Dealing with a Flip Axle

I don't recall ever having someone refuse to flip my axle up or down for me, but I am sure someone somewhere has. Jobsites were usually pretty good about that.

 

I've seen guys leave the flip axle down, pull the shims out, chain the axle up and chain the flip on the top side to the trailer to allow the tires to stay off the ground. It was a wood covered flip axle and there were 4" hand holes cut out to reach the limit chains on the axle. Pretty sharp idea. I asked the guy was it because of not having to flip all of the time. He said he got tired to paying people to flip it up or down and he said the fuel mileage with it down with axle chained was about .2 better per gallon then with it flipped up.

The only other states that may give you a problem other then the ones stated above are MN and TN...maybe TN

 

It's on the books in TN where most flips will make you over length, but can be permitted. All that said though, we've got a fixed 3 axle that's over length, never got a length permit, and never anything said about it. In other words, I don't think they normally enforce it.

I say our 3rd axle is fixed, it's actually air raised/lowered. That is a option if you don't want to flip a axle but don't want to drag the 3rd axle around when not needed.

 

TN goes from the kingpin to the end of the trailer. The limit is 50' without permit, ours is 51'.

 

I don't think I ever had anyone,that had the capabilities, refuse to help me put mine up or down.The places you go to load/unload rgn's have usually been asked many times.Ports,equip. dealer,etc.Worst case scenario is pay a tow truck.Had my old Cat loader at home for flipping,comes in handy for all kinds of things.

 

Looks like an easy way to change brake pots and air lines lol.