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Trailer Gap

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Sportster2000, Jul 4, 2011.

How Close

  1. *

    Get the trailer as close as possible while legal

    8 vote(s)
    33.3%
  2. *

    Who Cares

    7 vote(s)
    29.2%
  3. *

    I leave the fifth wheel further back

    5 vote(s)
    20.8%
  4. *

    Adjust it so that it is legal and not care about trailer gap

    7 vote(s)
    29.2%
Page 1 of 2
  1. Jul 4, 2011 #1
    Sportster2000

    Sportster2000 Road Train Member

    1,480
    885
    Jan 5, 2008
    Indiana
    0
    With the way fuel prices are I have noticed more trucks getting their trailer tucked up in behind the cab as close as they can. Question is when you weigh the truck do you adjust the fifth wheel so that you get the trailer as close to the cab/sleeper as possible or do you scale it and find when it works you leave it without getting the trailer closer to the cab/sleeper? Before this year I never adjusted the trailer to get the gap the closest as possible while still being legal, it was just get it legal. Now it is get the trailer close and then see if I am legal.
     
    Sportster2000, Jul 4, 2011
    Sportster2000, Jul 4, 2011
    #1
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  3. Jul 5, 2011 #2
    Kteas

    Kteas Bobtail Member

    4
    3
    Jul 5, 2011
    Chino hills, CA
    0
    I set my fifth wheel in the position that
    puts 12,100 on my steers with a
    heavy load and full tanks. Then never adjust it again.
     
    Kteas, Jul 5, 2011
    Kteas, Jul 5, 2011
    #2
    cchardel Thanks this.
  4. Jul 5, 2011 #3
    CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

    19,726
    18,731
    Apr 18, 2010
    Tennessee
    0
    Set it and forget it! You run a 387 and a reefer, you don't have a choice but to favor the back. I'm not moving it empty for a few pennies. Just one more thing fuel desk managers are trying to get drivers to do for free. Then they want to beat you out of your fuel bonus because you were 200 miles short one month. Screw em! :)
     
    CondoCruiser, Jul 5, 2011
    CondoCruiser, Jul 5, 2011
    #3
    Rerun8963 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 5, 2011 #4
    lostNfound

    lostNfound Road Train Member

    3,506
    2,263
    Jun 28, 2007
    Home of the Stampede
    0
    I cut a hole in the sleeper so my reefer would fit.
     
    lostNfound, Jul 5, 2011
    lostNfound, Jul 5, 2011
    #4
    THBatMan8 Thanks this.
  7. Jul 5, 2011 #5
    Flying Dutchman

    Flying Dutchman Road Train Member

    1,274
    521
    Nov 2, 2009
    Northern California
    0
    Then added an additional cooling vent so running the A/C in the truck no longer required thus saving fuel again? lol
     
    Flying Dutchman, Jul 5, 2011
    Flying Dutchman, Jul 5, 2011
    #5
  8. Jul 5, 2011 #6
    johnday

    johnday Road Train Member

    2,487
    825
    Aug 14, 2006
    Barton City Mi, under a rock or log
    0
    I had to vote who cares. On the OTR trucks I had, I'd usually find a happy medium for the 5th wheel, and keep my tandems in the 10th-13th hole. I could usually scale any load I had like that. Another plus was that your turning radius would always be pretty much the same with minimal tailswing.:biggrin_25519:
     
    johnday, Jul 5, 2011
    johnday, Jul 5, 2011
    #6
  9. Jul 5, 2011 #7
    Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

    3,917
    2,012
    Mar 30, 2006
    ova-hereee
    0
    whether i was driving a day cab or a sleeper, the fifth wheel pivot point was set in between the front and read drive axles, giving me a pretty good balance. i didn't care much to worry about no stinking gap.
     
    Rerun8963, Jul 5, 2011
    Rerun8963, Jul 5, 2011
    #7
  10. Jul 5, 2011 #8
    Cowmobile

    Cowmobile Medium Load Member

    609
    1,233
    May 9, 2011
    The hammer lane....
    0
    Doesn't much matter with a 290" wheelbase!
     
    Cowmobile, Jul 5, 2011
    Cowmobile, Jul 5, 2011
    #8
  11. Jul 5, 2011 #9
    THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

    1,478
    469
    Feb 13, 2011
    Wherever I park
    0
    My company disengaged the 5th wheel slides to all their trucks. That's the only reason why I hate CRE. :(
     
    THBatMan8, Jul 5, 2011
    THBatMan8, Jul 5, 2011
    #9
  12. Jul 5, 2011 #10
    Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

    7,737
    14,408
    May 7, 2011
    0

    Exactly...I've got a 240" wheelbase on a day cab. I have at LEAST 10 or 12 feet between my exhaust stacks and the front of the trailer....and there's just no way to move the trailer far enough forward to eliminate that gap!:biggrin_2559:
     
    Pedigreed Bulldog, Jul 5, 2011
    Pedigreed Bulldog, Jul 5, 2011
    #10
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