Question:
As many of you know, I run flatbed. While we don't get into as many tight places as vans do, we still have quite a few interesting places.
This week I got the famous door 11 at WCI in Warren, O. This door was fine in the days of 165" tractors and 38' trailers, but today, with 48 footers and 72 foot overall----I'll try to describe this.
You come down a narrow alley. Your right mirror must be about an inch or so from the wall of the building on your right side.
The door has a V entrance.
As you approach, you must put the tractor into the far side of the V, follow it around. If you do it right, your tractor will miss the steel post on the passenger side by an inch or two. As soon as the tractor clears the post, you must bend it to the right and get it straight with the trailer.
This will allow the right front corner of your trailer to barely miss the post.
You must then cut sharply back to the left. the rear of your trailer will just miss the post on the drivers side, leaving you in the door with the trailer aimed sort of S.E to N.W. with the tractor bent S.W to N.E.
After loading you must begin walking the unit to the right to get out. At first, you can only move 3 to 4 feet either way, but as time goes, you get more to play with.
You end up backing into an open bay on the other side of the alley and you must be as tight to the passenger side of this bay as you can.
You can then pull up into the V, jacknife backwards, and pull out.
Done right, your trailer will just barely clear the door of the bay you backed into.
The place is a female dog, believe me.
Last Tuesday, I get this door. As I come around, I see a guy sitting at the split in the road.
"What are you looking for?"
"Door 11."
"Go left."
"Thanks."
"Not been here before, right?"
"Right."
"Keep tight to the wall on your right side. This place is a real (female dog) to get into."
"Thanks."
"Want some help getting in the door. Be glad to guide you."
"Don't need no @#*&^% help, I know how to drive!"
He lost the clearance light on the right front corner of his trailer, busted up that same side corner, bent up the rub rail on the drivers side back of the trailer, plus getting the steps, fuel tank and quarter fender on the passenger side of the tractor.
I've been in that door quite a few times since the 70's. I'll still take a guide if available.

Answer:
I delivered to a grocery warehouse in Philly behind the ball park. This place was crazy. At first it looked ok until you got in there and tried to set up to back in. You really couldn't because no room to get around correctly. So back and forth you go until your close. I had the drivers parked on each side out front helping. (I think they didn't want their trucks hit.) There was around and inch on each side away from their mirrors. When they asked if i need help without hesitation I said "you bet" Even with help it takes a few tries to get it with the clearance there.
I've had several places I've gone into that were tight. If I can do it without to many problems I go ahead in. But there have been occasions when drivers offered and when I asked. No point in trying to be a super trucker in tough spots if help is there. I find most drivers are willing to help and in turn I will also help others. Things like backing, sliding tandems etc. you might need help and at times you might be able to help others.
Good Stuff
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Sounds like you found a Dollar General store to back into. lol
Try this stupid store in Houston. Start across the road in a seperate strip mall. Back into four lanes of traffic, jump over center median next to light pole, into the next two lanes of traffic.
Then bring your trl to your right to set up for alley, 45 into alley, about 1 foot next to bulding on your right, to miss tree limp hanging down on your left that will take out your trl.
Pass tree limb move end of trl to the left to set up for a 45 zig about the length of a trl start to cut into that. In order to get straight you have to do a bunch of one foot back and forths to get trk in line with trl. Dumpsters on your right prevent you from just cutting it back to get under trl.
Now cut it back to the right to get down the zag again just about a trl length.
Yellow concrete post along both sides of the zig-zag.
Now again preform the back and forths to get back under trl cant just cut it back under trl because of the yellow post.
Finnally blind side jack knife into door of store.
I messed up pulled straight into alley when I first got there had to back out and back in.
Total backing time 2 hrs.
"A choice between doin' ten years, and takin'out some stupid !@#$,ain't no choice at all."
Mr.White (Reservor Dogs)

Answer:
Sounds like some of them places they send me to in downtown Los Angeles. I'll take a guide any day and offer to help also.

Answer:
Funny how the drivers that don't need help almost always screw something up. I never ever refused help even when I knew exactly what had to be done.
Extra eyes never hurt anyone. The thing that bothers me today is the unwillingness of drivers to offer help when it's clearly needed.
Mike