Uncoupling order, lowering landing gear and air bag suspension?

Yes, if you see chocks in front of the docks, use them.

 

No 1. Ive never actually measured anything so im eyeballing it, it would lower it about 2 or 3 inches. However it would depend on where you're measuring from because it's slope off the back of the fifth wheel when you drop the suspension.

No 2. When I pull forward initially its only about 3 to 6 inches only enough to hear the jaws to disengage. The reason this is done is because if you don't pull forward you can put the kingpin in a bind and it could possibly cause damage. Im going to say it would probably be very unlikely but it could happen. Then after my suspension has drained I'll usually pull forward until the fifth wheel is clear of the trailer and raise my suspension. The back axel is usually partly under the trailer along with a few feet of frame. That way if the landing gear was to fail it would crash down onto the truck and should help limit damage to the trailer.

For example a lot of places you may load or unload at may have you unhook and pull forward while they're loading you. When this happens after disconnecting I pull forward just enough that I still have frame under the trailer but the trailer isn't touching the truck anywhere so I dont get bounced around while they load. So if the forklift was to cause the landing gear to fail I can catch the trailer and possibly save injury to the operator.

 

I understood you.
From the tractor, the front axle wheel will block view of the chock in front of the back axle wheel.
Put the chock in front of the front axle wheel of the trailer.
That way, you can look back and see it.

Do not expect people to walk that whole 40 something feet to check.

 

The trailer won't drop hard on the gear, or damage cargo. Remember, you're dumping the airbags before you pull out from under it. Doing so lowers the trailer gently to the ground.

 

Don’t be surprised if you don’t learn diddly from those people.
Many have said so. Their real learning was when they got out there on their own.
You’re smart to be learning on your own.