Empty trailers take longer to STOP

I tried, but she hit me first....lol

Single axle daycabs aren't even considered trucks are they???

 

I don't drive single axles, maybe someone in the hotshot thread could answer that. But this truck empty would be easier to pull out of it since it'd be parked waiting for conditions to improve. That or I'd have never turned north in the first place. I stay south in the winter.

 

Hello folks , first post on here and after reading the arguments thought i would just put these few things to you which you may know or not know and remember that a lot depends on the driver , how he/she is feeling , how much pressure he/she applies to the brakes , road conditions , i have my opinions through experience and would say that on different days and roads either argument could be correct , a bumpy road will favour a loaded truck as will a wet road , what i will say is drive by the feel of the road and adjust your speed acccordingly , a rough surface will be better to brake on than a smooth one also a road that has just had a small amount of rain on after a dry period will be very slippery ,as the oil drips rise and sit on top of the water , when in doubt "BACK OFF". When EBS (Electronic Braking Systems) as being fitted in Europe are fitted over here you will see a significant improvement in braking as the "service line" is fully charged to the chambers so there is "NO" brake lag. The system is "intelligent" on a Volvo and after about 3 or 4 initial applications of the footbrake after starting on a trip can send the correct amount of air to each brake making stopping quicker and safer by compensating for unequal brake wear. Do not confuse EBS with ABS , that system is already on the vehicles as well as in some cases traction control which helps to prevent acceleration "spin outs" on greasy or icy roads. Mercedes also have the EBS system but i have not driven a Mercedes truck with EBS but have driven many thousands of miles in Volvo FM 12s with EBS and the system is brilliant cutting stopping distances down significantly.
To put a spanner "oops" a wrench , in the argument have a look at this webpage written up by RoSPA ( Royal Society for Preventionof Accidents) One metre is 3' 4" and the reference is to braking distances. A metric tonne is 2,000 lb so the truck at the bottom of the list is about 84,000lb which is the EU maximum weight and has to be running on 6 axles and MIRA is the Motor Industry Research Association located near Nuneaton , Warwickshire .England in Great Britain where many vehicles are put through destructive and non-destructive tests and would think that their findings are pretty accurate.
Whatever you do remember that observation is the most important factor in your driving and read and act on act on what you see and learn to look way ahead at times for early signs of problems and check mirrors every 8 seconds or so because something coming up fast behind you could very soon become the thing in front of you which will cause you to brake , know what is around you and that will help you to be safe.
Can't post with the link for some reason ,so type in something like truck braking systems and stopping distances


hopefully that will enable you to get to the site , you might need to select , in UK.
Stay lucky.

 

That is weird that a empty trailer does take longer to stop then a full loaded trailer. What the ####?!? That confusing as ####!! That is just piece of #### right there. #### you trailer's that are empty takes longer to stop.

 

This is due to the suspension setup being stiff enough to handle 80k and it would also assume max braking

 

I know what it takes to get stopped loaded.

I rather not try to get stopped empty.

Does that make sense? I hate being empty.

Now that does not answer the question in the light of empty or loaded. ABS has significantly saved lives already in my actions loaded or empty. Or even in between which is really bad considering you might be heavy on the 5th wheel or the other end heavy.

Throw in ice, rain etc? Forget it. You will get stopped eventually.

Mountains? Ha. Sometimes stopping is a BAD idea. Your thermal load has no place to get airflow and poof burn your rig down.

And finally but not last, I leave you with this thought. It's faster to knock it down from 70 to just under 30 than to try and stop the last 30 to zero. Useful when you plan to horse her into the left lane to get around a occupied stalled car already too close to stop. Just remember to get the *&*& off those brakes as you do it so your trailer wheels will gain traction and roll in line behind you around otherwise it will just take the car and people out or go into the left wall and take you and everyone out.

 

OMG I remember this thread from back in the day. Heated and lively debates lol.

 

I was just watching a movie a a semi stopped right as a little girl walked well ran into the street an I'm like yea only in movies cause little Amish sandy would have been road kill in real life lol but that's tv for you