Sliding a trailer tandems the best way to do it. . .

You should rarely ever have to mess with the fifth wheel. As far as the tandems go put them right under the last pallet on the trailer. That usually will be about right. You still need to go weigh it to make sure though. As far as CA I can't help you. I never go west of the MS.

 

Like the other driver said, get your 5th wheel set where it keeps your steers legal then don't mess with it unless absolutely necessary (extremely nose-heavy loads, generally).

If you can't make the bridge limit in Cali you shouldn't run there unless you like paying tickets and waiting for a company with another trailer and some lumpers to come out and rescue you at a coop. If you can't make it legal, make the shipper take some of the load off or reorganize the load so heavier pallets are up front to make you legal.

Good luck,

Jim

 

When you pickup a load that will be going to Ca. the tandems have to be in number 5 hole or less .

If you can not get the load to scale legal in number 5 hole or less on a 53' trailer , the load will have to adjusted or reduced till you can get "CA legal " . So the do not drive 60 miles away before getting on a scale to check ! You may have to go back and get the load reworked so you can get legal . Worse yet the place is closed when you get back there and they are closed !!! Been there !

Also if you must slide a 5th wheel lower the landing gear down somewhere out of the way of others so you do not get in anyones way .

Next now that you have wieght off the fifth wheel it will slide much easier and your clutch and driveline will thank you .

Hope some of this helps you , good luck to you .

 

I keep my 5th wheel centered directly above the drives, keeps the steers legal and allows for a smoother ride. And I have yet to adjust it for weight.
As far as CA bridge law, you're allowed 40' from the kingpin to the center of the rear trailer axle, and yes they will measure it.
So far I've been pretty lucky with what BubbaMark said about the last pallet above the tandems, just make sure you weigh and double check it.

 

Watch georgia and florida.......and the fines in florida HURT !!

 

Most states have bridge laws. Get you a trucker atlas. In the front they have the bridge laws for every state. Most states in the NE have very strict laws but none are as strict as CA.

 

Get a 100' tape measure and a pair of lock jaw pliers. Do NOT trust the 5 or 7 hole theory as the distance between the holes can differ from one manufacturer to another! Paid for that mistake at Banning years ago!

MEASURE to be sure! Use the lock jaws to clamp the end of the tape measure to the side of the trailer across from the king pin and then measure the trailer back to the center of the tandems and put a small mark on the trailer or at the 40' mark. Some companies have already done this for you. My last fine for being 1 inch too long was $168.00 but that was back in the late 90's and "might" have change for the worst to help pay off all their debts!