Questions for others that do lots of drop and hook

We have a customer that has a slope in their trlr drop line and you will darn exstend it all the way before it reaches the ground.

 

God forbid you get some upper body exercise

 

And they usually have a door in the back of the cab to run out and hook up the lines quick, at least most of the ones I've seen.

 

So, actually, this will work. I have to do this from time to time with containers.

Dump your air bags, put a couple of 2x6's (a hunk of 4x4 or 6x6 works well also) on top of the fifth wheel, back up almost to the king pin, reinflate airbags. As your suspension rises and makes contact with the trailer, it will lift the trailer enough to take pressure off it, so that you can crank the landing gear 4 or 5 cranks. Dump your air bags, remove blocks, reinflate airbags and check height. Obviously check the height difference beforehand.

 

I prefer dropping your tractor airbags, putting timber under your drive tires, backing so your drives are sitting on timbers, then inflating your airbags. Your way and my way both work, but my way keeps dirty 5th-wheel grease from getting on your timbers and then you your truck and everything you touch in the next hour.

 

Call it a yoga stretch move, going down should not be much of a problem, just watch for them old cranks ready to give up, that handle will take off and start spinning quickly taking teeth and all with it.

 

Just call the broker and cancel the pickup. Tell them it is too much work.

 

If you boys can’t crank the landing gear on trailers here and there, god forbid you ever have to leave door slamming...



Disclaimer: This comment isn’t directed at the old timers having trouble, or those with limitations, we talking just the sissies... I respect my elders..

 

We also pick up trailers, tank trailers mostly that don't have any mechanism to raise or lower the landing gear, they just have pins in them. If they are too high you have to do the same thing, use a 4x4, get the weight off the legs, shove them up a notch or two, then drop the air bags.
This is not entry level stuff, and it can be dangerous...