Scale/Weight/Axle Question

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Grumppy, Jul 20, 2014.

Page 8 of 10
  1. Jul 30, 2014 #71
    olphart

    olphart Medium Load Member

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    The way to find out if it is what Hammer said in post 52 is next time you get the crazy readings split the drives on the scale and weigh each one. It can be done on a Cat scale if you get a cashier that knows how.
     
    olphart, Jul 30, 2014
    olphart, Jul 30, 2014
    #71
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  3. Jul 30, 2014 #72
    TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    not really... it is a simple matter.. had the same problems with refer freight with a new truck, until I slid the 5th wheel towards the front axle of the duels... his 5th wheel is closer to the rear axle spring, so more weight it transferred to the rear axle than the front axle of the duels, and is working as a fulcrum point.... look at the weight tickets he has posted, every time he is heavier on the tail of the trailer, he is also heavier on the steers... the weight from the tail of the trailer is lifting the drives up, and forcing the nose down...

    I know what I am saying does not make sense, and goes against what we are taught, but I had the same problem, and moving the 5th wheel towards the front axle of the duels solved the problem.

    The only other option is his air ride height is adjusted wrong on the drives, transferring the weight to the steers.
     
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    #72
    MadScientist and mitchtazz Thank this.
  4. Jul 30, 2014 #73
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    No, I now make it a point to drive s-l-o-w-l-y onto scales. Several years ago, I drove onto a man scales & stopped a little quicker than he liked... when he got through with me, we didnt have to have that discussion again. Learned my lesson.

    I am pulling dry van with plastic scrap. We buy & sell or process/recycle plastic & either make repro or those little plastic pellets like BB's. So, I haul both. Sometimes the scrap is in boxes... sometimes its baled. We always ship in boxes.

    A) Its not working like that.
    B) I never slid the 5th wheel. It stays in the same place. It never gets moved around.
    C) The weight on the steers is my problem... it keeps bouncing around from one extreme to the other. It maybe light today, right where its supposed to be tomorrow & way high, the next time. The problem is, it moves 3000 lb.... from one end to the other & the 5th wheel never moves. Its ALWAYS in the last hole... all the way back. No way the steers should ever be 12,700 with the 5th wheel in the last hole. And it certainly shouldn't go from 12,700 (full trailer) to 9,000 (empty trailer) with out the 5th wheel moving. As well, it shouldn't move from 10,500 with some loads to 12,700 on some loads.

    This is my whole issue.. so, Its really not that simple. There is something causing the weight to shift that much. Something aint right.... & thats what we are trying to figure out.

    Thank you, And I think this is where the problem lies with the over weight, but why does it move around so much? If its over weight today, it should be somewhere near that tomorrow.
     
    Grumppy, Jul 30, 2014
    Grumppy, Jul 30, 2014
    #73
  5. Jul 30, 2014 #74
    TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    Grumpy, it makes no sense, yet the solution is easy, move your 5th wheel forward 2 holes, and run for a day, the scale tickets you have posted show that when you are heavy on the tail of the trailer, you are heavy on the steers, therefor you 5th wheel is too far back, and acting like a fulcrum point, lifting weight off the drives, and onto the steers... And your gross over weight ticket confirms it.

    The only other possibility is your ride height load leveling is adjusted wrong.
     
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    #74
  7. Jul 30, 2014 #75
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    West Monroe, La
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    I hope your right but, it looks to me like if the drives are too light, I would slide the trailers back to compensate & put some on the drives. However, because you have made the suggestion, I am willing to try this & see if it helps. Next time I run into this scenario, I am going to try this by moving the 5th wheel forward one notch for each 500 lb the steers are over. My little bit of knowledge tells me that moving the trailers, makes no difference on the steers.

    I hope your right & I am wrong.
    Thanks for your advice....
     
    Grumppy, Jul 30, 2014
    Grumppy, Jul 30, 2014
    #75
  8. Jul 30, 2014 #76
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Sounds ike your 5th wheel is mounted too far forward now, the assembly needs to be relocated rearwards.
     
    Powder Joints, Jul 30, 2014
    Powder Joints, Jul 30, 2014
    #76
    Grumppy and snowwy Thank this.
  9. Jul 30, 2014 #77
    TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    easy way to test, next fully loaded trailer, get scale ticket,
    example:
    12700
    28,000
    30,000

    Move trailer tandems to get more weight on drives,
    ??????
    29,300
    28,700

    See what you steer weight becomes... I predict your steers will be close to 12,000.

    This removes all variables except for your truck. Same scale, same load, same fuel load, and you don't need to move that dastardly 5th wheel to test it.
     
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    #77
  10. Jul 30, 2014 #78
    mitchtazz

    mitchtazz Road Train Member

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    Any ideal how the product is loaded in the trailer?
     
    mitchtazz, Jul 30, 2014
    mitchtazz, Jul 30, 2014
    #78
  11. Jul 30, 2014 #79
    6 Speed

    6 Speed Heavy Load Member

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    Run it..... !2,000 axle weight is max only if drive and trailer are at max(34,000)
    Single axle weight is good up to 20,000 as long as under gross.Some ######## will mention axle rating,but never seen it questioned.
     
    6 Speed, Jul 30, 2014
    6 Speed, Jul 30, 2014
    #79
    MadScientist Thanks this.
  12. Jul 30, 2014 #80
    TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    also you have tire rating, and many ports do question that.
     
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    TLeaHeart, Jul 30, 2014
    #80
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