2 questions regarding traction and accidents

Yeah, I actually hate bobtailing. I just bobtailed from Belgrade, MT to Coeur d'Alene, ID last night. That was fun, what with the winter weather we've been having.

 

I'm too dang lazy to research so I will call this from memory. I think most states have moved away from (must) render aid rules. Some have also created legal exceptions to immunity from lawsuits arising from helping people. I do think if you as a driver can see with clear detail someone is in trouble you should at least call 911 and render aid till help arrives. I have said this in these boards before. During my driving career, I was blessed to not be involved in a huge amount of these situations. However the ones I was part of seemed to be nasty and I still think about them to this very day. Render aid folks, it's the human thing to do. However, do it with some common sense. If there are 50 vehicles parked go on about your business.

As to this weight and stopping distance, I am guilty of doing this too, however, getting too involved in the science of motion is a disservice to some of these drivers. In the old days, the trailers did not have the suspensions and ABS systems they have today. I have pulled both. I know from experience they handle differently. back then in some situations, it did take longer to stop empty. These newer trailers not so much. If anything is on the road surface that will cause the wheels to slide on it can become a problem with the anti-lock brakes and it will take longer to get stopped. Otherwise, an empty trailer on a clean dry pavement WILL stop in less distance. An empty trailer (might) start bouncing and in some situations might start to jackknife. I had an empty trailer to start a jackknife a long time ago on I-285 in Atlanta. I was not paying attention and got in a bad situation. Thankfully I was able to keep moving and I was able to get the trailer back behind me. These things are why I am trying to focus back on the whys and stay away from the science of why.

The problem with a bobtail is not the weight on the front, but the absence of weight on the tandems. I have seen the bobtails ground loop. Make a total 360degree slide. Again yes there is a valve but the thing is the lack of weight (might) cause anti-lock brake systems to not work properly. A few years ago I had one of those call home to mommy QCs. If I hard stopped I could count on a call from safety. I finally had to get one of the girls out in my truck to show her the difference between bobtailing and being under a trailer on braking. Then later tried to tell her that I very rarely drove bobtail on a highway. She finally got off my butt.

 

Maybe not typical, but that's what mine weighs.

 

My 579 is 11700 on the steer bobtail and full of fuel.

 

A Pete?
You're a traitor to your username!

 

I have been for a few years! I sold my stretched FLD towards the end of 2015.

 

I cannot think anything less than 12 grand up front. Tractors by themselves have become obese and gained weight since my 2001 days. I ran a T2000 back then which actually grew on me and became a favorite few that I would want to consider if I was buying one. I would not carry the full side skirts either, more trouble than it's worth. But there would be some skirting under there.

The only time the front axle would be pretty light would be on that 9000 series ford I had as a yard jockey about the 2006 time period supporting a factory and shipping building docks with a group of 25 trailers. Turned like a witch also. Probably the one truck model that can be depended on to get into tight places that will hurt a Ottawa.

//tease.

 

Aluminum dry bulker or aluminum dump trailer are good examples of loaded VRS empty traction.

Even at a relatively slow speed an empty aluminum trailer will hop when braking. Trailer brakes won't contribute much stopping power when airborne.....

 

I can’t think of anything under 12k either, but that’s a rating not actual weight as lepton was talking about.

 

Everytime I heard it was when I was driving a COE.

 

On a tractor with a set back front axle 11-12k on the steer axle while bobtail are common.