Finding center of flatbed.

You would want the center of the deck wouldn't you? Measure the deck

 

It will vary based on the load, center is pointless when the load is not balanced front to back. A machine will be placed differently than 40' pipe, or 20 bundles of pipe that range in weight from 1200lbs to 2400... then is it tandem or 10'2 spread? And so on... go over to the flatbed forum and poke around, lots of experienced hands in there

 

Measure from the kingpin to the point centered between your axles. Disregard the positions of the lights. MARK that spot on your trailer in a way it can't get worn off by over enthusiastic forklift drivers.

The center point is really critical when hauling a single 48K roll of steel. Inches in either direction will throw you off by thousands of pounds. More experienced hands can explain this FAR better than I can.

 

Edit to add:


Misunderstood, what lepton said

 

Take the 5th wheel placement out of the equation. It doesn't change the kingpin setting on the trailer, and therefore does not change the center of the trailer measurements as brought out by Mr Lepton.

 

I'm going out onto a limb and state that the daycab tandems under the 5th wheels will cause the tractor to be consistent at 34K or what have you under that 5th wheel With that said, the tractor MIGHT go over axle on the steers. I never paid it no mind. Keep in mind that the center we refer to is similar to that of a center of gravity in a air plane. Thus the COG of a trailer should be approximately a foot off the deck and equal distance from kingpin end to the last axle end.

I never like moving 5th wheel but if I have to move it, I'll roll up the sleeves and get it.