10 car set up?

Back when I hauled cars, I had 10 car rigs. I don't recall having a problem being over on steers. You do have to be more careful staging your load with a 10 car set up. You can shift your weight somewhat with the newer ramps. They can move vehicles forward and back and that can change your axle weights. I have owned high mount and stinger rigs. Both setups were for hauling up to 10 cars. I prefer the stinger, but a high mount can be more versatile should you decide to pull something other than cars.

 

FP, you didn't mention the truck you were going to get. Possibly you haven't decided that just yet. I can tell you, from my own experiences, it will make a difference in the answer to your question about the weight on the steer axle. You already know there are a lot of differing combinations out there. Briefly and generally...a short hooded Peterbilt with a 63" bunk and a common "car haul" wheelbase sold by many of the usual companies that deal in parking lots will, most of the time, not allow you to get all you want on the steer axle. And in order to go with 80K, you're gonna need 12K up there...obviously. This is one reason why I choose to spec my own truck and headracks which end up being out-of-the-normal wheelbase and hood length. If you went with a smaller bunk on that same "shorter" wheelbase, say a 252" short-hood Pete, the smaller bunk would allow the car behind the bunk to be placed farther forward toward the steer axle which would probably fix that problem. Me...I went with a longer wheelbase and an extended hood...which allows the #1 car over the hood to be out there farther and also the car on # 2 and # 6 (behind the sleeper unit) are riding farther forward of that point that moves weight to the front axle. Every bit you can gain forward will put more on the steer axle. Common sense but wanted to mention it. Most times with just cars and no SUV's or trucks, it won't matter...according to your empty weight...and again...there are a lot of different combinations out there and what you choose will affect the end results. This is speaking to Peterbilts and similar configurations. If you go with a shorter BBC (Bumper to back of cab) truck, weights will move toward the steer axle and you could get heavy I would assume but having not run those kind of trucks, I can't say. Also...12K is not neccesarily the limit up there providing you have the axle/tires to cover what you're carrying. Indiana, for one, is a stickler about checking those front tires to make sure you're not carrying above the posted weight rating on the sidewalls. 16 ply at least on that steer axle tire and now they are starting to use those bigger, wider tires up there after so many steer failures that leave your hood in a bunch of pieces on the side of the highway.

As for your other concern about the cars riding at the split between truck and trailer...the wheelbase again makes a big difference. YES...you CAN get these cars together and tear up jack...whatever jack is...but it would cost a lot of $$$ to find this out. A lot of headracks will have a hydraulic lift on the # 6 position (behind the bunk) that will allow the 2 cars (# 6 and # 7) to turn over each other. In a turn and a dip...be careful cause again...tear up jack. I elected to get rid of this problem and gave myself a lot of space to keep this from ever happening, even with a Grand Marquis' or similar length car behind the sleeper. Those short/regular wheelbase trucks will get you in trouble if you try to load tight in these areas. Of course, they offer the sliding fifth wheel and the sliding king pins to help out in those situations...I just chose to not have to fool with stuck sliders, etc and made sure I could load up and not tear the hood off a 40K dollar car. Again...smallish loads...not going to give you much problems but in this biz...it ain't never the easy thang if you are going to maximize your revenue and load the wagon.

Basics and you may already know these little bits of info but there it is. Need more questions answered...just ask. I thought I was a dummy and learning new things every day even after 40 years of car haul...but my wife informed me the other day that I must know everything about anything. She called me a know-it-all. Compliment, ya think?

 

Karl,Does your wife have a long lost sister, because my wife tells me the same thing, except with an eye roll for added effect.

 

She certainly does...we've been wondering where she got to ?! My wife will be so happy to know she's in good hands and that she finally found a man with money.

 

LOL, some day, we HAVE to get together!

 

If so, we better hurry while I'm still above ground. I'm older'n dirt.

 

<<<California does the same thing. Winterhaven scale on I-8 west of Yuma is notorious for checking ply rating on steer tires of autohaulers>>>

Where's California? I've heard of that place.

 

It is that wierd place you pass into when you go farther than the Arizona border...HAHAHAHA