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Old 06-29-2015, 10:40 AM   #1
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Confusion about left and right

In a recent post, there was some confusion about left and right. Left and right depend on where you are.

I suggest we use a convention that does not depend on where you are facing.

Some forums use driver side vs passenger side instead of left and right. Front is where the hitch is located and Rear is where the tail lights are located.

Nautical types might like port (driver side), starboard (stbd, passenger side), Forward (Fwd) and Aft.
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Old 06-29-2015, 10:53 AM   #2
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I would like to think that most people would consider the tongue end of their trailer to be front, the tail light end to be rear and the 'curb side' where almost all doors are to be right and the other side to be left. Just like the tail lights are right and left. Never even considered it any other way.
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Old 06-29-2015, 11:39 AM   #3
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Not really sure that I even see an issue here. We all presumably know what left and right is, and most manufacturers put the left turn signal on the left side of the trailer. Maybe I am missing something?

Still, curbside/passenger side, and streetside/driver sided, seem to be the most common convention.

Unless one plans to float or fly their trailer, port and starboard don't really apply.
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Old 06-29-2015, 12:49 PM   #4
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Right and left side

Years ago I was tasked with unloading a Semi trailer load of peat for a golf course, I had to get the left and right straightened out with the driver to correctly position the load. The driver said to me, "Right and left are always as if you are standing behind the load, except if it's a manure spreader, nobody should ever stand behind one of those". That comment has stuck with me for nearly 50 years, it's saved a lot of arguments and brought a few smiles. And in the world of warranties, guarantees, and responsibilities of the manufacturer after the sale, manure spreaders were never warranted because nobody would stand behind them. Rimshot
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Old 06-29-2015, 12:52 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stefman
............ the 'curb side' where almost all doors are to be right and the other side to be left.........
Almost all the doors.


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Old 06-29-2015, 01:09 PM   #6
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Port and starboard. Relative to the front and always correct no matter which way you are facing.
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Old 06-29-2015, 02:25 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave View Post
Years ago I was tasked with unloading a Semi trailer load of peat for a golf course, I had to get the left and right straightened out with the driver to correctly position the load. The driver said to me, "Right and left are always as if you are standing behind the load, except if it's a manure spreader, nobody should ever stand behind one of those". That comment has stuck with me for nearly 50 years, it's saved a lot of arguments and brought a few smiles. And in the world of warranties, guarantees, and responsibilities of the manufacturer after the sale, manure spreaders were never warranted because nobody would stand behind them. Rimshot
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Funny! It says on the left side that this is your first post, so you are off to a good start - welcome!
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Old 06-29-2015, 03:39 PM   #8
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My wife labeled the dogs eye medicine as she was looking at the dog. Right eye of the dog was as she looked at her and of course, was her left eye.
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Old 06-29-2015, 03:45 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave View Post
Years ago I was tasked with unloading a Semi trailer load of peat for a golf course, I had to get the left and right straightened out with the driver to correctly position the load. The driver said to me, "Right and left are always as if you are standing behind the load, except if it's a manure spreader, nobody should ever stand behind one of those". That comment has stuck with me for nearly 50 years, it's saved a lot of arguments and brought a few smiles. And in the world of warranties, guarantees, and responsibilities of the manufacturer after the sale, manure spreaders were never warranted because nobody would stand behind them. Rimshot
Dave
Ha! That's funny...and so easy to remember!

When I bought my old 13' Scamp it looked like the insides had been used to haul manure!


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Old 06-29-2015, 04:46 PM   #10
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I've always used curbside and streetside. Seems pretty simple. Stand in your trailer facing the front of it. Streetside is on your left and curbside is on your right.
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Old 06-29-2015, 04:56 PM   #11
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The standard in the transportation and automotive industry it is always in relation to facing forward or sitting in the operators seat (as mentioned above).
Therefore left is streetside and right is curbside.
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Old 06-29-2015, 05:50 PM   #12
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We had crew chief who was told to change the right main tire, he changed the left main tire and the aircraft did not meet the schedule. The next morning someone had painted left and right on his main landing gear doors. Any aircraft he crewed after that incident the landing gear doors were labeled right and left. (Not by him).
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Old 06-29-2015, 09:08 PM   #13
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River left or river right while paddling is always determined when facing downstream.
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Old 06-29-2015, 10:06 PM   #14
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very much...

very much like "skiers right, skiers left" used by snowcat operators working...cause they work uphill and downhill
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Old 06-29-2015, 10:22 PM   #15
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Has anyone considered that we are mostly speaking to folks on the forum who drive on the right side of the street? Everything is mirror-image if you are in countries where they drive on the left side of the street. Recently we, Americans, were driving in New Zealand and it took some adjustment, especially the stick shift!
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Old 06-29-2015, 10:26 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by Franswa View Post
very much like "skiers right, skiers left" used by snowcat operators working...cause they work uphill and downhill
also used by most others on the mountain when direction someone to a particular location.

Honestly wasn't aware there was ever any confusion in regards to which is the right or left side of the trailer either - not any different than a car - the front is clearly the front as is the rear so getting confused as to which is right or left side of the trailer would be a real odd.
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Old 06-30-2015, 12:08 AM   #17
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Honestly wasn't aware there was ever any confusion in regards to which is the right or left side of the trailer either - not any different than a car - the front is clearly the front as is the rear so getting confused as to which is right or left side of the trailer would be a real odd.
I agree with you but Iowa Dave's response/explanation is great.
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Old 06-30-2015, 03:20 AM   #18
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In the trucking industry we always use the terms "driver side" and "passenger side" to avoid any confusion. And "nose" and "tail" for front and back
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Old 06-30-2015, 06:56 AM   #19
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Not by the eye of the beholder.

...and in heraldry it is from the perspective of the wearer of the coat of arms, not the opponent or observer. So, right is left, left is right. Coats of arms are more than pictures.
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Old 06-30-2015, 11:28 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by Gilda View Post
Has anyone considered that we are mostly speaking to folks on the forum who drive on the right side of the street? Everything is mirror-image if you are in countries where they drive on the left side of the street. Recently we, Americans, were driving in New Zealand and it took some adjustment, especially the stick shift!
Yup I have been to other parts of the world and driven right hand steering wheeled cars on the left hand side of the road and still have a number of family & friends who live in such countries. In fact two family members are currently visiting.

BUT Right is still Right and Left is still left... that does not change regardless of where you are in the world or what side of the road you drive on.

Agree though that referring to passenger side and driver side when discussion the car or trailer would indeed confuse those who are from left lane driving countries.
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