Always check your 5th wheel

Do you do this in the winter as well? I was told not to set trailer brakes over night when its really cold because the brakes can freeze to the drums.

 

Yes, I do. I just make sure if it's snowing or wet, I let the brakes cool as much as possible before I set them. Park in your spot for the night, do your paperwork Or what not, and before you lay down, set your trailer brakes and pull on the fifth wheel. That give the brakes a chance to drop below freezing and not have the shoe sandwich water in the drum. Or if they're wet, get them warm coming off the ramp, evaporating the moisture out of the drums and that dries them out. NOT SMOKING HOT, just warm. My tractor has spring brakes on both axles, so I'm usually tapping on those anyway. I've never really had problems knocking brakes loose in 16 years. A little tap here, a little tap there. Just gotta use your head.

 

Wouldnt it be safer to use a hammer and not your head?

 

Always do, thanks.

 

Don't forget to move the truck backwards or forwards a little in the spot after 15-20 minutes so your tires don't freeze to the ground. Frozen brakes are a cakewalk compared to tires frozen to ice on the pavement.

 

Bleach works good too for thawing brakes and tires

 

So does a hammer.

 

Ok, makes sense, ty for the tips.