Maximum gross vehicle weight When pulling a set of pup trailers

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by truckerdave1970, Apr 24, 2010.

  1. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    I know i used to know this number But for some reason i do not remember it now.
    With a tandem axle tractor And 2 single axle pup trailers 1 single axle dolly ,What is the maximum gross legal weight for each axle and total weight please?
     
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  3. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    12,000 on the steers, 34,000 on the drives providing you have tandem axles.

    20,000 on each single axle. Not to exceed 80,000 for the combination.
     
  4. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    Wow! That was quick! 3 minutes!
    And also what I was guessing. Thank you very much.
     
  5. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Yer welcome.


    Also keep in mind that the trailer that weighs the most has to go first. Unless its a 5000 lb or less difference.
     
  6. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    The drive axle on a set is always the hardest to scale. If loaded perfectly, you can scale about 26,500 in one of our pups but I've had trailers as light as 14,000 over on the drive axle. Not uncommon for me to scale a 17,000 trailer and be 19,000 on the drives and only 11,500 or 12,000 on the trailer axle.

    Not sure if there are any laws regarding how far apart in weight you're trailers can be to flip them around. Years ago in Ohio I was like 2000 over on the drives and they won't let you leave till you adjust it - they told me to flip em around to get legal or I couldn't leave. Must have been about an 8000 lb difference on two heavy trailers - maybe a 24,000 and a 16,000 - so I flipped em around scaled the axles and I was on my way.
     
  7. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

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    Because that was SAFER??? WTH!!!!
     
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  8. walleye

    walleye Road Train Member

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    Where I work the heavy trailer is ALWAYS the lead,....It doesn't matter if ti is only 1 pound difference,.....
     
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  9. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    Also get lazy at times - if I'm running a via where I know I'm dropping one and pulling an mt home I'll put the heavy one on the back. I'll also do it on the way home if I know one hits a door and one hits the yard - I'll put the heavy one on the back if it's the one that hits the yard. I won't put a 5 on the front with a 20 on the back but if they're within a few thousand and the roads are dry I'll flip em if it saves some screwing around later. A lot of line-haul drivers at all the companies do this.. I also believe your parcel division determines lead and kite by cube and not weight so they never really know which is the heavy one.
     
  10. full speed

    full speed Heavy Load Member

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    Last edited: Apr 25, 2010
  11. jakebrake12

    jakebrake12 Road Train Member

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    Should have mentioned the other reason I'll flip em which is more of a safety/preference thing. With the way our cross-dock works at night, sometimes you'll get the heavy freight at the end of the night leading to a real heavy trailer axle when the trailer is light up front - I'll re-work it in the winter but on dry roads it's somewhat of a waste. Say my two trailers are a 13 and a 17, and I know the 13 is real heavy right on the back whereas the 17 is loaded pretty evenly. I'll put the 13 up front because I hate tail heavy kites - they really jump around and don't feel right on curves. I personally think the set pulls better and smoother when the two are flipped placing the tail heavy trailer up front.
     
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