Landing gear height?

I run them about 1" off the ground then dump the air on the truck and "fall" out from under it. That way if the trailer drops in the rear from leaking air bags/lines I still wont high hitch. That and I dont have to crank as far.

 

assuming that you are dropping on a solid, flat surface (if not you need to get large blocks or drop pads or something)

the idea should be to drop safely and so when the next guy hooks up it lifts the trailer a couple inches. If you drop too low he has to crank up, if you drop too high he has to crank down. (dropping to high is a big pet peave of mine)

A loaded trailer it's okay to lower the landing gear til it just touches. I would suggest an empty trailer you leave an inch or two when dropping. It's been my experience that a truck under a load will actually carry the fifth wheel slightly higher than a bobtail, so if you crank on it before dropping the next guy will go under it without picking up. While this is his responsiblity it is only common sense to try to drop it at a height where it picks up a little for the next guy. This is easier on the fifth wheel, kingpin, and landing gear. If it's a real heavy load you may consider dumping your air before pulling out to avoid any jolt. If the trailer is empty it should be no problem for it to drop an inch or two as you pull out.

 

and if you wonder if you are doing it right, just wait a couple minutes after you pull out for your air bags to adjust and then try to back back under it. If it doesn't lift up a little you dropped too high.

 

NO!

I did that once about 25 years ago, and I had the dollies cranked all the way up like you are supposed to. 10 pm, raining hard and I was looking for my consignee. It was almost flat on the approach. I didn't notice that the road dropped like a cliff on the other side.

There was a railroad worker in a shack about a hundred yards up the tracks. I told him I was caught on the tracks, he made a radio call, and about 10 minutes later a train rolled up and stopped. When a tow truck pulled me off the tracks, it went on its way.

 

When the next driver gets under the trailer...he/she will lift it and take the pressure off the gear legs...easier to crank up, and there are very few occasions that any driver backs under the trailer exactly square...that little side movement puts pressure on the legs making it harder to crank up.

 

The method he discried is is that the
loaded trailer is eased down, and next
Truck will pick load up. That way who
Ever picks it up, there will not be any
Weight on the landing gear. He will
Not wreck his/her back, and never was
A shock to to truck or trailer. I don't
want to see anyone hurt. Best to everyone!

 

And not all cranks go the same direction.If you are under a loaded trailer and you can hardly turn the crank in either direction, its hell trying to figure which way is up. When I back under I like to have that dolly foot about a inch off the ground.

Sometime back a yard dog left the trailer really low, I made a couple attempts to get under without success. It was in a muddy area and it was raining. I found an assortment of 2x4's and dumped the bags and put the wood on the frame and when I aired the bags it lifted the trailer enough so I could crank the legs down. Guess I could have hunted down the dog, but by then I probably would have wrung his neck.

 

I dont know if many of you have noticed it.
But Many and I do mean many of those LTL frieght companies that pull them pups.
Sure look like a lazy bunch to me...looks like they rolled up the gear just enough for shuttling around the yard to hook up a set....then left without finishing to roll up either set of gear...and of course you cant say nothing to them on the cb cuz they are always on the phone riding with the landing gear about 3 to 5 inches off the interstate.

 

I am sorry.. but if a guy doesn't put his landing gear all the way up, and they catch.. and he flies into the windshield... and I see it.. Im laughing for at least an hour! I am laughing about it right now, just picturing it.

 

The shipper on my dedicated route has a tiny parking lot. The trailers are often so close together that there is not enough room to lock the tandem handle and crank it without it hitting the trailer next to it. Let alone room for my belly in between them...

It is nice when I back under the trailer and it lifts the legs enough off the ground that I can pull it out to get at the crank uninhibited by that confined work space! Hehehehee

Mikeeee