Off the wall Question, Bottoming Out The Trailer?

I used to pull a Rodgers Croucher low boy. There were a few places where I could feel one of the two main beams [lowest part of the trailer] bump as I passed thru a few intersections.

 

I have never had landing gear hit the ground but at my work when I drive into the ramp to load material they are very close if I happen to have the landing gear close to the peak of the ramp section into the hole... Tho I dump my air in my units because I am loading... I don't think I have ever has any landing gear actually touch the road or hills tho.. I did one time leave a customer and the exit was pretty steep at the top and I heard the trailer hit the frame riser rails on the tractor... It was crappy sounding lol...

But I have also hauled double drop trailers that are mere inches from the ground loaded and unloaded... I have heard the 2 beam frame rails hit the ground at job sites, intersections, tracks etc.. The trick is you just put your foot into it so you can slid right on by (assuming you have assessed the situation and determined that the angle is not too much that you WILL get hung up) There are a few tricks for these types of trailers tho.. Like mentioned before you can play with leveller valves to raise the air bags up on the tractor and trailer, if you have a nice size diameter pipe you can roll the beams on the pipe so your just able to roll the ramp on a round pipe, you can adjust approach angels..

I have never personally gotten stuck with those trailers.... I did however once pull one of the other drivers out because he was going to a customers with a silo and I was following behind about 1hr or so with the extra parts for the silo... Well I got a call he was hung up and I needed to pull him out.. Well I got there and he told me he told the guys at the site that he cannot make the corner unless they removed the snow pile, they just said you can make it (so they didn't move pile) even after he told them he couldn't... So anyhow he gets stuck on the corner.. So I back up my trailer to the back of his trailer, hook up the chains and yank him off the peak of the hill.. Minutes later of course the workers are moving the pile of snow..Load then delivered

 

I have to push my landing gear pretty good over the top of the ramp at the older dock i deliver to in dallas every week. Bugs the hell outta me but havn't found any way around it and doesn't seem to be bending anything. I also tore them loose once when i went in the wrong entrance to to a plant and had to wiggle back out. Dipped down a little and ripped off the supports, was able to get them welded down the road.

 

I have bottomed my lowboy several times..
I try and look for scarr marks at r.r. crossings. Kinda gives you a heads up..
Then there are times when approaching,it's flat on your side and then a quick drop on the other side. I stop and raise the trl.
With the mechanial style, well you jut can not lift the trl, with out shimming the neck or like other drivers have stated. raise your air ride.

 

I have drug my RGN many times I pull a step deck and I have gotten it hung up once.

 

opps i thought this thread was about something else,i was gunna say i have that problem all the time....