Cold and setting trailer brakes

Might I remind ya'll once you de-couple from the trailer the brakes are set..

Not much you can do when you couple, but to pray they were dry from the start..

 

like the other guy said--drag your brakes before you park--then i usually make a few brake applications before i uncouple--anything to get the water outta there--and as always carry a big hammer and and a bar--that way you can tap the drum from the outside--dont have to lay underneath and mangle the dust cover

unless i am dropping the trailer--i never pull the brakes--anything i have driven has always had spring brakes on both drive axles--and double lockers

 

Sometimes just reversing your direction is enough to free up the trailer brakes. Some drivers that dont know any better just keep dragging the trailer across the parking lot (which causes flat spotted tires) hoping the tires will break loose.

 

tire chalk is good to use so you can see if you dragging tires

 

Yeah not that company drivers would take the time to do it but you can ride your trailer brakes to dry them as best you can before dropping it. It will definitely help the next guy.

I don't know if that is your truck or not groundpounder but its a beautiful rig!

Buckeye I lost you, you quoted me then said something about 10. ????

 

The bad backing I do, the brakes are are pretty dry hahahaha

 

yeah you do need to ride them a little before you park, i have had them freeze on me twice earlier this winter and i DONT set them haha.

pouring a little alcohol on there can get them unfrozen pretty quick. i dont know if theres a downside to using it because ive never heard of anyone else doing that, i only did it once when banging and rocking just wasnt working.

 

I have seen these yellow plastic strips they put on wheels now to make it easier to see if the tires are turning. They are about 2 inches wide and bolt onto one of the lug nuts. It then protrudes out beyond the tire a couple of inches. Cheap and easy to instal and wow as a driver what a difference.

I have not seen a temperature above freezing for a few months now and have not had to hammer on my brakes yet. I stay hooked up to the same trailer all the time so I never set the brakes on the trailer.

When you are dropping trailers though it sometimes can't be prevented. Have a good sledge hammer and be prepared to get under there and bang away.

That's just trucking.

 

Doesnt leaving the brakes released also pose a problem? I mean, im not sure how many of you guys really do it but I ALWAYS drain the tanks at the end of the day. Ive replaced a lot of froze up dryers in the past (I work on trucks). If you leave them released it means you still have air, and moisture, in your system which can potentially freeze..

I agree with 'end of the road'. Sometimes it cant be prevented, no matter what. Thats trucking. I definitely agree with riding your brakes to warm them up though. Thats probably the best measure.

 

The tanks fill back up.. plus you don't need to drain them completely. You just need to drain the water..