Another Question for a Flatbedder...

I thought I'v been seeing the same thing, slidable spreads. I thought I was seeing things. All my spreads have always been fixed. I assume they are making them slidable because of stupid drivers who can't figure out how to load a spread axle. I had a few drivers who could never figure it out. Same driver that are th major reason we ended up loosing the trucks

 

Im no expert but i will say this usually the spread is a fixed spead now to turn eaiser all u need is a dump valve. Although after you intall the dump valve you lose the warrenty on your axles. just figured i would put my 2 senses in Thanks Mike

 

You're right fellas, I have seen 'em too. Actually, the first one I saw WAS a canadian hauler, pulling a reefer, with sliding split tandems. I thought it was cool, so you can run 'em spread (which rides easier, my bud was telling me) or as a set of tandems (of course backs easier).

 

the spreads ride like a dream, unfortunatly they EAT tires. I had chains hung on the frame rails on my spreads so I could chain up one axle when light or empty. Also they can be fun to back as they will change which axle is pivoting if you hit a grade change while backing. So you go from pivioting on the front axle one second to the back axle the next second. AT least if you dot have dumps on them. We have a few MRI scaners with dumps if that perticular trailer goes to a specially tight site and every one of those trailers has bent axles on them.

 

Spreads are difficult to back as mentioned above, and dump valves on the rear axle make it all better, HOWEVER....most folks install a red light on the dash for when the axle air is dumped....I knew a fella last year who didn't have the "idiot" light installed, and somehow dumped the air but forgot to flip the switch after backing into a parking space. The next morning he went trucking down the road, and when he crossed the state scale he was nearly 40,000 #'s on the one axle. This cost him $16,000 in California.

Bottom line: if you pull a spread, you need a dump valve (helps to back, tight manuevers and also saves eating up the tires) but you must also remember to put the air back there when you're done.....idiot light seems to be the most reasonable solution.