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    Re: [RC] New Rig - Joe Long


    On Fri, 24 May 2002 10:56:07 -0700, Mike Sofen <msofen@xxxxxxxxxxx>
    wrote:
    
    >Amber,
    >IMO, The biggest thing to remember when transitioning from bumperpull to
    >gooseneck is turning radius, but not in the way that you might think.
    >Goosenecks can turn far more sharply than bumperpulls (a good thing), but
    >due their greater length, turn more SLOWLY (from an angle of the curve
    >perspective).
    >
    >Shortly after getting my first gooseneck, I saw a beautiful and obviously
    >brand new all aluminum gooseneck rig at a ride but it had a huge gash in the
    >wheelwell of the trailer.  I asked what happened and was told that he'd
    >pulled into a gas station but missed seeing the vertical concrete pillar
    >that protects the gas pump island...his truck went past it fine but the slow
    >turning of the trailer clipped it good.  That was all I needed to see to
    >permanently burn that rule in my brain.
    
    I want to second that.  I recently moved to a gooseneck after years of
    pulling bumper-pulls.  My instincts were that if the truck missed it
    (post, hole, whatever), the trailer would too.  WRONG!  The first time
    I drove out of my pasture with it I clipped a wooden fence post that
    the truck cleared easily!  Fortunately, I suffered only minor damage
    to a fender.
    
    Until you have a good feel for it, give *everything* a wider berth
    than you think necessary, and use your mirrors to watch where the
    trailer is going.
    
    Although you can back a gooseneck into tighter places, it's backing
    behavior is different, too, so practice, practice, practice!
    
    BTW, it isn't just the greater length.  It's the geometry, with the
    hitch point over the axle.  Also, in my case the gooseneck is wider
    than my old trailers, in fact a bit wider than the truck where my old
    trailers were less wide than the truck.  So I can be going perfectly
    straight and the trailer can hit an obstacle that the truck misses.
    
    >My suggestion is to practice turning going forward, placing cones on the
    >ground to navigate around and get a feel for how wide you have to swing your
    >truck to allow your trailer to clear the cone.  You WILL get it very
    >quickly - it's not rocket science at all.  It is all about the turning
    >radius of your truck and the length of your trailer (from hitch to wheels) -
    >the longer, the "slower" the back end of the trailer aligns back up with the
    >front of the truck.  In one hour, you'll have enough feel to drive there.
    
    >Also remember that on curvy and narrow mountain roads, you may need to hug
    >the center line to avoid having your trailer tires go off the pavement on
    >the right side.  I always have really good right side mirrors that allow me
    >to see the trailer tires from the driver seat.
    
    But this is a two-edged sword:  if you hug the centerline with the
    truck, the trailer will be going *over* the centerline into the
    opposite lane.  So don't hug it too closely!  And *use those mirrors*
    to monitor where the trailer is.  I agree with Mike -- if your present
    mirrors don't let you see the trailer fenders and wheels on both
    sides, get bigger mirrors ASAP.
    
    >You can always get someone to help you turn your rig around at an event, but
    >they can't help you driving home, so since your training time is nil, that's
    >what I'd focus on for your particular situation.
    
    Yes.  Last of all, don't worry too much.  Use the practice tips here,
    give obstacles a wide berth (especially in gas stations and such), and
    use your mirrors, and you'll do just fine.
    
    -- 
    
    Joe Long
    jlong@xxxxxxx
    http://www.rnbw.com
    
    
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    Replies
    [RC] New Rig, amber applegate
    RE: [RC] New Rig, Mike Sofen