tractor trailer turn around

[inphx]

In my planning my new toy shop will be at the end of a long driveway. Is there some standard or template to consider if a tractor with 40' trailer can come up the drive... back up turning the trailer 90 degrees - pull back down driveway the way they came to straighten out.. and then backup?

Im looking for a diagram/template to see if i have the space or what needs to be paved/cleared?

 

[chris142]

not too many 40 footers left. most are 48 or 53. here in ca we have 58s too

 

[Rural53]

There is no template for your specific manoeuvre. All manoeuvres are built up from this one template. Your manoeuvre is built up of two right (or left) turns. See quick and dirty sketch below. This shows truck entering, turning right, backing up and exiting by turning right. If you want to be able to enter and turn left etc as well you will need to mirror the right turn sketch and pick the lines that are the widest.

Note the lines show the extent of the truck. Generally you will need to make your turn area 2’ wider than the template shows.

 

[HOTFR8]

My best suggestion would be to find the vehicle you want to make access for and simply try it and see how you go getting it in and out, that way you know what you can and can not do on the property.

 

[58Yeoman]

...and leave room for inexperienced drivers. I've seen some dandy's at my place of work.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How long is this long driveway ? It might just be easier to back in completely from the street than try to make a big ol' turn around.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

How long is this long driveway ? It might just be easier to back in completely from the street than try to make a big ol' turn around.

The two or three times I've had a semi at my place, that is what I've done. I have them go to the far end of the street (3000 ft away) and turn around where there is a large paved area a 53 ft can turn around in, then back to my drive, which is angled into a curve in the street, then they back about 300 ft down the drive. It works quite well, though the last one did scrub the power pole with the trailer (just slightly before I stopped him).

Charles

 

[illtemper]

As an ex truckdriver, I'd rather back down the driveway than try to maneuver in your yard, those big mirrors don't help quite as much as you'd think. Most smaller/residential places that get deliveries more than once a year have either a U or an O driveway. a T can work but remember, a full size truck is 70 feet long and requires a 100 foot circle minimum to turn around. In you diagram, the pullout/ turn around area would need to be about 50' wide and 150' long, those trailers need enough room to straighten out. An open circle, like a cul-de-sac would be easier,just depends on your area...Jon

 

[Long haul]

^^^^^ this.

Being a driver for 15 years myself its usually easier to back in off the street most places I go. My current tractor with a 53' trailer is 73' long bumper to bumper. Dont get me wrong it can be done the way your looking to do it, but unless you plan on a truck coming in more then once a week I would make the drive way wider.

 

[Long haul]

I will also say make it out of concrete. Asphalt wont hold up under the stress of the truck tires turning and sliding on it.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I would rather back into the driveway from the street........provided........ your driveway crossing is wide enough to handle a full length tractor-trailer.. Just set two pop cans about 9' apart, and I will park the trailer wheels between the cans.... Turning a semi in tight quarters can really tear the livin **** out of a parking area.... I really hate to see that happen.. Unless you have semi trucks comming there on a regular basis; it would be hard to justify the expense... I have my own truck, and have spent allot of time and money upgrading my driveway and parking lot to handle the weight of a loaded semi.. When it comes to packing the parking lot, I used my 80,000 pound semi..For hours......... My main parking area is about 80' across where I turn in my yard.. Long wheel base road tractors don't all turn very sharp.. It can get tight to twist a truck around in that area... Easier to just back in.....OT....Your diagram in your post: I used that methoid to turn a 48' reefer around in a cave in Independence, Missouri... That cave had pillars galore... had to wiggle in between them ...

 

[Falcon67]

> Turning a semi in tight quarters can really tear the livin **** out of a parking area
This is spades. They are going to be pouring several thousands in concrete this year at the drag strip because the toter home and stacker trailers chewed the **** out of the asphalt over the last few years. As in - ground up and gone. The bottom half and the back third of parking is nothing much more than dirt and black crumbles.

This guy backed up the road to deliver my 16' door. The street Ts into a regular residential street on the left of the picture and there is a 50+ foot cul-de-sac just to the right out of frame. Driver wanted nothing to do with that, so he back in from the left.

 

[Chris Stapley]

If you have room around the shop a nice loop around the building is pretty good to line up to..

 

[Ryf]

go to a small truck stop. measure the difference between the truck across from each other, thats how much it takes to back in from the street and pull out. most drivers and recipients prefer backed in so they don't have to lug the stuff the extra 70-80 feet, and if its tailgate service, he doesn't have to wait for you to move it to leave. if you add pavement, add it at the end of the drive so its not a tight turn on the street. I wouldn't build a driveway to only let a UPS/fedex truck in, if your going to the trouble, make it common carrier friendly as well.

most drivers like to back in and pull out, because backing onto a street requires assistance in many cases, backing in you can assess as you pull up, and then see as you pull out. good luck with your plans. as someone else said, this also put the road damage on public roads, so it would be fixed by the your tax money, not by you.

 

[alabamavolvos]

I see that your plan uses a 45' radius. I've always planned the turns around the riding rings with a 55' radius. I don't remember were that number comes from but that is what I plan for incase a semi came on the grounds.

 

[Greatbear]

40 acres. It's the easiest way that I found.

 

[illtemper]

40 acres. It's the easiest way that I found.

lol, oldie but a goody. Haven't heard that in years, thanks.

 

[inphx]

Thanks all. I will be building about 300' drive on a 2 acre hillside lot with restrictions on what can legally be cleared/graded. So its just dreamin on possibilities now. I dont get truck deliveries often but where i am at now an will be moving from it's flat and no issue.