Dog-tracking. Dunno if anyone's ever explained what this is to you, but here goes. Dog-tracking is when the rear of your truck or trailer is tracking along further to the right or left than your steering tires are while you're travelling in a straight line. Watch your dog trotting along and note his hind feet track off to one side of his front ones. Like his butt is trying to pass him. That's where the name comes from. I've noticed this is becoming more prevalent these days, especially it seems with the "rental" or "lease" trailers. Looks like nobody's teaching about this anymore. Dog-tracking is a sign of serious suspension problems; something loose or twisted. In a spring type suspension it could be anything from a broken center bolt (the bolt that goes through the spring pack where it sits on the axle) to a broken or loose U-bolt (what holds your spring and axle together) to broken or loose spring hangers and/or bushings (where your suspension fastens to the frame. Air suspension is the same (deleting the center bolt) but adding the tracking bars or possible bad air bag. In either case get it checked pdq.... or at least write it up (Trailer dog-tracking bad to right or left) for the shop. Note.... this is a dangerous situation and must not be ignored. Could put you in the woods or jack-knife you. How do you know? Well, next time you hook up pull out on the straight and level and adjust your mirrors so you're looking down the sides of the trailer equally. As you're rolling down the road in a straight line note if this is still the same (you are checking your mirrors periodically right?). If your trailer looks as if you're in a curve, seeing more of one side than the other, then you gots you a problem. Note: A rutted road or highly crowned (sideways slope of the road) will cause your trailer to dog-track briefly but it won't stay that way. School's out, now go play nice.
This was something I did know but its always good to hear tips like this from the veterans. Thanks for sharing!
Darned good tip Kitty. Also, listen for the call on the CB "Hey (Swifty), you're dog-leggin". Remember, what seemed fine an hour ago.... may not still apply... keep checking periodically, especially if running heavy or after some rough road. Kakaa breaks when IT wants to, not just before inspections.
Great initial post - if any of you are new and will be pulling doubles or just new to pulling doubles, you'll find dog tracking can be a nasty thing especially if it's your back box. Which ever way it's going - it usually seems to wanna go to the low side of the road, it will have a tendency to feel like the kite is pulling the entire unit to the left. Like he said, I always write it up because it's a big safety issue. Another thing I've found is often times leaning pups in a set are due to broken springs and not too much weight on one side. I always look pre-trip, but when I can see the top front corner marker light on the back box from my mirror, I always take a real close look at the trailer and dolly springs - probably found 4 or 5 broken springs now which could have caused major major problems down the road.
