Shifting Trailer Weight?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Bumpy, Sep 21, 2010.

  1. mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

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    Get out your tape measure and marker. Measure 10ft from rear of trailer and mark it. That is your 40' mark give or take a few inches.
     
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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Ok, put a 100 pound kid on the end of one seesaw. Find a 200 pound tubbie, seat him on the other end of that see saw.

    It's heavy, that 100 pound kid aint going down is he? No fun tat all.

    Now.

    Shift that 200 pound tubbie closer to the middle of that seesaw or add double the length of the beam holding then 100 pounder. Now you have a balanced see saw. More or less.

    The truck is just a bridge between groups of two axles in that trailer, when you move the trailer back and forth over that trailer tandem you are adding more weight to the tractor (Taking off the trailer) or... adding more weight to the trailer (Taking off the tractor) depending on which axle group is over 34000 pounds legal weight. Until both are at 34, 34 and rest on steer for a total of 80K.

    Now...

    Thats not the end of it. In California for example (As in most all states...) your king pin has to do this weight legally within about 40 some feet. 40.5 I think. And there are other considerations as well.

    If you docked a trailer and your tandems are too far forward, the theory is the forklift will tip the trailer onto himself bouncing onto it. There is always some bounce when 5 tons want on or off.

    I can go on further but I think that's enough here from me.
     
  4. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    How to figure your KPRA for California--

     
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  5. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    I suppose once California attains nationhood they are more than welcome to build many 40 foot wheel based 18 wheelers to transfer from the borders....
     
  6. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    Speaking of California

     
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  7. Beerad_the_trucker

    Beerad_the_trucker Bobtail Member

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    It did for me or this scale is not working properly . 7 reweigh and 5 different gross weight ,and when slide 5th wheel past middle notch 1 spot weight shifts 2k lbs to either steer or drives.
     
  8. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    I will tell you exactly why your weight kept changing. You are setting your brakes on the scale. Do not set your brakes on a Cat Scale. Read the sign above the speaker.
     
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  9. Frank Speak

    Frank Speak Road Train Member

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    You don’t think the pot pie had anything to do with his weight changing?
     
  10. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Could be.....BTW...How many of those Marie Calendars pot pies can Big Maude scarf down in one sitting?
     
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  11. SoulScream84

    SoulScream84 Road Train Member

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    How many can you put in front of her / afford?
     
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