Not so newbie question

Yeah, the biggest thing you will need to learn is how little skill is needed to drag a box. Open the right door, then the left ....(grin)

You've already master the tough stuff.

Seriously though, I'd say just watch the setting as to how far back your tandems go to remain legal. Been so long since I drug a 53, I cant remember now. Gotta be same as what a 48 would be, I know that. Also, I'd think there'd be a block preventing you from even sliding them beyond legal.

Good luck

 

Not much difference between a 48 & a 53. Need a bit more room for turns and a little different to back. You do have to watch your bridge law stuff with them, as I think they do go a bit farther back than a 48. It's been awhile for me for either.

 

Oh yeah, and another thing to keep in mind is when you get a heavy 44,000 ish pound load where you weigh out, not cube out, is to load it exacly like you would with a 48. If it's 20-22 skids, run them all in and leave the last 5 feet in the rear empty, since ya cant legaly get the tandems back far enough to scale it, were you to use up the last 5 feet with heavy stuff.

 

I dunno -

Not that I've ever run my tandems all the way back, deliberately. I just find a happy place where trailer and drives have about the same weight. Then adjust as needed to deal with local laws (like Kalifornia's 40' rule, or Idaho, where I have a 37 foot limit)

As for the load - I have no say in it - I've seen only one load in 2 months that didn't bang up against the doors. Anything from dog food to canned soup, stacked far enough back that there's no room for a load lock. (Oh, I have no say because they're sealed when I pick them up, usually. Only time I'd be able to take it back is if it's over weight, and that's not happened yet)

 

yeah, slide the seat back so your gut will fit behind the wheel...

 

Watch your overhead clearance: viaducts, wires, trees, etc. Also, they blow over in side winds over 60 mph, and jackknife in lesser side winds.

 

You don't have to worry about Idaho's 37 foot law May is exempt from that rule.
My old trainer is from there and said that we did not have to worry about that due to being there for so long. There is only one or two roads that have that posted on them.
Heck I passed a cop right after the sign and he did not budge of course I was still with my trainer and I was freaking out he said don't worry about it the cops do not mess with us unless we are speeding.

Did you know the Payette yard use to be the company Hq?
It was a long time ago but I was told that at one time that is were may was started.

 

don't forget when cutting around a tight corner that you've got that overhang over the back axle. it can swing out and hit your neighboring traffic lanes.

This is the number one reason I love my tanker... the back axle is the back of the trailer, no worries...