Backing 48' fixed spread axle trailer in tight spots

I had a spread reefer that I rigged up valves on both axles. Worked real nice. Dump the rear for cornering. Dump the front for those times your backing in and
don't want any tail swing.

 

As long as the company is aware of the damage your causing by knifing a spread. Its their gear
The company knows, its the only way to get into the tight spot, not my favorite place to go

 

Don't buy cheap, lightweight spreads... Or cheap, lightweight tires

 

Or haul cheap heavy freight

 

I've pulled various spread axle set ups, they're not difficult to back up after some practice. You have a lot of tire scrub because of the axle spacing, so, they like to take a wider line. In 4 years of going into some weird locations with them, I only ever dumped the rear axle once, and that involved a 10-ft drop off an embankment down to a footpath next tto a river for a boring company that was putting in an overflow line to the creek across the way. 180-degree u-turn at about a 20% incline with a top heavy pipe-pusher. Trees and barricades at the bottom, needed every inch I could squeeze to tighten up the turn.


The drop-off

And the path to the jobsite...