Cheap tricks we forget to pass on...

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Palazon, Oct 23, 2012.

  1. Sal-XK

    Sal-XK Light Load Member

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    Anyone have a trick for moving the tandems to the right hole without getting out several times LOL I seem to back up and pull forward a few times, a few to many I think. Or is it just something you just get a feel for.
     
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  3. jbee

    jbee Medium Load Member

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    Once you scale and know where the weight has to come off from, and you know what each hole equates to in weight, I have a strip of electrical tape run across the treads on my drivers side bottom steps. Once I know how many holes I have to move the pins, I eyeball it for length, usually it's not more than a couple of feet max.

    I then put a tell tale indicator on the ground (Stick, flashlight etc) directly under the steps, representing the distance I have to move the trailer. If I have to slide the tandems back, the number of notches (Holes) equals the distance the reference point on the ground is forward of the tape on the tractor steps, say for example, 12" or a foot. Keep in mind, this is by eyeball and not a measuring tape. Usually it's good enough.

    I then climb up in the tractor, keeping the door open, make sure all's clear to the front and start rolling forward until the mark on the step lines up with the reference point on the ground and set the brakes, go back and check. 9 times out of 10, I'm close enough to the right hole to set it and move forward or back just a bit before they engage and lock.

    There's more techniques to do this than mine. This one works for me.
     
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  4. jbee

    jbee Medium Load Member

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    Especially down in Laredo.
     
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  5. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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    Have a spare key stashed,

    where you can easily get to it.

    :biggrin_25514:.........
     
  6. 900,000-tons-of-steel

    900,000-tons-of-steel Road Train Member

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    Thanks. I'm aware of how useful GE is for showing the best approach, angles, and a whole lotta other stuff, just not aware of how one can know that a spot that will fit a truck and trailer is necessarily good for spending the night. For example, here in Florida there are many spots that CAN fit a truck but try spending the night and you may wake to nasty surprise by a LEO in the form of a ticket, such as at certain WAL-MARTS. In the past, WM used to allow trucks to spend the night but now many aren't allowing it.
     
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  7. Iwllnotlaydown

    Iwllnotlaydown Light Load Member

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    #### hell ya Laredo !!! LMFAO


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. Balakov100

    Balakov100 Road Train Member

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    There are no Shortcuts........:biggrin_2559:
     
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  9. Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

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    I also mark my "target" hole with tire chalk.
     
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  10. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    Charlotte, N.Carolina
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    I have a crowbar for nails in trailer and such. when moving difficult tandems I'll stick it near the hole I need and bump up to it. bump not ram.
     
  11. Sal-XK

    Sal-XK Light Load Member

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    I've picked up rocks and made a scratch marking the one I was aiming for.

    I was wondering about something like this but didn't want to damage anything I'm still a little rough sometimes :biggrin_2552:
     
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