Backing 10' 2" splits

They are called spreads

 

It's tough at first when loaded, but I love them. Only reason I'd rather a closed is for tire wear. Just take your time, maybe install an air dump for that rear axle.

 

No dump=heavier load, wider swing. Better to equip it with a dump valve, that offers some relief on trailer sidewalls, and allows tighter maneuvering.

 

Swing is wider and they don't square well, but you get used to it. Remember, though, you can do some serious damage trying to "hoss" through a bind if loaded. If empty you'll slide the front axel sideways which really isn't good either. But if under a nice, heavy load you can rip the tire off the rim, tear up the rims, tear up the front axel mounts and in extreme cases, tear the trailer off the fifth wheel, though you really have to be a knucklehead to hoss it that bad and most likely you are at such an angle you are bending the cab fin but we had a guy with a 20K coil over the spreads do it, so it can be done. One trick I used to give guys new to spreads was this:

When under a load find a big open lot. In third gear just idle along. No foot pedal; just idle. Now start a very big circle, at idle. Continue slowly tightening the circle until the engine starts to bog down. Now stop. Now you have a good idea of turning radius. No worries, you'll get the swing of it (pun intended lol).

We used to call the fences and back row of truck stops (because the back row usually has more pull up room - but not always) "flatbedder's row". You'd be tired, wore out (we ran hard) and there'd be some regular spots but dang, you just weren't up to all the pull ups and maneuvering it was gonna take to get that loaded spread to bend into it so "screw it, I'll just hit the fence". If you do, though, be considerate and put yourself where the other drivers can get around you easily. Don't make them have to do tricky maneuvers just because your rig doesn't like to and you're not up to making it. That was before the days of E-Logs, though and we did tend to run pretty darned hard. I'll give E-logs that. They did force a lot of companies to rethink how hard they ran us.

One last funny tid bit: I pulled those 10' spreads for 15 years, then DOT caught up with our company and the owner sold out and I went with a dry box outfit. On the road test my first turn was a right turn onto a three lane road. one lane in each direction and a "chicken lane" between them. I did my turn like I always did and waited until the oncoming lane was clear and gentle arc turned with my left steer hooking well into the oncoming lane. They guy chuckled: "What?" "Yup. You're an old flatbedder all right." "What?" "You took up the whole highway for that turn. Guess I won't have to worry about you curbing it will I?" "Is that bad?" "Nah. You'll get the hang of the pivot point on these dry boxes. They turn a LOT tighter than your spread axels did. You'll figure it out soon enough. Backing ought to be interesting." It was too. I wiggled like a sidewinder. He chuckled. He said think 'less is more" for a while and you'll get it. But he said I passed with flying colores. It was just a matter of re-learning conventional tandems. So, no worries. You'll get it.

 

There was one time (only one!) when I was full heavy and even with a dump valve I just couldn't get it to turn into the hole trying to back into a tight spot at a little truck stop. Lot was lumpy asphalt and couldn't get a good pullup cuz other row was too close. I eventually gave up and tucked my tail between my legs and went on down the road. I couldn't see twisting and pushing my trailer into contortions any longer.

Normally I slide right in with the first shot.

With a spread you can never tell which axle is gonna pivot if they both have weight on them.

 

And those lumps, or asphalt aprons, or slight changes in incline all really change how she steers as well.

 

Trailer manufacturers should put a mandatory dump valve on all their trailers. Even if they just dumped 75% of the air from one axle using an air regulator, this wouldn't be problem. You can dump or you can lift, but something needs to be on there.

 

What was even worse is the ol walking beam spreads... You get in a spot where the ground has a rise to it and backing in.
The lead axle might be in the air slightly so to speak and then all the weight went to the rear.. Fun times

 

I see a couple outfits that still run that setup. Looks like it su-hucks. How do they ride down the road in comparison to a standard spring ride?