Cab to reefer distance

With 5th wheel forward its roughly 4'

 

I prefer to have enough distance for the doors to swing all the way (open). I have a fixed 1/5th wheel and had an old trailer with the kingpin 42' from the nose. I just upgraded my trailer and the kingpin is 36' from the nose. It's easier to spend some time working on the unit with the truck is still hooked to the trailer. If your 1/5th wheel slides easily,, then this isn't a concern, if you don't mind sliding it sometimes.. At minimum, just make sure the unit doesn't crumple the cab fairings when taking sharp turns.

 

Don’t forget the clearance when tractor starts up a steep incline and reefer unit smacks top of sleeper from being to close. Seen it done more than once. Also don’t forget that area is generally a low pressure area and the condenser needs adequate airflow. Most trucks have weed burner exhaust and that hot air gets trapped in that pocket and can make the reefer unit run harder than it needs too

 

What's the kingpin setback on a reefer? 24"? You can do the math and see how far the trailer corners swing past the front of the trailer in a turn, then add a foot maybe for dip clearance. I'm thinking the typical reefer is designed to take up that swing space with the reefer unit completely.

Doing the math it looks like 33" minimum from the front of the trailer, not including the reefer unit to make a full clearance. So if the reefer sticks out more than that just back the reefer a foot off the cab and you should be good, though I'm only guessing the kind of angle you get on a dip swing.

Sorry, the 30" was for a 96" trailer. 33" for a 102".

 

7-8’ is about right....

 

I keep the reefer's front plate just in a vertical line at the front edge of the drivers first axle tire. That gives enough room for a man between on the catwalk AND positions the 5th wheel just a little bit forward of the center of the pair of drive axles.

As a rule I do not move the 5th wheel. I'll run through the bag of tricks first before I touch moving that 5th wheel.

 

Just about right.....

 

feet