driving w/ tandams all the way back, '53

Was that MT in the Fontana yard? I was told once to fix the flat down the road and the flat fixed itself. LOL

 

Its for both

 

And to think, they've been waiting this whole five years for you to come along and clear that up for them.

 

Since this old thread was bumped, I'll relate my story, and yes it does vary from state to state. Some states have no kingpin law, but many do. PA is one of them.

Back in 2006, I was hauling locally here in eastern PA, and I had a drop and hook delivery in Reading, PA. We were based out of Trexlertown, about 30 miles or so from the consignee. Of course they were one of those tandems to the back customers. I dropped the loaded one and picked up the empty. The pins, however, would not retract. Rather than calling out road service and sitting there for perhaps hours, I figured I could just run it up to our yard and have them fix it there.

Big mistake...

99% of the time I'd probably not have a problem, but on this day I happened to cross paths with a Fleetwood cop on US222 who immediately came out from his hiding spot and pulled me over. A half hour later I was on my way with $300 ticket for the kingpin violation. I tried telling him I was running it to our yard for repairs since it was only 30 miles away, but it didn't matter. He told me flat out that the law is the law (correct) and that I should have had road service come out and fix it. He wouldn't budge at all.

 

Why does the kingpin distance law exist anyway? If the driver can make turns without taking out light posts, then he should be free to drive with the tandems to the rear if he is weight legal.

 

It’s for bridge laws.

 

Im going to take a simple position on tandems vs a 53. They are to be at least at the 48 foot line or forward as necessary to meet kingpin law (Such as california) and for weight compliance.

If you run a 53 with tandems all the way back, it shows laziness. There is no excuse for that. A simple slide takes care of that in a moment.

I myself have done a 53 a time or two with tandems all the way back, and frankly it's a battering ram taking out anything it can such as highway ramps and so on. I got away with it those times. But I do not make a habit of it.

If you are on the east coast in many areas, your 53 with tandems back will cause big time accidents no matter what you do because it simply will not fit.

I'll shut up and get off the soap box here.

 

It stabelizes the trailer with a wider base. Trailers before they rollover will usually start to rock. You can see the rocking in your mirrors. Usually slowing down will help also.

 

No it is not. Bridge laws are a very different thing. Don't confuse them like everyone else.

KPA laws are to limit the size of the radius required to turn the truck. They came into being when truck and trailer length grew but the radius of streets curbs didn't.

 

You guys are nuts,I always try to drive with tandems as forward as possible..no wonder so many bumpers are torn off at truck stops...there is no reason to run them far back unless the load is incorrectly loaded..the front is heavier 99% of the time.