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Dropping and hooking trailer do's and dont's.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019.

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  1. Dec 11, 2019 #1
    FlaSwampRat

    FlaSwampRat Road Train Member

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    Looking to get a lil info out there to help the new guys and maybe clear up some bad habits I may have.
    When I drop an empty trailer I leave about an inch before the feet hit the ground, then I drop the bags (if equipped) or just ease out from underneath it. When dropping a loaded trailer I put gear down till it just gets a lil pressure on it and ease out or drop bags. This way the weight is always off the gear when you hook it and you can easily crank it. It also keeps you from driving under it and skipping the pin when hooking. Lately I have come across a lot of drivers cranking them sky high and skipping the pin, that's what made me start this thread. I would like to hear from experienced guys what have you been doing? New guys too, what were you taught? Is there a correct way?
     
    FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019
    FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019
    #1
    Hulld, JonJon78, Just passing by and 9 others Thank this.
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  3. Dec 11, 2019 #2
    HillbillyDeluxeTruck

    HillbillyDeluxeTruck Road Train Member

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    You're doing it right. They're retarded.
     
    HillbillyDeluxeTruck, Dec 11, 2019
    HillbillyDeluxeTruck, Dec 11, 2019
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  4. Dec 11, 2019 #3
    51.50

    51.50 Heavy Load Member

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    If you didn't drop that trailer, get out and look. It takes less than one minute and could save a big headache. I agree with HillBillyDeluxe, you are doing it right.
     
    51.50, Dec 11, 2019
    51.50, Dec 11, 2019
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  5. Dec 11, 2019 #4
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    In my latest Cascadia the trailer is almost always way too high when I go to hook up, sometimes 6 inches.
    It would be nice if more drivers did as you do.

    Just don't go too far.
    Cranking up a loaded trailer is a LOT harder than cranking it down.
     
    Moosetek13, Dec 11, 2019
    Moosetek13, Dec 11, 2019
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  7. Dec 11, 2019 #5
    FlaSwampRat

    FlaSwampRat Road Train Member

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    Absolutely. I'm just wondering where this new idea of cranking trailers sky high is coming from?
     
    FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019
    FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019
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    D.Tibbitt and Mike2633 Thank this.
  8. Dec 11, 2019 #6
    LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

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    I agree for some reason my Cascadia is always way to short for trailers I have to crank them down before hooking.

    not sure what other drivers are doing but I would say 80-90% of trailers need to be cranked down for me.
     
    LoneRanger, Dec 11, 2019
    LoneRanger, Dec 11, 2019
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    FlaSwampRat Thanks this.
  9. Dec 11, 2019 #7
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Here is a do and don't...

    Do have a consistent order in which you do things, and never change it.
    I have ripped the lines out because of something being different in the the drop/hook situation and I did things in a different order than usual.
    Once I reconnected the red line to move the trailer back a few inches (because it HAD to be on the gravel), and forgot to disconnect it when I pulled away. SNAP!!
     
    Moosetek13, Dec 11, 2019
    Moosetek13, Dec 11, 2019
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    kemosabi49, Shawn2130 and FlaSwampRat Thank this.
  10. Dec 11, 2019 #8
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    I have seen yard dogs crank it up high before they drop it.
    No idea why, except to make our life miserable.
     
    Moosetek13, Dec 11, 2019
    Moosetek13, Dec 11, 2019
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    VIDEODROME, HoneyBadger67, INRUT and 1 other person Thank this.
  11. Dec 11, 2019 #9
    FlaSwampRat

    FlaSwampRat Road Train Member

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    Would be interesting to hear from some guys fresh out of school and see if they are being taught this for some reason.
     
    FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019
    FlaSwampRat, Dec 11, 2019
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    51.50 Thanks this.
  12. Dec 11, 2019 #10
    LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

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    I’m going to ask the yard jockeys if they are the ones cranking the legs up.

    maybe it’s to be level with loading equipment?
     
    LoneRanger, Dec 11, 2019
    LoneRanger, Dec 11, 2019
    #10
    FlaSwampRat Thanks this.
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