Fifth wheel question

That would be affected by the trailer axles, not the fifth wheel. The fifth wheel is mostly for weight distribution with a very small effect on turning and backing but none on trailer tracking.

 

If it's further back then you are seeing the result correctly albeit very minimal. The further back away the rear axles of the trailer are the greater distance between the drive tires and the rear axles. To compensate for this delay when your 5th wheel is all the way back then slide your rear tandems closer towards your tractor. However, if you do this then that may mess up your maximum weights on your axles. You need to understand how sliding the pins in each hole effects the weights on your axles. You can play with your weight simply by sliding the 5th wheel forward or backwards and also your rear axles forward and backwards. Try to find yourself a cheat sheet on google that explains how much weight is transferred or lost on each axle when sliding the 5th wheel or rear axles. This is stuff they do not teach you in trucking school unfortunately or if they do it's very brief.

So to sum it up you are not crazy. Your rear axles are further away then what you are used to practicing with because my guess is they are all the way back.

First thing you need to do is get to a CAT scale pronto and make sure you are not overweight on any of your axles and if you are then adjust your axle weight accordingly by either sliding your 5th wheel closer to the cab or sliding your rear axles of the trailer closer towards the kingpin if they are all the way back. Know each states requirements (bridge laws) as California Highway Patrol loves these violations.

 

Each one of those holes transfers weight. Once you understand how that weight works with each hole you will have a better understanding of what to do when you are overweight on any axle.

 

One thing to do is on your scale ticket weight 5th and what hole you are in and trlr and what hole. That way you can move them all around and if you need to just put the 5th whl and tele bac in the same as scale ticket says and you know where you are

 

first question is. does it have good grease on it

 

them cat scales could be wrong tho. cat doesnt stand by the axle weight

 

They stand by it. You need to read up on it apparently