Is there any practical use for a trolley break?

I gross-out at 90000 lbs. pulling a tri-axle hopper, so i use the (trolley brake) to help me slow down on hills.

 

If you're in a difficult backing situation, you can pull your mechanical tandem, slide your wheels to the rear, put the wheels at your pivot point then (I know it's hard on the outside radius tires, but not too bad if done slowly and carefully) turn around your inside axles while sliding the tandem forward. This would be used rarely in extreme situations.

Otherwise, I use my johnny bar to check whether my service brakes are working and to slide my tandems. I do not use it for descending hills. I'm one of those wusses who rides the jake down in a lower gear.

 

OP, you get yer trailer a wee bit sideways on an icy patch and that trolley brake just might straighten her right out. Been there, done that. Slow ya down a bit going down a steep hill, too. And it's good for when people ask if it's some kind of gearshift lever. "Oh, yeah. I use that to shift the gears on the trailer's tranny. But only for really heavy loads."

 

Thats what I've always heard, is that it straightens out a jacknife, but I haven't yet been in such a situation to find out, and hope I don't any time soon...

 

When I used to pull a company trailer with my tractor...I used the trolley brake a lot in the hills so that I wore the companies brakes out instead of mine.

 

Yep, and I imagine back in your earlier days, it made it easier on the horses.

 

Yep. What she said. Extreme situations like Cheesebrough-Ponds in Chicago. Works like a charm.

"I'm one of those wusses who rides the jake down in a lower gear."