Cracking rubber air lines... is there a way to fix?

The cheap coiled lines can be repaired also. They get brittle near the glad hand ends. Break when turning. Same thing, cut new end, new compression brass ferrule, Quick .20 repair. I’ve done a few times. The glad hand handles help to keep from putting pressure on the hose when hooking up, another cause of cracking.

 

So plastic gets brittle near glad hands earlier than the rest of the hose? Why? Doesn’t make sense, since the whole length of the plastic hose is under the same conditions (sun, rain, snow etc.). I only grab metal parts (glad hands) When I touch my air lines.

 

Never had that issue. I’m driving this 2015 truck since new. Last winter I replaced both air hoses, because they were losing color. I figured they were getting brittle. Truck had around 450K miles.

 

Put your tractor 70 degrees to the trailer, then hop out and look at your lines. They are stressed the most at the glad hand connection. Even if you only touch the metal portions as you hook/unhook, the line still flexs at the connection.

If I have a small leak at the gladhands I check the grommets first, the tractor hose glad hand connection second, and the trailer hose to gladhand connection last.

 

You must stay down south all winter. I’ve seen relatively new plastic lines snap in very cold temps.

 

Replaced my 16 month old service line in January because of a hairline crack at the connection. 3 weeks later coming out of the house my red line snapped hooking to the first trailer. When I unhooked the service line, I cracked it too. Guess sitting hung up for 3 days in an ice storm then subzero weather is hard on plastic, eh?