sliding tandems

I've been keeping note of how much weight each brand of trailer we run moves per hole since the newer Utility trailers have wider spaced holes than the Wabash trailers. The Wabash moves about 270 lbs per hole and the Utility moves nearly 400 per hole.

 

Never heard of spray chalk before. Is it like spray paint?

 

Most trailers have enough grease built up underneath,just draw a line in the grease.

 

Mark not only the hole but the location of the actual pins for when they are between holes and you're unsure of where they are.

 

I generally run the 9th or 10th on most loads, works out pretty close on my 53ft utility reefer.

 

as someone said IF you can open the doors just set the mud flaps at about the end of the load and you should be good. IF it's loaded right

if you can't see the load them best guess till you get to a scale (6-10 back should be close....

I have this if I need to be exact. http://www.dieselboss.com/lpl.htm

 

On a Utility air ride 5th hole is CA length. starting counting at the third hole that is.

One open hole, then a welded hole, then start counting at that third hole, which is the first hole, for counting.

I have Drive axle air pressure gauge on my volvo which I convert to axle weight through experience. Approx 615 lbs per PSI in my truck.

If I trust the shipper weights I can calculate/predict the tandem weights Somewhat accurately. Enough to confidently run past scales.

Mikeeee

 

It's been a few years, but that's exactly what i remember - 400lbs for the Utility and 250 odd for the very few Wabash we used.

I'd use my key to scratch an 'X' in the grime by the hole, and adjust as needed.

 

When I was otr I would scale a load and then write down the weight and what hole the pin was in. I would use that as a basis for starting point. For instance I knew all beer load scaled out in the 7th hole from the front. Was right all but once. Beer loads are between 42 and 43k. So i would start with tandems in 7th hole and scale out. Usually didnt have to reweigh. But there were a few times I had to.

 

Fort Collins they told me that all beer isn't created equal
18 pallets of some brands of beer can vary by 2000 lbs
based on sugar content
the computer doesn't allow for that hence the overloads
because the computer already recognizes they can load a dry van heavier then a reefer
first thing i learned hauling beer is always go in with plenty of fuel or you will drive 1000 miles with a 1/3 of a tank