At many drops with dirt lots (meat plants for example) it matters little as the lots are so uneven that after the yard dog moves the trailer to another spot the height is entirely different so that the same truck will have problems hooking to it.
Proper way to drop n hook?
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by feldsforever, Jan 4, 2020.
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tinytim, Cabinover101, Bean Jr. and 1 other person Thank this.
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Now if they are using a regular tractor instead I'd aa yard dog, obviously that guy needs to be on board when he drops it at the dock or back on the drop lot. -
I crank it down till the landing gear just touches the ground and no more. then I drop the air bags on the tractor to take the pressure off the 5'th wheel and pull out.
It is easier/faster to wedge the truck under a lower 5'th wheel, and lift the whole thing off the ground, than it is to crank up the landing gear that still has pressure on the ground.
Sometimes you will back under a trailer and hook up ok. them when you will try and crank up the landing gear at it will bind up and be hard to crank up because the pads are still on the ground. If the trailer is low enough
then you can lift it all off the ground, ensure that you are not "high hooking", and have an easy time cranking up the landing gear.
Different truck specs have different 5'th wheel heights. There is no set rule. Just watch when you back under and see if you feel something happening. You won't always, and that means something is a bit off and it's time to jump out and take a look.feldsforever Thanks this. -
Really leave an imch to just barely touching the ground when you crank the landing gear down, drop your airbags and pull out.
When you hook up the most important thing is that as you back under the fifth wheel lifts the trailer.
That makes certain that there is no space between the fifth wheel and the trailer and you will couple correctly. Also make sure to do the pull test and visually inspect that the Jaws are locked.Last edited: Jan 4, 2020
feldsforever, PE_T, Odin's Rabid Dog and 2 others Thank this. -
The dirt lots at many locations are so uneven that If you drop the trailer in a spot that has a dip and the yard dog moves the trailer to a spot that is on a bump without moving the landing gear it is at a different height.
Greeley Co and Liberal KS are a couple of locations were this is very common. I backed up to a trailer at Liberal KS once that was a full 14" high. after I had a yard dog pull it out to flatter ground I hooked up with out having to crank the trailer at all.
Did you seriously think that I didn't know how a yard dog works?Cabinover101, Bean Jr. and Odin's Rabid Dog Thank this. -
Cabinover101, Bean Jr. and Odin's Rabid Dog Thank this.
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No problems. Just a spot of cranking up or down. Just eat hearty with protien and hydrate. work that landing gear. With a box of spare half inch bolts incase you break them.
The airbag stratagem comes into play as a last resort. Even hooking from 90 degrees if necessary (That is a delicate operation, I do this a time or two now and then because I am #### good. But not for newbies.)feldsforever Thanks this. -
Now, when I get back in the truck, I’ll turn on the air bag deflate and leave it on, and then attempt to move forward slowly for about one foot so the 5th wheel clears the king pin. If you feel a lot of resistance, wait 2 seconds and try again to move forward. Once you’ve moved forward about a foot, let the air bags continue to deflate to the point that you can freely move forward without any resistance. This can take about 10 seconds.Last edited: Jan 4, 2020
Reason for edit: Clarificationfeldsforever Thanks this. -
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Empty trailer = landing gear about an inch or two above ground, then drop airbags
Loaded trailer = landing gear touching the ground firmly, then drop airbagsCabinover101, Bean Jr. and feldsforever Thank this.
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