I'm wondering who came up with the 'rule' that sliding tandems always moves 500lbs one way or the other. Or the other one I'm hearing now that sliding a 5th wheel plate moves 215lbs per hole. Any one that has scaled out more then one load knows these numbers are stupid. I'm just wondering if any one knows where this came from.

The only good thing about the 'rule' in my mind is that it makes it really obvious when I'm dealing with a rookie driver or a dock worker that has never seen the inside of a truck that claims to be a retired driver.

the 500lbs rule I think varries from trailer to trailer atleast that is what I was told I have not had any experince yet with it but I will at some point. The 5th wheel is the same I belive it can varry not sure but again that is what I have been told.

I've heard 250 with the 5th wheel, but its a general rule. Kinda like generally I get 3000 miles a week, sometimes its more sometimes its less.

Typically, 44K lds from my experience on CA load setups (to 45' line inside) with beverage lds, etc. are about 400-450 lbs on 5th wheel, and depending hole-spacing on tandems (4-6" centers), around 350 lbs. If fully loaded (front to back), then about 250 lbs/hole. That's typical on the Wabash Duraplates.

It's just a general idea. But I think everyone needs to come up with there on general idea based on there equipment and what they haul. It changes dramatically depending on how much is loaded behind the axles. I believe though that back in the 48 foot trl days (god I miss those trailers) we were generally always loaded to the back. That isn't so with the 53's

Haha, wernt them things just the neatest?

Jam's got it. It depends entirely on the load, how heavy it is, and how much of the trailer it takes up.

Moving the trailer axles will have little if any effect you're fully loaded but only on the front half of the trailer.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

Which is where knowing HOW to load your trailer comes into play. Especially if you have a fixed spread. I still have nightmares of figuring out pallet configurations. "double single double double... no, single double single single double!!!! ARRRRGGGG!! no more spreads!!

ok you are right it comes from the old standard 48X96 box and 45X96 flat trailer days when the wholes were on 6 inch centers. And the 5th wheel was allways 250 per notch depending on the truck some were more and some were less it is a rule of thumb not the law. Just like the first thing you do when you get a new truck is get in and put all your stuff in it go fuel it all the way up and weight it so you know where you are to start. If you don't have a starting point you don't know where to go. Just like figureing the pallet lay out on a 48 ft reefer with 48000 lbs of produce you better know how your equipment loads or you will spend all day going back and forth with the shipper to get it right. once you load a combination that you will be pulling on a regular bassis to its max then you will know the rest of it easy enough. Just like loading 48000 lbs of lumber on an air ride 48 ft steel flat it has to be done right or it will be over on one end or the other. It all come with trial and error for a few months with the equipment you will be working with then it becomes secound nature like backing up one day the light goes on and it all secound nature and you don't even think about it you just do it.

Well, this scenario may be easier in a sense, because you can see your whole trailer and the load's position, as opposed to seeing just the inside.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.