been asked to drive moving truck for kids and have only driven a 15 passanger van before.
2006-08-07 05:26:01 · 8 answers · asked by aronukmale 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
You're no longer in the family sedan. You can't start as fast, and you sure can't stop as fast. Allow plenty of following distance.
Make sure you can see clearly out of the mirrors on both sides. It only takes a few minutes to adjust them.
Do not put the truck in reverse until you get out of the truck and walk back there to see what's behind you.
Measure the height of the truck. (Oh, about 10 feet or looks like 11 feet won't do it.) You'll need to be able to drive under canopies at gas stations...if you're 10 feet, and the canopy is 9 feet, the damage will be dramatic. Same thing for bridges, overpasses, trees, power lines, etc. Don't guess...KNOW how tall you are.
Watch the weather report. If there are going to be high winds, remember that the truck can be blown over because it's a high profile vehicle.
Keep both hands on the wheel. A cell phone in your ear, a sandwich in your hand and a hot cup of coffee on your lap are the mixture that will make an interesting accident report.
Open the hood. Yeah, yeah, I know...the rental guy told you everything's okay under there. Check the antifreeze, wiper fluid, oil, and give the fan belt a tug to make sure it's tight. Stranded truck drivers are not happy truck drivers.
Do not ride alongside a tractor trailer truck. You're both relying on mirrors only to see behind you, and have no idea if there's a motorcycle that wants to slip between you.
Do not enter truck weigh stations. You have a free pass past them, and it irritates big truck drivers.
Secure your load. Before you take off down the road, roll 20 or thirty feet, and jam on the brakes. Stop and look at what might have fallen over in the back. Secure the load. Stopping on the shoulder of the interstate to repack the truck is not only dangerous, it's stupid. Secure your load.
2006-08-07 05:40:58 · answer #1 · answered by Stuart 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The truck is a lot longer, so you will have to be careful when you make turns.
Sort of copy the big trucks, like drive straight ahead before you make the turn, or the side of the truck could wipe out a sign or another car. When loaded your stopping distance will be a bit longer, too. They have little round mirrors in auto stores that I would put in the bottom of the mirrors. These helped me see the edge of the road and the rear wheels. I don't have depth perception, and this really helped me.
Good luck.
2006-08-07 12:34:28 · answer #2 · answered by wildbill05733 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will need to take turns much wider so your back wheels don't go over the curb or hit poles, trees, buildings.. etc...
Also, you will need to watch how much clearance you have for going under stuff like at the gas station or drive-thru places...
You will not be able to stop or dodge obsticles like you can in a car.. so you will need to leave yourself more room ahead of you to stop safely... people will cut in front of you... that is ok.. just keep trying to leave that extra space so YOU will be safe...
Wind... watch out for WIND... it can blow you over to the next lane... if it is windy... slow down!! remember you are driving a vehicle that literally has a side like the broad side of a barn!! and wind can affect you quite a lot... You don't say where you are... or where you are going... but in some mountain areas watch out for wind coming out from the mountain valleys when you go across bridges or come out of tunnels.. etc...
Power... most modern moving vans have pretty good power but you are still going to be slower going up hills and mountains...
Gas mileage... if you have to buy gas... it is going to be sticker shock!! you get about 8 or 9 mpg with a 26 foot moving van with a cab-over... depending upon how much wind... what direction the wind comes from... etc.
tha's about all I can remember from my move last year in a 26 footer.
2006-08-07 12:38:24 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After you have gassed the truck and are about to leave the gas pump, don't make a sharp turn. Because the truck pivots on the back wheels, the back of the truck can actually hit the pump if you turn sharply.
2006-08-07 13:06:42 · answer #4 · answered by saddlesore 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well that's a good start - just remember to give yourself plenty of room for turning radius, etc. Your side mirrors will also play a very importan roll as you won't have a rear view mirror. All in all, just make sure you'remore cautious while driving unfimiliar vehicles. If you get the chance, take it for a drive around a parking lot/ around the neighborhood first.
2006-08-07 12:31:46 · answer #5 · answered by swedelutheran 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please note that the answer is seven years old. No longer true about blowing past weigh stations! If you are in a truck that the load plus the truck weighs 10,001 pounds, you must stop at weigh stations. And if you are using the truck as commercial, you are subject to DOT rules and regulations.
2013-10-26 19:46:40 · answer #6 · answered by Sandra 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember that your back tires are the pivot point for a turn, so to keep from curb checking the rear tires need to be at or past an object your are turning around. You also need to use your mirrors and check them because you do not have a rear view mirror and you have huge blind spots.
2006-08-07 12:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by B R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
where the brake is...
2006-08-07 12:29:17 · answer #8 · answered by Affu Q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋