trailers/load distrib.

Thanks for that! I did make reference to that, but not as clearly as you did!

 

The biggest difference in the "holes" is that some are spaced far apart, which would transfer more weight per hole when moved, and some have a bunch of holes, fairly close together, making less of an impact per hole moved.

 

Great info everybody..

Thank you..

 

Our trailers work out like this.. if the tandem has the release in the front..its about 500 a hole..if the release is between the axles it is about 300 a hole.. but just look at it like leverage .. forward less on drives..back more on drives.. fifth wheel.. back less on steers..forward..more on steers

 

OK, I've noticed that some levers are in the front and some are in the middle - then there are those air release buttons that work great till the trailer is about 10 days old and they break off or don't work at all..haha..

Just something I'll have to figure out by doing it but everyone has definitely helped me out with their input..

Thanks..

 

What about spread axles? Arent they fixed(nonsliding)? Dont they require load placement instead of sliding axles from one hole to another?

I pull a 40' flatbed trailer fixed tandems for the USAF, so we just load up, strap it down, and drive away. For us, everything is put on a 463L pallet, weighed/balanced BEFORE it gets forklifted onto the trailer. Unless its like.....a Humvee, we weigh them then load it on the truck.

 

Spread are fixed if I remember correctly. Never pulled one myself, and I've been out of the seat a few years. I just soak up info from my hubby and others that I know!

 

Yeah, 99% of spreads are fixed but you're good for 40,000 lbs on a spread whereas it's only 34K on tandems. If you're under gross a spread is fairly easy to axle out but it has to be loaded right. That's why you'll see lumber loads always have the top or top double packs towards the rear.. You'll also notice big coils are slightly back from center on a spread for this reason..

 

Gotcha.

I dont get to experience all the different types of trailers/reefers/flatbeds etc etc, being in the mil. Most of our hauling is pretty standardized. Its mainly 25ft tilt trailer for like 10k forklifts or 40ft fixed tandem trailer where the load is on a large metal pallet, strapped down, then loaded on the trailer, and then the pallet is strapped/chained down to the trailer.

This is why im here. I love this occupation, and hope to cross over doing it OTR on the outside one day. Of course, you guys get to drive better trucks then we do. However, being over here in GUAM running containers, i have been able to drive this really nice KW T660 a time or two. Too bad its not more often.

 

Keep in mind, the more distance there is between each slider hole the more weight will be transferred. And visa-versa. I dealt with trailers that have holes 4 inches apart and some with 5 to 7 inches apart. The only thing thats going to tell you for sure is experience with that trailer and or that type of trailer.