Understanding non air ride trailer

I was under the impression that air ride is the exception, not the norm.

 

Are you dragging the tires or are the tires spinning when the brakes are supposed to be locked? If the latter, your brakes need to be fixed before you take it anywhere.

 

The springs?

 

And if you are only an inch above the tires, you either have a deflated air ride, and you think you don't, or something is broken.

 

Not poor. Most likely need to be readjusted. If it's an old trailer, chances are that it doesn't have automatic slack adjusters. Yes the springs hold tension when the pins are pulled in. The tension is released when you lower the handle.

A curb will work. So will a big rock, a chock, a square block of wood. Unless the trailer brakes are completely backed off from the drum, you only need something to block the tires just enough to help the brakes.

Also try popping the clutch a little. Rock the truck back and forth. I have plenty of trailers that refuse to move because they haven't been slid in awhile...especially with a heavy load on them. It's frustrating as hell, but you'll get it.