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Do you dump the bags everytime when pulling out from under a trailer?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by ajsmith184, Apr 15, 2013.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Apr 15, 2013 #1
    ajsmith184

    ajsmith184 Light Load Member

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    Aug 13, 2010
    Howell, Michigan
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    I dont claim to even be a novice driver, I simply drive from time to time for experimental/testing and our test trailers rarely come off..However, today I did drop a semi loaded trailer, and ran into some trouble..

    I got out, cranked the landing gear until it touched the ground...Disconnected the glad hands, pulled the pin...Got in and slowly drove forward...was going smooth, was out from the 5th wheel..Started to pull out the rest of the way and BAM! The trailer pin hooked the support brace on the back of the truck, damaging it slightly.

    A replacement brace is $100..not the end of the world for an engineering development truck...but I dont know what I did wrong..I guess in theory I could have dumped the bags....But ive never done that before and i didnt think most do it regularly...in face I swore during my CDL class we were told not to use it at all unless absolutely needed.

    Anyway, I like to pride myself on doing the right thing, being safe and courteous, and this caught me outta nowhere today..no big deal except a ding to my pride..J
     
    ajsmith184, Apr 15, 2013
    ajsmith184, Apr 15, 2013
    #1
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  3. Apr 15, 2013 #2
    tse tse fly

    tse tse fly Bobtail Member

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    Apr 15, 2013
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    yes, we have to or we catch the frame
     
    tse tse fly, Apr 15, 2013
    tse tse fly, Apr 15, 2013
    #2
  4. Apr 15, 2013 #3
    Dryver

    Dryver Road Train Member

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    Sioux Falls, SD
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    It's a judgement call, it will never always be a YES or a NO. I would say if the landing gear was down properly on solid ground the trailer shouldn't drop that much after disconnecting. If I am on soft ground I am more careful about how the trailer reacts as I pull out from under it and what I do next.
     
    Dryver, Apr 15, 2013
    Dryver, Apr 15, 2013
    #3
    ajsmith184 Thanks this.
  5. Apr 15, 2013 #4
    Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    Apr 2, 2011
    bismarck, nd
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    you should be dumping your air bags when pulling out from under a trailer, as far as hooking to a trailer only as necessary.

    the reason for this is, you have weight on your 5th wheel your air bags are compensated by air pressure. you suddenly remove the weight ( pulling out from under the trailer) the rear of the truck will lift as it cannot bleed the air off as fast as the weight is taken off. this can lead to blowing out air bags as the bags can become over extended or in your case catching the king pin on the rear frame. so its always best to manually release the air pressure from the bags by hitting the dump switch before pulling out from under a trailer.
     
    Ezrider_48501, Apr 15, 2013
    Ezrider_48501, Apr 15, 2013
    #4
    Palazon, double yellow, freedhardwoods and 8 others Thank this.
  7. Apr 15, 2013 #5
    MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Feb 24, 2012
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    This is EXACTLY why you dump your bags.

    Not only will it cost you a potential $100 brace, it CAN cost you $700+ in air bags.


     
    MNdriver, Apr 15, 2013
    MNdriver, Apr 15, 2013
    #5
  8. Apr 15, 2013 #6
    ajsmith184

    ajsmith184 Light Load Member

    61
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    Aug 13, 2010
    Howell, Michigan
    0
    Thanks fellas, makes total sense..Just totally confused how I got this far along, dropping and hooking this very trailer, with no issues for so long..As I said, I don't do it daily, maybe a few times a month..But still. Thanks again for the education.
     
    ajsmith184, Apr 15, 2013
    ajsmith184, Apr 15, 2013
    #6
  9. Apr 15, 2013 #7
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
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    Everytime. Leave landing gear a hair above the ground, disconnect everything, drive forward 1' -- dump bags, wait for trailer to settle on ground, idle forward and reinflate bags.

    Hooking is the reverse.

    Benefits: No blown air bags, no lateral load put (or left) on landing gear, you can tell if trailer is on solid ground before youre 5' away and thinking oh #### what now, minimal abbrassion on the fifth wheel surface and trailer plate from road crud in front of the kingpin, next guy that hooks won't have to lower landing gear on loaded trailer (with laterally loaded legs) to close gap, etc.

    Costs: 5 seconds


    nobrainer
     
    double yellow, Apr 15, 2013
    double yellow, Apr 15, 2013
    #7
    ajsmith184 and Lepton1 Thank this.
  10. Apr 15, 2013 #8
    Freightlinerbob

    Freightlinerbob Road Train Member

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    West Coast B.C.
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    Yes. Every time.
     
    Freightlinerbob, Apr 15, 2013
    Freightlinerbob, Apr 15, 2013
    #8
  11. Apr 15, 2013 #9
    sdaniel

    sdaniel Road Train Member

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    Pelham N.C.
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    Well put. It puts the weight down easy on the landing gear .
     
    sdaniel, Apr 15, 2013
    sdaniel, Apr 15, 2013
    #9
  12. Apr 15, 2013 #10
    Chris50

    Chris50 Medium Load Member

    347
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    Jun 21, 2010
    Florida
    0
    My 07 Century doesnt have a switch or button to dump the bags and ive never had any issues the 1000s of times ive dropped a trailer.. Had to raise the trailer maybe 2 or 3 times ever to get under one that was too low..I always lower the gear till i start to hear air release and then just pull out slowly...
     
    Chris50, Apr 15, 2013
    Chris50, Apr 15, 2013
    #10
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