sliding tandems

It's not about the estimated weight, it's about how the weight is distributed across the floor. No way to account for the infinite variables. You'll find the trailer tandems will typically ride within several holes of a given position, setting aside the various weight/bridge rules distances (California being the buggaboo)

 

I find that you can usually get it in the ballpark if you set the tandems so that the trailer's mudflaps are lined up with or just behind the rear edge of the rearmost pallet. Not exactly a formula though, is it?

 

Yes, chalk or other means of "marking" a spot is helpful. I make a mark on the trailer holes rail at my target hole but others do it differently. Whatever works for you. After a while you will learn how to roll down your window, look straight down at a point on the ground, then make your move and gauge your movement distance pretty close that way.

But you should still mark a target hole and use this as a reference so you're not bouncing around all over the place. Wether the marked target hole turns out to be right or wrong is irrelevant. you still need it as a reference.

 

CA is actually the easiest of all
tandems all the way forward shippers outside of CA are a little relucant to load heavy because of CA
in state shippers already know how to load CA legal
i seldom have to shift 5th wheel or tandems
produce though is another story

 

I find that the tandems set at the 43'at the rear axle (pretty much legal in all but California) works for most loads.

 

There is a pin you can buy that you can put in the slot, so you can slide your tandems to the spot needed.
Diesel Boss sells them.

 

You don't need to run your tandems up to the cab to be legal in California. I run the 6th hole for California, 10th hole average load under 30K, and kinda go by the ride once I get loaded. If my butt is getting slammed, I'll move the tandems. A balanced load rides nice and smooth. Over 40K, I'll hit a Cat Scale unless I'm riding nice and easy. Mostly, each load is different on axle weights, that's why there's no easy formula. I use Captain Canuck's formula once in a while, but I line up the last pallet with the center line of my tandems. Modified Captain Canuck Loading Formula.

If I have to move my tandems, I'll usually spit on a finger and mark the hole I want. Pretty hitech around my ride.

 

I think every hole is what 250 lbs? If the load is mostly at the nose of the trailer move the tandems back 3 or 4 holes then weigh load and visa versa.Its been awhile I always left my tandems in the firth hole and never had problems.If I was alittle overweight of 500 or less lbs I just left it and dot never bothered me.

 

every trailer manufacturer has different distance to the holes
hence different weights per hole
everyone is right based on their own experiences