Strange or bizarre tips for drivers

Thanks for that info. That was one of the things that was mentioned, to lift up the trailer and slide the fifth wheel under it so the nose of the trailer doesnt scrape it off. When I get a PM done, it looks like they use a tube of grease on it...but I dont think they clean it off.

Outside of a good scraping, how can one really get the gunk out of there? The show mentioned steam cleaning but Im not sure how to do that...would the high pressure hose at a self service truck wash do the trick? Id really like to clean the bugger out good before winter comes.

 

Nope.
They usually don't clean off the old grease. That's why I do it for them before a PM, or anytime the grease gets contaminated.
It just doesn't make sense to me to put new, clean grease on top of gunky old grease.

I've used the high-pressure truck washes, but that just tends to spatter the old grease all over the place, including the back of the tractor. Yuck!
Try cleaning THAT off.
I've found the best way to clean the 5th wheel is the old fashioned way --- scraping.
If you do it often enough, it isn't all that bad.

 

The last company that I worked for had an actual steam cleaner in their truck wash bay. The kids that worked there would use that to clean off the old fifth wheel grease, and if you asked them nicely, some of them would actually use the steam cleaner to clean grease off anywhere on the outside of the truck during the regular wash.

And yes, it does make a mess in the wash bay, but then they just used the steam cleaner to spray it down the drain. I can't imagine what that sump must have been like when it needed to be pumped out. . .

 

Leave the truck air/heat system on fresh air, or NOT recirc, almost all the time. I only turn on recirc when in or approaching smoke, smells, skunks, etc. Using fresh, conditioned air keeps the cab less musty and the windows don't fog up as easily.

I think some drivers use the recirc switch once in the Summer as an extra boost for the A/C when the truck is extra hot and never turn it off. If you do that the inside of the windows will be on the almost ready to fog very quickly if any moisture gets in the cab. When you need recirc use it for brief periods. It's like breathing into a plastic bag for long periods. Try it and see how much moisture builds up in the bag. Yes, the A/C dehumidifies, and yes there is some small amount of fresh air being drawn into the cab even when recirc is on. However, full-time use of recirc doesn't get you much benefit and makes a quick fogover of the windows more likely, like when you drive into showers on a humid day or when you drive into rapidly changing outside temps.

 

I find that after I wash the truck windshield it is better to not use the wipers to clear the excess water. I let the water dry without the wipers. Most of the time I wash the windshield there will be several bugs I couldn't quite clear off but I didn't notice them until I'm finished washing the glass. Using the wipers will just smear or streak due to the bug residue. If I leave the wipers off, like while I finish fueling the truck or getting my fuel receipt, those bits of bus residue are just small dots on the windshield rather than smears and streaks. Those smears and streaks will be more distracting during early/late sunlight in the eyes or with glare from oncoming traffic and street lights at night.

 

Easy way to clean a windshield is:

Take a bottled cola, plug it with your thumb, shake it up, and spray on the w/s. Wipe with newspaper (Classifieds are better than color pic sheets- More black ink text). Best to do this while a sprinkle is coming down, steady flushing action.

Take a plug of the cheapest chewing tobacco. Good example was Bloodhound (a 3 x 2 x 3/4") bar. Slit the cello wrap on one end, Rub that end over the wet w/s area to to be cleaned in a swirling motion. Wipe it down with wet newspaper wadded up. Pitch the plug back into the glove box.
Cheaper than windexes and paper towels...
You guys try this on your pick up or car-easier to reach the area needed.

Always wipe down the rubber on the wiper blade-That where your grease is that appears on the next stroke.

Just don't use a real glass bottle of cola-It slips in your hand and cracks the w/s...

 

I've always heard that coke makes a good windshield cleaner. I did not know about the chewing tobacco tip, though.

Oh, and I don't use Windex on my windows. The ammonia in it can damage tint. .

 

Never heard about the coke on the window thing but I do know coke is great at getting blood out of concrete. Don't ask how I know this!

 

And to think, I used to drink Coke in the 80's.