Spread axle weights

Generally if it’s spread....more weight is obviously up front more than the rear....

 

I don't understand the weight difference.

I do recall from my ravens days 48 foot 10 foot 1 inch spread with a dump valve for the aft axle to "Float" in very as in emphasis on VERY tight turns with everything pivoting on the forward axle.

I think about things like a soft or slightly out of adjustment ride height. Possibly a little too hearty suspension air being fed into the front axles or perhaps tired suspension in the rear axle. Maybe a leaking dump valve slowly easily mastered by the compressor but enough to cause the forward axle to carry a little more than it should.

One other thought would be it's position somewhere on the 53. I don't feel qualified to tell you what to do with a spread on a 53. Because I prefer to be stubborn and behave with a 48 like I know better with those.

Maybe your tractor's is tired under the 5th wheel. No muscle or ride height causing your trailer to angle forward and down. That might be just enough to load your forward axle more than it deserves.

 

This would be true if there was two right height valves, but if it's just one it's possible it's a worn out arch and by laying more flat the front axle would have more pressure on it at the same airbag pressures. Just a wild guess though.

 

Move the load backwards is the only way you will get it to equal out, If you have room. Load placement is key. Unlike vans that you can slide. The load needs adjusted if you can. Not sure if that will help you get more net payload on or not, Since we don't know what your hauling.

 

Self leveling valve on trailer not working correctly?

 

Could you post a picture of the trailer loaded?

 

Sounds like a leveling valve issue to me. Does your trailer run “downhill” to your truck? What axle is the leveling valve hooked up to?

 

is the trailer air ride or a walking beam spring ride?
if walking beam spring ride then it could be worn bushings on the walking beam or solid spring-perch bushings. If the walking beam is not level when on level ground this can shift weight from one axle to another.
As previously stated if the 5th wheel is not at a standard height
(49 to 51 inches) you can overload the front axle by moving the balance point forward although not usually 1500lbs (1/2 of the 3000 difference) on an air ride that should be on common air and have the same size air bags on each axle.
I would check the size of the bags first on a "old" trailer first as there could have been a bad repair (read patch job) done.
I might also check the airlines running from front to back axle for a kinked or otherwise restricted line slowing the flow to the back axle.
if there is a dump valve on the back axle it may be restricting flow as well if old and dirty.

 

I own a 48x102 spread axle flat on air.
Got to noticing the tires on the front axle were bulged a lot more than the rear. When I narrowed it down the dump valve on the rear axle was malfunctioning. I rerouted the air lines and the front tires quit bulging.