How to uncouple a trailer... for dummies

everybody knows that Johnny was just there to help with the clutch, and since that pedal is gone in most of them trucks too , who needs Johnny?

 

We have kept our Johnny bars in our automatics so we can test for air supply and leaks when we pull doubles. Very useful.

 

Even better when the king pin rips off the rear crossmember on the tractor

 

The sweet song of my people, grinding and twisting metal.

 

Tankers have their own way of dropping and hooking up.
But that’s for another thread.

 

Agreed!I keep my same trailer.

 

Like @Grumppy said. No option to dump on 99% of the tractors until around 20 years ago and than it was considered a “ large car” option at first.
@Kyle G lots of trailers don’t have dump valve option and can hold air in the springs for days or longer if no leaks.
My 1950 Fruehauf flatbed is leak free and doesn’t have maxi spring brakes. Unhooked and parked with its Sealco safety valve can keep air to the cans and brakes locked for a month at 40 psi before the pressure starts to drop.

 

Not every trailer, and to be honest, I've only pulled one that did, dumps the air when you evacuate the trailer air. Most of the time it is from sitting or when they're being loaded or unloaded.

 

And make sure you slide the tandems all the way to the rear to put as much weight as possible on the rusty landing gear. Leave them about 6" from the concrete and pull away fast.