spread axle

yep, plus it sounds cool when you dump the air....I miss my spread but not the PIA unit (Carrier) that hung on the front of it, bought mine used (bad idea) !!

 

Well, I'm still fresh to spread-ed reefer and can easily recall my first hours with it. I was shocked. Whole truck-trailer combination was running in straight line - both verically and horizontally. I was trying to fishtail. Nope, only cab was swingin... Going over holes? Can't feel anything from trailer anymore, as there is no holes this big to affect both axles...they go one by one, no trailer jumping... just smooth wave motion... Sweet!

From what I can see already, I will put some crazy-high mileage on trailer tires. I was never into tight turn manuevers as these kill your steers and drives and now I'm not even going to truckstops except for fuel. But having less load on the drives also helps prolong steer life probably. Also spread hold better on slick roads as it has like front axle being extra "support" compared to closed tandem and its a bit harder to loose grip on both axles in the same time.

Spreads Rock! Its just right way to move long haul freight

 

Aw, come on you don't miss the sliding? Slide-weigh, slide-reweigh! Beat pins with hammer. Get to a dock, slide to the rear. Pull away, slide back. Gee I know I would.

One guy that runs one of the sets of Ohio's portable scales made the comment when a guy bought a new spread axle dump trailer. (upgrade from a closed tandem) He's pulled this guy over before in the past and of course wrote tickets for being over on a particular axle group. This time he said "what are you trying to do, put me out of a job".


On a side note, can you imagine a rookie fleet driver pulling a spread. I've seen enough of them with flatbeds. I've watched guys pull a U turns loaded in an asphalt parking lots. I don't know how the tires stay on the rims when their rolled completely over.

 

Hell, I can't imagine fleet driver pulling a spread. Honestly I can't. I mean it wouldn't be cost effective with a reefer for sure. Unless drivers are really good, there are few such a small fleets around, H.D.R being one of them.

 

also with a spread in some states you can be 86,000 if you plate for it. you can do it in othere states if you do it right

 

Grin......

 

Quick dumps suck, they break faster than they dump.

 

I understand the advantages to having a spread on the trailer, but I have seen quite a few trucks (of Canadian origin I think) that have something like a 5 foot spread on the truck tandems. Is this also for a weight advantage or is this just part of their highway/bridge formula regs?

 

What are you guys using as a "quick dump"? Just curious because if we've used these relay valves for years and haven't had any trouble. Also their only like $11. Electric solenoid valve plumbed to this valves top port. The lower 2 lines are going to the bags. When the supply disappears the bags dump. Dumps fast/recovers fast and best of all, cheap.

 

Yeah, except on an interstate, and thats where we (most of us) spend 90% of our time.