Air ride height/5th wheel height?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by sgreer78, Nov 25, 2008.

  1. Les2

    Les2 Road Train Member

    5,150
    2,288
    Jul 25, 2008
    kicked back in my lazyboy...
    0
    Wait a minute! Let me think....................................................... OK thought about it.

    There is no way it could've screwed up the clutch! If the airride was to high it would be pulling apart the driveshafts not cramming them. Someone is filling you full of shiiiiit!
     
    RAG Thanks this.
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  3. bluecollarman

    bluecollarman Bobtail Member

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    Aug 1, 2011
    Tallapoosa, GA
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    If I drop an empty trailer and lower the landing gear until it meets the ground, you could back right up to it perfectly. If before you back under it, the shipper loads 40,000 lbs of freight in the trailer, the trailer's leaf springs will flatten out slightly and raise the nose, pivoting on the legs. If the tandems are slid to the rear, the movement is even more exaggerated. It used to drive me crazy too, until I figured that out.
     
  4. Prairie Boy

    Prairie Boy Road Train Member

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    Nov 18, 2010
    Edmonton, AB
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    If the wheels are top the rear, the front won't "lift" as much as if the wheels were slid forward. It's the principal of a "fulcrum".
     
  5. bluecollarman

    bluecollarman Bobtail Member

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    Aug 1, 2011
    Tallapoosa, GA
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    Yup, you're right. My bad.
     
  6. Prairie Boy

    Prairie Boy Road Train Member

    3,258
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    Nov 18, 2010
    Edmonton, AB
    0
    :biggrin_255:
    No problem.
     
  7. Prairie Boy

    Prairie Boy Road Train Member

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    Nov 18, 2010
    Edmonton, AB
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    You could raise the suspension but then you would also have to shim the steady bearing so that the drive line angles stay the same.

    As you suggest, the best thing to do is just change the 5th wheel pedestals.
     
  8. jmlloar

    jmlloar Light Load Member

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    Jun 13, 2009
    Keyser, WV
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    Mine has a similar problem except...

    fifth wheel plate on trailer is to close to tires when hooked.

    Seems like most trucks I see on road tires are pretty much even with top of frame rail. mine are almost even with fifth wheel plate. seems way off to me.

    truck has single axle and 22.5 tires
    has 2 leveling valves, thinking of swaping to just one.

    what is a good ground to fifthwheel plate height?
    my fifth wheel is not a low profile one.

    was told best way to set height is to couple to a 13'6" trailer and measure total height, then adjust to 13'6"
     
  9. askbob

    askbob Light Load Member

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    Aug 16, 2010
    Bluegrass
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    Was the problem of the rear bags being higher than the front drive bags figured out?
    The rear airbags on my Columbia are quite a bit higher than the fronts. Any advice?
     
  10. Sharps5090

    Sharps5090 Light Load Member

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    Sep 28, 2012
    Northern Illinois
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    On some older trailers, the support leg gear boxes just don't want to let you move a trailer in any direction when it's loaded with 40-45k pounds of freight. Sometimes easier said than done. :)
     
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