Backing Up

[TrickyNick77]

Can anyone give tips on how to properly back up to a non-truck driver such as myself? I know the very basics about turning the trailer, but I'm not very good or precise. I'd like to go for the harder parking spots.

[Andros]

Honestly it takes practice.

[RebelCobra]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuVuJ-yYsjs

[McDodge34]

For adjusting the trailer if near the spot, right left right, or left right left with the wheel will do marvelously good adjustments, I was sure I was good with all the ETS2MP I play (there's no auto parking in ETS2MP, you have no choice but to park for real no matter where you are) the Scandinavia DLC added challenging spots but its nothing like what is added in ATS right now.

[ExitiumMachina]

Look out the window...Pull back, pull forward, correct, pull back, etc., until you park.

[IceWarm]

This is for the European game but the concepts apply to both games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-qLBTLRjdA

[gary.hensley]

Originally posted by The_Prodigal_Son:

Look out the window...Pull back, pull forward, correct, pull back, etc., until you park.

Rinse...repeat.

The parking is even harder than ETS2. I usually use the hang-out-the-window view, but a few times I've had use the top-down view. The longer tractor wheel base makes it harder.

[Cowman]

Hanging out the window means that the trailer will turn the direction you want it to turn so right=right and left=left. If you're not hanging out the window then the trailer will go in the opposite direction of the wheel so right=left and left=right. It's hardest for me to remember this but the rest is just practice and getting used to how the trailer moves.

The reason for the difference in turning is because when you hang out the window the game will auto-correct your turning for the trailer instead of the truck. I'm not sure of the exact reason or if this is a toggleable option.

Basically:
Hanging out the window means reverse like normal
Looking out the windshield means turn the opposite of where you want the trailer to turn.

[Its All Zen]

Basically when you are going forward the trailer will 'track'(follow) behind your truck. When you are going backward your truck is pushing your trailer and it bends at the fulcrum(5th wheel). This bend makes the trailer go in the opposite direction you turn the truck. Basically get 2 different items (like Jenga blocks) and put one in front of the other and push the one in back backwards with the one in front while turning the one in front and you'll see the physics of how it works on a basic level. Hope that helps.

Edit: Side note, most truckers angle the truck only a little bit and then 'get back under it' (straight) and make small corrections to get the trailer where it needs to be. This is much easier because you are less likely to oversteer and have to pull forward to constantly correct yourself. Backing a trailer isn't easy though. It took me 2 years backing a real tractor/trailer before I was comfortable with it... of course bumping something in a video game doesn't get you fired so you have a bit of a margin of error to learn more quickly by taking a bit more risk to figure it out :)

[Seaxneat]

Small adjustments. Turning the wheel a whole lot cause the trailer need to move a lot will only get you into trouble. Always turn a little less than what you think you will need.

Also the looking out the window angle helps your brain process whats happening the best.

And as a concelation prize. Backing in this game is harder than backing a real Kenworth or Pete

[Wardiaper]

The best thing I learned years ago for backing up a trailer (not semi trucks) is make the bottom of the steering wheel go in the direction you want the trailer to go. It's hard to picture it in your mind in this game but once you get the hang of it you will start doing it automatically without thinking anymore.

And then practice a lot.

[SolitaryAngel]

ATS is a lot harder than ET2, hanging out of the window helps, small movements helps and if really stuck use F2 view and look around the truck and practise practise practise. The worst one I had was a tiny little yard off a road where I had to revers into the gate bend to the left then straighten up and then bend to the right and slot in a tiny little space. Took me easily 15-20 minutes to get that one right, I was sweating after it.

[Its All Zen]

Originally posted by snakestail:

ATS is a lot harder than ET2, hanging out of the window helps, small movements helps and if really stuck use F2 view and look around the truck and practise practise practise. The worst one I had was a tiny little yard off a road where I had to revers into the gate bend to the left then straighten up and then bend to the right and slot in a tiny little space. Took me easily 15-20 minutes to get that one right, I was sweating after it.

Harder than ETS2? Really? I honestly though it felt a bit easier... but I drove conventionals IRL which may be why I found the cab overs harder to handle.

[TrickyNick77]

Well, after watching the videos -- it took me all of about 7-10 minutes to do the hard parking, while I was a little off to the side, I still got full credit. Before watching the above videos, it took me 20-30 minutes.

Thanks for those videos.