Stubborn Tractor Axle Weight

hey guys here to get some advice from the vets.

Tractor: 2006 Internation 9400i (small sleeper as in you can touch the bed while in the driver seat)

APU: yes, not working

Fuel Tanks: 150 gallon x2

I will have to check the tire rating and the manufactures rating for the steering axle.

Short wheel base, not like most sleepers.

My issue is no matter what I do the Steers tires over 12k but by only 200-300 pounds. Now I know the rule of thumb is try to be under 12k on the steers and not exceed 34k on drives and trailer tandems.

I have tried to move the 5th wheel, will not unlock and even tried to give it some lo in with a hammer. Currently the 5th wheel sits between the two drive tires and the king pin is directly in the middle of the two axles.

This tractor is new to me. All the other tractors I have never once even creeped up to 12k on the steers. The other tractors were nice and big and longer of a frame. I know some states are anal about the steers, but so far my options that I have concluded are:

A. Don't have both tanks topped off
B. Try to slide the 5th wheel a notch or two back
C. Scale every load over 37k due to the short tractor and figure it out.

My question is, any insight on this or am I stuck on this issue whith such a short tractor?

 

Thank you,

I have tried that but I will give it another go. I like the tractor because it's easy to maneuver on the East Coast. It's just irritating that with a 42k pound load my steers are at 12,200-12,300 depending on how the pros loaded my trailer. Not once did I have this issue with 01 Columbia or the bigger sleeper version of this truck.

As for the air, I know it's getting Air because I could hear it, but was not about to drop a 43k load when the landing gear is hard ### hell to turn and leave the legs all the way up. I just want to say the pins are being stubborn. God knows when the 5th wheel has been moved.

 

I did try it empty, pins would not slide back. So I doused the #### things with PB Blaster and with air suspension in dump and trailer raised on the gears it sat for a day. Went back with my trusty hammer just in case and still no luck. It is a Fontaine 5th wheel. I'll try again tomorrow in the early morning. Currently bobtail as long as I can get them to unlock I should be fine. Or I hope.

 

You know it. I believe them tanks are 160 but can't fuel up that high due to the angle they are at. Yeah, knowing my luck I'll get a ticket and another vialotion for my gps obstructing view....kinda hard when you sit high in the truck.