Sliding tandems

Schneider teaches the same figures.

250# for 4" spacing ( Wabash Trailers)

500# for 6" spacing

500# for fith wheel

 

NOT SURE ABOUT THE EXACT DISTANCE BUT THE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA I WAS TAUGHT WAS SUBTRACT THE HEAVIER WEIGHT FROM THE SMALLER, DEVIDE BY 2 THEN DEVIDE BY 500 FOR ONE OR 250 FOR THE OTHER (WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE) AND THAT WOULD GIVE YOU THE # OF HOLES TO SLIDE THE TANDEMS. SAY YOU HAD 25,000 ON THE DRIVES AND 20,00 ON THE TANDEMS. YOU SUBTRACT 25K FROM 20K AND THAT GIVES YOU 5K DIVIDE THAT BY 2 AND YOU GET 2500. DIVIDE THAT BY 500 AND YOU GET 5. THAT MEANS YOU SHOULD MOVE THE TANDEMS 5 HOLES CLOSER TO THE FRONT (OR 10 HOLES WITH A 250lb HOLE TRAILER)
oooops realized about 3/4 of the way through i had the caps on still LOL

 

We were taught that each axle can be a maximum of 34,000.

Lets say your trailer tandems weigh in at 35,150.

35,150 - 34,000 = 1,150

1,150 \ 500 = 2.3 (3 holes back at 6" spacing)

1,150 \ 250 = 4.6 (5 holes back at 4" spacing)

Then re-weigh to make sure you didn't overload the drives and look at your bridge law for allowable positions.

 

even better still!! thats what i was a'thinkin.

 

Well its been awhile since Ive been to school so not sure about all the math but moving 500 lbs on any one hole seems like alot to me, havent had to scale
a load lately but have scaled many on just about every make of trailer and chassis and dont recall ever getting 500 from one but......my memory aint what it used to be either

 

It is just a rough formula. It all depends on how the load is situated. The numbers will vary somewhat.

The formula is based upon an even weight distribution across the floor of the trailer.

 

500 lbs is from older trailers that have roughly half the tandem holes that newer trailers do; so the holes are spaced farther apart, meaning more weight is effectively being transferred when you slide tandems.

 

Most of the brand new refers that Walmart is running in this area are the 500# spacing. Don't remeber who the manufacturer is.

 

I understand all the weight issues I just cant recall ever getting that much weight from one hole, this going back to 89. Not saying it cant, or hasent been done, I just havent seen it, which is certainly a possibility

 

Wow this is great info. I didn't know this and since in texas all the weigh stations are normally closed I never really worried about. I always slide the tandems to the front as much as possible so that I can handle turns better and slide them all the way back when at the shipper/receiver.