I see trailers w/ painted lines on the tires. What's the purpose?

I was taught to mostly never put the trailer brakes on when parking for that reason. My trainer was a regional driver in CO for many years.

 

Them things prolly been everywhere not just the south.

 

100% True. I’ve seen so many guys wake up screwed in the truck stop. Not the worst if you can pull out onto dry pavement and if you’re loaded but empty Nd on ice can be bad. I’ve seen a few guys destroy tires & rims.

 

Slightly dragging the brakes before getting to the place you are parking for the night to give them enough heat to dry out is more effective.

If your air tanks get lower than the spring brake pressure they will freeze even without pulling the red knob.

 

A follow-up story from that same time stuck at that 76 truckstop outside of Rapid City:

Three of us drivers from my company were having a late breakfast, just waiting until the highway west of us (through Wyoming) was supposed to open. The roads were all packed-snow, and the temperature was about 0°F outside. We were drinking our coffee, when a rookie driver from our company was leaving the truckstop; our table had a big window, and we could see the ramps on both sides of the interstate. Rookie was dragging his trailer over the bridge, with ALL trailer brakes frozen and all 8 tires dragging. We watched him as he turned left onto the onramp, getting up to at least 40 mph and merging onto the eastbound highway.

"How long d'ya bet it'll be before he's back here with a bunch if flat trailer tires?" one of the other drivers asked. We all chuckled.

 

Up North a hammer & propane torch if you're swapping trailers. Also alittle alcohol in the air lines.

 

They are like flippers if you drive into deep mud

 

I sat with no brakes set for maybe a half hour and then set my brakes before getting out of the seat in cold snowy weather. Let the heat of the brakes dry the moisture before setting the brakes or you will glue them to the brake drums. Don't remember ever using a hammer to break brakes free or a torch. Maybe I was lucky, r maybe it was all of that clean living paying off.

 

To entertain the same type who watches the dryer in the laundromat

 

Please don't pour alcohol in the airlines. It ends up destroying the abs module.

I don't care if the abs works or not. I care when it works and doesn't work at the same time.