Ideal load balance

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Bdog, Feb 4, 2021.

  1. AKDoug

    AKDoug Medium Load Member

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    I'll center things up on the flatbed. In my van I prefer securement over balance. Having my product up against the nose of the van aids in keeping my load secure.
     
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  3. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    if your tandems are all the way up. you can be over on steers on some loads.
     
  4. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    yum yum sauce. big bottles
     
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  5. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    who can figure it out. how mite you be over on steers if tandems are all the way up. not every load but some loads.
     
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  6. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Probably if you have 35000 pounds of lead loaded at the tail end of your trailer. Tandems forward will create a fulcrum, lift up in the back of the truck causing the weight to be shifted to the steers. But.....how often does that really happen. I've picked up some crappily loaded trailers that were tail heavy as hell, but never that bad.
     
  7. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    ding ding. we have a winner. thats correct. to much weight on trailer tandems will cause front of trailer to pick up fifth wheel and truck tandems. causing the steers to push down harder. so yes you can be over on your steers. good job driver. good thanking skills
     
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  8. Dale thompson

    Dale thompson Road Train Member

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    Balance always rides the best. Balance handles the best. Being drive heavy might aid in traction but unbalance braking is bad.
     
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  9. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Thanks........I'm no Albert Einstein, but, I do understand teeter totter physics. I need to add one thing to my last post. In order for the trailer to "lift up" on the tractor, there would need to be "negative weight" (if there is such a term), on the nose of the trailer. In which case, when you went to drop that trailer, you would not need to lower the landing gear because as soon as you pulled the fifth wheel away from the kingpin, the nose of the trailer would shoot straight up in the air! Something to think about:D
     
  10. Bdog

    Bdog Road Train Member

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    While technically this is correct practically I don’t think it could ever happen. I have never seen a semi trailer with a negative tongue load. As mentioned if that were the case when you unhitched the trailer front would lift up in the air. The axles on the trailer even in the forward most positions are back far enough that this is very unlikely to happen.
     
  11. Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    Then too they are too far back to being lifting the drive axles and put weight on the steers.
     
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