tandems

There is no fool-proof way. Generally, the trailer tandems should be under the rear of the load if it is loaded "level". With a mixed load such as roll roofing and shingles, or barrels and cases of beer, know the weight each pallet and estimate where the center of the total weight is located. The tandems should be approximately the same distance from the center of the load weight as the drive axles.

 

The heavier the weight on the drives, the further up you may need to place them. (Dry Box)

ON a 48 foot trailer I always figured a 1,000 pounds a foot. And run the tandems to the back.

ON a 53 foot trailer I've always gone on the 12th or 13th hole from the front of the trailer.

Generally the weight in our trailers in anywhere from 18 to 39,000 pounds.

 

Most drivers don't worry about axle weights with the examples you stated. Most dry vans can scale 45,000, but you want to check the weight at a truck-stop scale. If you weigh first, you may be able to correct the axle weights by sliding for 350 lbs per hole and one free re-weigh. With loads under 40,000, place the tandems under the load and run with it.

 

Generally you can just leave it on something that close in weight.

Anything under 40,000 pounds between the 12th and 13th hole, generally is ok and also with your wheel base, on a 53 foot trailer.

48 trailer I would put the tandems to the back and go, because I want my weight on my drives.

 

i have read many messages and cant find help. I read one where they said they use the 2nd notch on 5th wheel and then the cali. length on the tandems. they say they scale good all the time. im lost here because i dont know which hole the cali. setting is.. i know it diff. with each state and that cali. is the tuffest one to pass threw. can someone please tell me where i can find the trailer holers per state. thanks a lot. I havnt driven in 3 yrs due to family reasons, and trying to get back to driving.

thanks

 

Also the hole placement can change depending on weight and placement of the load. EX- just hauled a 45K lb beer load and it was 4 or 5 holes from the front. Next load was 37k and with the way it was loaded, was in just about the same holes. For our tlrs, a 42k meat load is usually 9 holes from the front. 3 examples, 3 weights...... see where I'm going?

 

yah its going to depend on how its loaded. guess theres no easy way to do it. i usually never ran past the 7th hole on the trl, as i wanted to be safe for any state i ran threw. atm im grounded as im waiting for this companies med. dept. to clear me for driving again. i have nothing wrong, there just taking there bloody time.

 

This is an approximation I use... it works as long as you start out with a good guess that is close. It works for me, but your mileage may vary.

1. Scale your load.

2. Plug in the numbers...

Holes to move = (tandems - drives)/(2 x lbs per hole)

The way I have this set up, a negative result means slide the tandems toward the tractor, positive means slide them away from the tractor. Each kind of trailer is different, and the way it's loaded makes a difference too, that's why you need to be say within 4 to 6 holes for it to be accurate. Zero means equal weight between drives and tandems - I like to run between -1 and -2; better fuel mileage that way - in other words, about 1000 - 2000 lbs heavier on the drives.

I use 380 lbs/hole on our Wabash reefers, and 310 lbs/hole on the lighter Utility trailers. The way to figure this is to weigh your trailer, adjust the tandems a couple of holes, then weigh it again. Take that difference on say the tandems, and divide by the number of holes you moved it.

Ex... this is the Wabash I'm pulling today, ran across the CAT scale at the Pilot in Springdale, AR:

Drives: 32940
Tandems: 29920

It's legal, but it feels heavy... in the 9th hole.

(29920-32940)/(2x380) = -3020/760 = -3.974

So I slid the tandems forward 2 holes which gave me around -1.9, or right where I want to be. I didn't bother doing a reweigh (only when things are close,) and the scale house at Springdale AR was happy with what they saw too.

At our Springfield yard, I ran over the scales outbound in the 7th hole, and got 32420 on the drives and 30540 on the tandems, so (being different scales too) I'm right about where I want to be. Remember, this is an approximation that gets the number of reweighs down to something managable. Works for me, it may not work for you.