Geometry question - can I make this turn?

[ctann]

Hi all,

Still yet to buy my new trailer, but I am trying to decide just what length I can go with. I have a tight turn across a bridge to get into my property, and I have seen people get stuck (or run up the curb and damage the bridge) trying to make the turn.

Of course, the one way to answer my question is to "try it out" - but I don't want to buy a 35' trailer and tow it to the bridge, only to get stuck!

So, the geometry is
- Making a left hand turn from a road onto a bridge
- Road is 34' wide, and I can get all the way over to the right before starting the turn
- bridge is 12' wide.
- My tow vehicle is an LWB F350 with a 28' turning radius.

I have made the turn with a 23' trailer with absolutely no problem. Now I am stepping up in trailer size - and I want to figure out just how long a trailer I can stretch to without getting stuck. I am hoping 30' will be OK, but I just *love* the layout of the 35' trailers, so I am getting greedy! 🙂

So I am going to go shopping, and hopefully they will let me "test-drive" - I'll set up some cones in a parking lot, and see if I can make the turn. Still, I would like some idea beforehand of what length I can go up to. Anyone have any advice?

Cheers,
Chris.

[jmtandem]

Also you have to take the swing of the back of the trailer into the equation and whether there is room where it will be.

X2 This is likely the biggest issue. You may have to get the trailer completely past the end of the bridge before making a serious turn.

[mdamerell]

Might take some practice but we turn tractor trailers with 53' trailers into a 12' fuel lane with about the same distance to make the turn. You just have to overshoot a little with the cab and bring it back. The tires on the trailer(RV) are closer and thus should turn better than our 53's at 41' from kingpin (MI legal). Just make sure you have room for the "butt" to swing.

My semi tends to turn better than my F350 though.

[nevadanick]

Depends on the distance from the ball to the axles. Also you have to take the swing of the back of the trailer into the equation and whether there is room where it will be.