Backing At Truck Stops

I've been solo for about a month now and am still having trouble with this. It's stressful as all hell. I've been lucky and been blessed so far with easy stuff. I don't want to acknowledge the luck but I know it won't last.

So when you go to set up I get some of it but there's not much wiggle room sometimes. Any advice?

What I always do in the trucks stops that have really tight parking as in very little room to maneuver, I will get as close as possible to the trucks as I can then swing out for my set up and while backing hug the truck on the left side of the hole I want to back into. I will be close enough that it looks like I'm going to take that trucks fender off. I'll look to make sure i'm not, I do that to make sure I have room on the right side to not hit that tractor. Then depending on how close I am to the tractor on the left and how much space I have on the right will determine whether I put more or less angle on the trailer. Then when the trailer looks like its about to hit the mirror of the left tractor I have about 5-6 feet to use to pull forward and start putting a gap between the left tractor and my trailer when using the front space to pull forward. I will be starting into the hole at an angle close enough to the tractor on the left that there is ample room on the right side. GOAL to make sure, and from there it looks bad backing up because you are still close to the left truck. After backing in at an angle and about half way in the hole, I will then do my pull up and start dividing the space up and get it centered best I can in the parking spot.

And to be honest some of the truck stops where it is so tight that when you go to leave and have to pull up as close as you can to the truck in front of you stop, back up, pull forward again and almost jack knife to get out, I will not bother with.

Hope that helps

Very good stuff from Michael.

As a newbie, don't even think about how much time it takes you. Don't think about who's watching. Do your thing. It WILL get better over time.

-mountain girl

What Michael said, plus -- it gets easier with more experience. The main thing is to GOAL and not hit anything.

Other tips: Turn off your CB. Try to pick a time and/or spot that won't block the aisle so other trucks can get past you if you're having a tough time and it's taking a while. Ask for help spotting.

And for goodness' sake, don't even think about trying to park at the Pilot at exit 99 on I-5 in Washington unless you can get one of the handful of spots that will allow you to back straight in and exit straight out, or if you're arriving and departing midday. And even then, make sure you have your insurance card handy. Their aisles are about 3 feet too narrow to be considered merely "tight."

I find the 90 is a lot better in truck stops then the 45... With the 90 you hug the side your going to park which gives you more room on the right side...