Embarrassed - how to slide tandems on the trailer?
Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by honyb57, Aug 31, 2012.
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honyb57 Thanks this.
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I use my crowbar and hang it through the hole before the one I need to stop at. If you back slowly, it won't damage anything. Jerk it around and you could tear some stuff up.
honyb57 and Taildragon Thank this. -
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honyb57, I would get a CB asap if you don't already have one. All you have to do is ask on the CB and there are many good truckers out there that will help you do anything. It's easier if someone shows you first hand.
A general rule for heavy loads is if you don't have 26 pallets on the floor is to stretch the freight out to the 44 ft to 48ft mark. You do that by putting a single pallet up front and alternating 1-2-1-2 to accomplish this. If you have more than two singles then consider putting one single towards the rear to keep the load balanced. Two up front first compensates for the nose weight. Most good warehousemen know how to load a trailer correctly. Light loads you don't have to stretch out. Some shippers have load diagrams for their beginner forklift drivers. If you get a chance look at them.
Then with the pallets stretched out you can put the end of the last pallet about even with the rear axle. Many times getting loaded you'll have the tandems all the way back so when you pull away from the dock is a good time to pre-adjust your axle position before scaling. If not right this will put you with in a couple holes. Then you won't find yourself doing major adjustments at the truck stop and rescaling. I usually mark my hole by licking my finger and drawing a little line on the dirty trailer or frame.
Air slide will make things easier on you. Release your tractor brakes first and then go pull the air slide button. Applying air to your trailer brakes again will automatically make your air slide button go back in and the pins back out. So when you are adjusting all you have to do is get next to the hole you want. Then either go pop the air slide button or sometimes you can do it from the tractor by popping your button and pulling it back out.
Stubborn trailers I'll carry wheel chocks and use them to hold the tandems steady. You can use a curb sometimes for that but it's a good way to rip a mud flap off it the curb is too high.
Practice makes perfect. You'll be good at it in no time!
.Last edited: Sep 1, 2012
ghettochild, honyb57 and ShootThis Thank this. -
CondoCruiser Thanks this.
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Sorry for your loss.
I wish you the best.honyb57 Thanks this. -
I just back from the Pilot near our home and got a CB and antenna. Funny thing is, I HAVE 2 CB's but I have no idea where Bob put the wires and whatnot that goes with them. So I just went and got the one on sale. However, I will have to admit that I will more than likely never use my fingers to make a mark on the slider rails. I have to thank most of you for your responses. I'm still scared, but I really think I will make it. The alternative isn't viable for me.
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