wheelbase

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by kubi, Oct 29, 2014.

  1. kubi

    kubi Bobtail Member

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    Oct 29, 2014
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    Good to be a brand new member of truckers forum! Hauled garbage all my life with tandem straight jobs, have started a new business which has grown to the point of needing a tractor/ tanker setup. The product we haul is heavy, coming in at 11 lbs per gallon. Have had semi loads hauled to us and they averaged 4750 gallons mutiplied by 11 lbs equals payload of 52250 lbs. What wheelbase do i need on the tractor??? Does a short wheelbase put more weight on steer axle? How does a sleeper versus day cab come into play. ideally I believe our product should be hauled in a center drop fertilizer tanker versus a straight barrel tanker, would this change needed wheelbase? Turning radius is a consideration as we spend a lot of the day on small gravel country roads. i'm thinking 12,000 lb steer axle or should i be considering a heavier setup? Thank you one and all for any help you veterans can offer, much appreciated.
    Kubi
     
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  3. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    I don't know much about tanker. Little to none really. Congrats on the new business. The steer axle weight rating should be ok. The variable for putting weight on your steer axle is where your fifth wheel plate is over your tandems. The farther forward you slide the plate the more weight you will get on your steer.
    Sleeper cab will weigh more. Good luck.
     
  4. 315wheelbase

    315wheelbase Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 26, 2014
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    does not matter what the tractor wheel base is,,front axle weight depends on your 5th wheel setting,,always get a sleeper a small one will do,,delays happen sometimes and having a small sleeper is a plus for the driver to take a break,,alos you never know what or where you will haul in the future so get a sleeper,,as for the tank,,11lbs/gal product make sure your trailer is rated for pounds per gallon,,a MC312 is good for over 16/lbs/gal..
     
  5. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    if you get a sleeper cab it will have to be light to haul that kind of weight. The trailer will probably have to be a skin tank, that is non-insulated. We haul 50,000# loads on occasion with a full sleeper cab and are right on the edge or even a little overweight. A day cab should be able to do it.
     
  6. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    The day cabs at my company can haul 54,000 lbs with an insulated tank. They only have (1) 100 gallon fuel tank. My truck can only haul 48,000 lbs. I have a mid size sleeper, insulated tank, hydraulic pump, 300 gallon fuel capacity and my chains. If you're only staying the night on the road every so often in my opinion a motel room would be cheaper in the long run as extra payload means more money. At least with my company the more we haul the more we make.
     
    Mudguppy Thanks this.
  7. Mudguppy

    Mudguppy Degenerate Immoralist

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    ^This^.
    Spot on. Period.
     
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