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Tandem placement and turning radius

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Jan 22, 2022.

Page 31 of 39

May 14, 2024 #307

expedite_it Road Train Member

1,646

863

Sep 8, 2012

0

Speedy356 said: ↑

Another one is when you back up to a trailer that has been dropped too low. I’ve watched guys do this and immediately jump out of there truck and start cranking the Dollie’s down so they can back under it. 9 times out of 10, you can dump your air bags and back under the trailer. I can’t count the times I’ve told guys about this and the next time you see them they’re out cranking on the Dollie’s. SMH
Click to expand...

I know that dumping the air bags will lower the fifth wheel, but if I am trying to back under an excessively low trailer, I will get out and crank on the dolly to raise the trailer up. Why? I can get more precision cranking the dolly than from dumping the air bags. If I only need to get one extra inch, I can get one extra inch by cranking the dolly. If I dump the air bags, I lower the fifth wheel about 4 to 6 inches. Dumping the air bags is an all-or-nothing thing.

Last edited: May 14, 2024

expedite_it, May 14, 2024

expedite_it, May 14, 2024

#307
May 14, 2024 #308

Crude Truckin' Alien Spacecraft

2,397

6,606

Oct 22, 2016

North Dakota, Eh?

0

expedite_it said: ↑

I know that dumping the air bags will lower the fifth wheel, but if I am trying to back under an excessively low trailer, I will get out and crank on the dolly to raise the trailer up? Why? I can get more precision cranking the dolly than from dumping the air bags. If I only need to get one extra inch, I can get one extra inch by cranking the dolly. If I dump the air bags, I lower the fifth wheel about 4 to 6 inches. Dumping the air bags is an all-or-nothing thing.
Click to expand...

Back under the trailer WHILE the bags are dumping the air.

Crude Truckin', May 14, 2024

Crude Truckin', May 14, 2024

#308

rollin coal, Speedy356, Kyle G. and 2 others Thank this.
May 14, 2024 #309

Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

7,458

27,023

Aug 18, 2007

~8600+' and loving it!

0

expedite_it said: ↑

I know that dumping the air bags will lower the fifth wheel, but if I am trying to back under an excessively low trailer, I will get out and crank on the dolly to raise the trailer up? Why? I can get more precision cranking the dolly than from dumping the air bags. If I only need to get one extra inch, I can get one extra inch by cranking the dolly. If I dump the air bags, I lower the fifth wheel about 4 to 6 inches. Dumping the air bags is an all-or-nothing thing.
Click to expand...

The trick is to use the inflation time when reinflating the bags. Drop bags, back under trailer but keep kingpin clear of jaws, hit dump switch to reinflate bags and as soon as the 5th wheel is flat against upper coupler, back the rest of the way and latch. This let's you latch without the full trailer weight on the 5th wheel plate.

Hammer166, May 14, 2024

Hammer166, May 14, 2024

#309

rollin coal, Speedy356, Kyle G. and 3 others Thank this.
May 14, 2024 #310

Crude Truckin' Alien Spacecraft

2,397

6,606

Oct 22, 2016

North Dakota, Eh?

0

Hammer166 said: ↑

The trick is to use the inflation time when reinflating the bags. Drop bags, back under trailer but keep kingpin clear of jaws, hit dump switch to reinflate bags and as soon as the 5th wheel is flat against upper coupler, back the rest of the way and latch. This let's you latch without the full trailer weight on the 5th wheel plate.
Click to expand...

Crude Truckin', May 14, 2024

Crude Truckin', May 14, 2024

#310

Speedy356, Kyle G., FLHT and 1 other person Thank this.

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