Tandems are stuck.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by honesttruth, Jan 6, 2023.

  1. 062

    062 Road Train Member

    6,179
    33,351
    Oct 20, 2013
    0
    You can make it work with a pair of needle nose vice grips.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. wichris

    wichris Road Train Member

    4,255
    8,520
    Jan 17, 2011
    0
    But then the driver has to remember to remove them.

    Or just use a 2 port valve and cap the line.
     
  4. Lyle H

    Lyle H Road Train Member

    1,292
    2,936
    Apr 16, 2014
    0
    It will if you use something to keep the push/pull pin out. I use a Phillips screwdriver and wedge it in along the shaft.
    Then you can push your trailer valve in to release the trailer brakes and the lock pins will stay retracted.
    Then use your trolley valve to lock your brakes up when you are rolling slowly.
    It’s worked every time I’ve had tandems that I couldn’t get to slide the normal way.
     
    tscottme and Magoo1968 Thank this.
  5. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

    11,257
    54,058
    Nov 18, 2014
    Land of local
    0
    You beat me to it.

    Unless they make me drop the wagon I won't slide them unless they come out and say something then I'll play dumb and say oops I forgot
     
    tscottme Thanks this.
  6. JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

    2,628
    9,490
    Jul 29, 2013
    L.A.
    0
    Probably not a long-term fix but if there's a driveway that slopes a little steeply from the parking lot to the street, make a turn so the trailer flexes a little when the wheels are uneven(one side of the tandems on the driveway and one side on the street) that will maybe break the tandems loose. That's what I did once and it worked.
     
  7. ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

    2,532
    7,612
    Dec 31, 2010
    SPI
    0
    You guys jamming things in the air release button just taught me how those knobs get broken in half. Haha. I figured it was clowns not smart enough to realize the trailer brakes have to be set and they were trying to pull/pry out the knob with something.
     
    tscottme, gentleroger and wichris Thank this.
  8. Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

    4,410
    15,801
    Jun 29, 2016
    West Melbourne Florida
    0
    This is the first time that I’ve heard grease is bad, lol.
    I’ve always used grease, one tube every few months. I apply it to the top and inside of rails with my electric grease gun. Then I use an old fuel glove to smear it around. Never, ever had any problems with crud buildup.
    Grease the exposed rear rails, slide the tandem to the rear and grease the forward rails. Then just slide the tandem back and forth a couple times.
    The grease won’t build up and attract anything, in fact it will be all washed away in short time.

    I also slide my tandem at every pickup and delivery and it always slides effortlessly like a hot knife through butter. Doesn’t matter how much weight is on them, they slide with ease.

    The biggest problem for drivers who struggle sliding the tandem is rust and not sliding them often.
     
    ducnut Thanks this.
  9. honesttruth

    honesttruth Bobtail Member

    35
    9
    Mar 22, 2021
    0
    That’s a good idea never thought of that. It’s a air trailer. I’ve used Pb blaster I’ve sprayed the whole thing down in the slides rails I mean everything and still nothing. I don’t have problem with the pins going in and out .
     
  10. honesttruth

    honesttruth Bobtail Member

    35
    9
    Mar 22, 2021
    0
    Also when they are heavy it dosent matter if the tandems are all the way in the back middle or front they won’t slide. The truck will bog even in first gear. I try to set them in a place I think they would be good and I can get away with if the shipper/receiver dosent come and look. But today I almost had to cancel my delivery at the customer because they required to slide them all the way back at the guard shack. I think I’ve read every forum on this and nothing works.
     
  11. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    17,268
    56,039
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    Teflon pads on the slide rails of the bogey were wore out on my old trailer. Only way was to spray with PB Blaster before loading, sliding them forward, spray rails behind the bogie, slide back spray rails in front. Slide if back and forth. I used the dry lube graphite PB brand, for a while. That’s what supposed to work. Same stuff as dry lube for garage doors. Not as good as liquid, Lot of waste, especially when it’s windy. Doesn’t last any longer, if it’s always tough to slide,
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.