Strange or bizarre tips for drivers

I think with this tip...make sure you put the strap somewhere other than the step when finished. In winter time it makes the step an Ice rink and ltos of people tend to fall anyways, last thing we need is another helper in that area.

 

I thought of this too and with the new HDD video cameras out now that can record all day and if nothing interesting happened you can just delete the file and free up more hard drive space.

 

I'm gonna have to respectully disagree here jlkklj777... only because of my own recent diesel bath while using bungee straps.

I detailed the whole ordeal (somewhat sarcastically) in my thread here: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-years-gettin-back-on-horse-5.html#post442188

 

it works - try it with a dime.

but yeah- it's not gonna work on the supply line

For oily/fuel stained clothes.. don't use a plastic bag. Use one of those cheap laundry bags and tie it to the back of the cab.
In my experience, Simple Greed, or the Orange stuff don't don't work. Dawn, much as I hate the stuff otherwise (no real reason - just a ...thing) does a fantastic job. Even gets a large portion of 5th wheel grease out of clothing.

 

Let me guess ---- that 5th wheel grease was on your shirt's shoulder from pulling the 5th wheel unlock handle?

 

lol - actually, no

it was on my shorts from getting sloppy in my positioning while checking a trailer registration. Leaned up against the frame rails... ick!

Oh! that does lead me to a tip:

baby wipes do a great job of getting that crap off your skin.

 

speaking of the fifth wheel...

I listen to XM radio, specifically the truckers channe, the Open Road on 171. throughout the day...mostly in the morning with Dave Nemo as I like his show the best with the various guests and programs on during his show.

Anywho...he had a segment last week, cant remember what it was, with a guest...and the topic for a short while was the fifth wheel maintenance. They mentioned steam cleaning it every once in a while to get the gunk out of the guts and such. I can't remember how they explained WHY it should be done, but it made sense at the time although Im going to make them look stupid, lol. Basically I think it was along the lines of getting old dirty gunked up grease out of there...gunk that can clog up the guts and all that before putting some fresh grease down there.

Does anyone do this...and if so...how?

 

Absolutely!
At least before every PM performed and new grease is applied. And if necessary in between PM's. Carry a tube of grease just in case.
I used a putty knife to completely scrape all the old, contaminated grease off of and out of the entire 5th wheel plate.

When bobtailing a lot, grit and small pebbles lodge in the grease and can easily affect how the trailer rides and slides on the 5th wheel, and can be noticed in how the trailer backs up.

Another thing, when new grease is applied, spread it out and into any grooves in the 5th wheel plate, if any. Backing under a trailer tends to scrape the new grease off, and onto the edge of the nose of the trailer, which will eventually gloop down onto the frame rails --- making an unnecessary mess to contend with.

What I did was to raise the nose of the trailer by cranking the landing gear down far enough to clear the 5th wheel before backing under the trailer, then lowering the trailer down on top of the 5th wheel.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO HIGH-HOOK!!
You'll have to get out and check your progress, sometime several times to be certain. But when the trailer is lowered onto the 5th wheel, rather than the 5th wheel actually picking up the nose of the trailer, more of the grease will remain ON the 5th wheel, rather than being scraped off.

Also, from time to time, scrape the excess grease from the edges of the 5th wheel plate to prevent that old, dirty grease from falling onto the base of the 5th wheel --- keeping it clean.

And while you're at it, if your 5th wheel is a slider, spray lube, like WD-40, into the areas that slide as well as the locking lugs before attempting to slide. Trailer tandems too. That way the 5th wheel and/or trailer tandems are ready to slide more easily when you WANT to slide them, and the lugs on either lock up solidly. And, ...........................
ALWAYS CHECK THE LOCKING LUGS TO BE SURE THEY'RE FULLY LOCKED AFTER SLIDING THE 5th WHEEL AND/OR TRAILER TANDEMS!!!