Help me understand
I don't have a slider hitch in my 08 6.5 ft. box. For those that do have them, what is the advantage other than then if you have a flat cap on your 5er? I could see the need for one. However, it seems...
Forum Discussion
Tom_Diane wrote:
I dont claim to be an "expert" but I have a lot of trailering experience and have never put the trailer in a position that I would take out a back window.
This is not to say it doesn't happen, it just seems so easy to avoid this happening.
The CDL test books show no instance when you make a move to turn that sharp, going forward or reverse. I am not trying to knock anyone who has a slider hitch.
I just wanted to know what the reason for a slider was besides having a short box or flat cap.
You must have been an over the road driver.
The CDL test doesn't mirror all the real life situations. It is obvious that you never went to the truck depot near Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Shortly after I got my CDL being the new guy, I got sent there and I waited in line, and waited, and waited. Finally a lady showed up at the drivers window and said, "you look like you know what you are doing, take slot **" (don't remember the number) I didn't then have the guts to tell her I was new with less then a month of towing 53 ft trailers so I tried to reason with her stating that I was number 6 in line so they should come first.
She told me that they had all refused to accept the slot so since I was the last in line that could get to it, it was mine and she expected me to use it. It wasn't as hard as I thot it would be and there were a bunch of drivers watching how I'd do. By sliding the trailer axles and jackknifing it I got it in within 15 minutes and other drivers walked over and complimented me on good quick job "and it was obvious you have done this numerous times." I didn't tell them it was my first time and only been pulling 53 footers for less then a month. In real trucking on local delivery and pickups, jackknifing is required around here. Over the road maybe never.
I had a classmate who drove over the road for over 30 years and he could not back a rig to save his life. I never understood how he did it. He got a local job to save his 4th marriage and lasted less then two weeks till he got fired. Of course I only lasted approx 6 months on that job until another aviation job opened up driving a little shorter, much wider, more powerful, dual engine, busses at 5 times the speed. :B
