Heavy hauling up/down steep grades

Discussion in 'Heavy Haul Trucking Forum' started by VANC3R, Dec 6, 2015.

  1. VANC3R

    VANC3R Bobtail Member

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    Dec 6, 2015
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    Hello everyone,
    I've had my licence for about 4 years now. I'm still pretty new to lowbedding heavy equipment. Just have a few questions that I would greatly appreciate being answered. I've been using a jeep and have had nothing but problems with steering when having heavy loads on like 330 cat excavator or 340 Volvo excavator when keeping jeep slid up. Other drivers have told me to keep the machine towards the back of lowbed to keep the weight from taking away from steering, others have told me to have machine more forward... But either way I've had problems turning on switchbacks and the odd corner. Keeping jeep down just causes me to spin out on hills even though chained right up. My only solution is taking the jeep right off before climbing the hill. But when I do that my lowbed gets caught on fifth wheel ramps when turning sharp, which causes me not being able to steer. Went for a slide down a hill the other day like this and it didn't feel to good, thought I was going into the boonies. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Also when going downhill I should have jeep down at all times right? I have to haul a few 40ton rock trucks this week out of a steep mine road. I always chain right up, 1 steering chain, both drives, and 1 axle on trailer. A little nervous driving down the hwy. Especially since there's been a few accidents lately and 1 fatality to one of the best known drivers in northern bc. Very nerve racking for sure. Just need some guidance and confidence. Thanks in advance.
     
    Dominick253 Thanks this.
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  3. Mudguppy

    Mudguppy Degenerate Immoralist

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    Try posting or asking a mod to move this to the Heavy Haul forum bud. Lot of experienced hands there.
     
    VANC3R Thanks this.
  4. haulhand

    haulhand Road Train Member

    I take it you're using a jump jeep?? I would recommend leaving it down and having it slid forward to put more weight up front. Are you using your lockers because cross locks will make for no steering as your fighting the rears going around corners. I would load heavy on the drives and kick the lockers out going around corners.
     
    rank and VANC3R Thank this.
  5. nate980

    nate980 Road Train Member

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    I'd jump it anytime you go offroad if it was me...
     
  6. cnsper

    cnsper Road Train Member

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    Do you also have a booster on the trailer. On sharp corners that will pick up the trailer tires off the ground. Let the air out of the booster before going down those hills.

    You can't really see it in the photo but the air is out of the booster but it was still picking up the right side of the trailer. Tires are about 1/4" off the ground. Had to stop right there and the crane operator had to pick from there. The bolsters are normally even with the top of the tires on the trailer.
    [​IMG]
     
    rank Thanks this.
  7. VANC3R

    VANC3R Bobtail Member

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    Dec 6, 2015
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    Thanks everyone for the replies!

    I have a tandem plus single axle jeep then Tridem lowbed setup with no booster. And when off-road I only lock the interaxle switch. I don't lock the front or back axles.

    Um not sure what a jump jeep means sorry.

    The jeep I have is connected to tractor fifth wheel which the lowbed then connects to the fifth wheel that's on jeep... Like this
     

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  8. nate980

    nate980 Road Train Member

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    That's a jump jeep like mine Meaning you can jump the jeep when you need to.
    [​IMG]

    What kind of weight do you have on your steers usually? I've never had a problem with steering off road when I have the weights up on the steers unless its really icey or muddy and at that point I'd have a steer chain on.
     
  9. haulhand

    haulhand Road Train Member

    Looks like he can't slide the jeep up far enough to get weight on that set forward axle let alone jump it. I can see why he has trouble steering and without pondering it a while I don't have a solution.
     
    rank Thanks this.
  10. nate980

    nate980 Road Train Member

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    Ah didnt even consider the set forward axle... I have no choice but to run my fifth wheel at the back with anything I haul since I'm usually right up there on my steers with the set back axle.
     
    not4hire Thanks this.
  11. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    I agree with haul hand. I would say he needs to slide that 5th wheel ahead. Needs a flip neck?
     
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