Adding Lift Axle Cost

Discussion in 'Heavy Haul Trucking Forum' started by AFC, Sep 18, 2025.

  1. AFC

    AFC Light Load Member

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    Very wise and respected. I will be in the yard hopefully tomorrow and will see how everything plays out. That is: I will give all the concerns and examples given here and take it from there:
    1) not a double frame truck (does it matter if I don't have a lift axle?)
    2) fifth wheel on my truck is between 43-44 inches from the ground not the minimum 48 inches

    Just a couple of examples.

    If it was a company that I hadn't worked with for almost 5 years, I would have your justified concerns. This company has been very good to me and has saved me two times. I have no doubt that everything will work out whether it be with my current truck or one specific to HH.

    Question for you and everyone else should I take the skirts off my truck?
     
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  3. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    My comments were for lurkers who might be watching this thread and have questions for heavy haul. Sorry about the confusion.
     
  4. Sons Hero

    Sons Hero Road Train Member

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    I would let them on taking them off will only hurt your resale value, and you are not going to wanna keep that truck very long at all doing heavy haul.
     
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  5. AFC

    AFC Light Load Member

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    Thank you and good point. I thought the same thing about the resale value.
     
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  6. AFC

    AFC Light Load Member

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    Update: I received one day of training on the RGN. Don’t think I need more except for on the job experience from here on out.
    Added ramps to my tractor for the fifth wheel.
    Added cameras to the trailer for assistance.
    Talked in depth with new dispatcher and we are on the same page. IE, I will keep the deck height at 2 ft ( to be precise 21 inches for the first month or so until I feel more confident with the ground clearance).
    My first load is today from Illinois to Georgia. Just over weight and barely that at only 51k.
    Working on selling my flatbed before buying the heavy haul truck.
    Attached are pictures of the RGN, Cameras and Ramps.
     

    Attached Files:

    Sons Hero and Oxbow Thank this.
  7. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    Maybe I missed it, what are the specs of your tractor? Engine, trans, rears, tires?

    Do you carry tire chains? Lifting a mechanical detach with a heavy load on slick surfaces gets interesting.

    Good luck!
     
    RGN, Feedman, Sons Hero and 1 other person Thank this.
  8. AFC

    AFC Light Load Member

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    My truck is not a HH truck not even close. I do carry tire chains.
     
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  9. Oxbow

    Oxbow Road Train Member

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    I don't run a mechanical, but I've watched them spit a tractor out just as the rollers get to the fifth wheel.
     
    RGN, D.Tibbitt, Banker and 3 others Thank this.
  10. AFC

    AFC Light Load Member

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    I have the ramps and hopefully they'll do the trick.
     
  11. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

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    The atlas works usually but definitely not always for me and so does my height settings on my Garmin. They both let me down several years ago on some state Hwy in Illinois(can’t remember exactly which route because I don’t haul freight to or from Chicagoland anymore) Leaving Elwood Illinois heading south one winter morning and needing to avoid the 294 mess to get back to I-65. This particular overpass (conveyor) was for use by some large Ag business on the route and IIRC was 13’9 or so and so was my load. First move was to measure and it was marked correctly. I was able to adjust my load but it sucked doing so in a snow squall at subzero temps. Stuff does happen occasionally.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
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