rear I look like a rookie still. It should be easier but just isn’t to me lmao. But I was taught in school with them all the way forward so perhaps that has something to do with it

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