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

I do hope you were being sarcastic about the 100' tape...first off your only measuring 40' from as you say the king-pin to the center of the rear axle, so if you are crazy enough to be measuring FROM the king-pin you would only need a 50' tape....personally I carry a 12' tape measure, here is why;

All 53' trailers have one thing in common...the king-pin is 3' from the nose. So with 3' from nose there are 50' left, that 50' is only 10' over the limit...so hook your tape to the rear of the trailer (farthest point from the nose) and measure towards the nose 10', make a mark on the trailer at the 40' point. then slide the tandems to meet that point, if your hole position is 1 or 2 inches past...YOU ARE ILLEGAL in CA.

As to picking up a load bound for CA, set your tandems at the 40' mark before loading, note where the back pallets are in relation to the tandems, if the pallets are forward of the mark, you can slide the tandems up for better off-tracking on our wonderful CA streets that aren't designed for anything over 65 ft overall length...this brings another point...watch your routes in many cities in CA, there are many 65' overall restrictions to be aware off..AND THEY AREN'T POSTED EITHER!

NEVER TRUST ANYONE ELSE'S MARK, AND NEVER GO BY HOLE NUMBER SINCE THERE ARE DIFFERENT HOLE SPACINGS ON DIFFERENT BRANDS OF TRAILERS.

 

Great advice everybody. Anyone know the bridge laws in Canada?

 

Do they have bridges in Canada? Who'd of thought?

 

Learn ours first !!!!!

 

I will have to check but i don't think all kingpins are 36'' from the nose on all 53' trls. We just got 2 new Utility trls and when i hooked to one of them the other day it was setting about 6'' futher back than our older trls. 5th wheel was in the same spot as always. But next time i get one of them i will measure it.

 

That figures...somethings just can't stay the easy way...someone has to throw the proverbial wrench in the monkey works....SEE WHAT I MEAN

Did you check to see if that same someone might have moved your seat 5-6 inches back....better get the 100' tape measure and check!

 

Didn't think to check that but might need a 200 foot tape

 

Drivers there is no right way or wrong way to do it. It may be an easier way to do it or a smarter way to do it. Bottom line what works for you works for you. . .

 

Get the 100' tape measure! There are other things you might have to measure besides your trailer. What if your company wants to buy a permit for NYC? Guess what all you have to measure? Bumper to bumper is the first question on the permit. My last truck was 75'6" B2B And that was with the 5th slid all the way forward! 76'11" slid to where it rode and weighed out best!

Say you have an accident, or need to measure a load for the flat bed for OD?
The cost of a tape measure can be deducted on your taxes even if you only use it 1 time!

Also, there are "set back" king pins at 5' from the nose of the trailer! Like I said somewhere else do NOT fall for the count 5 - 7 holes due to the difference of the manufacturer or think this is a one size fits all buisness! They all have their own specs or the trailer could be spec'ed a little differently!

Measure! It's the same as"measure twice cut once!" I'd rather have the extra feet than have to wind it up and then start again! You can screw up that way also! It's always best to measure in one lenght than to go 50' then another 20' the tape could slip and cost you! Ask any aircraft builder what the rule is when measuring!

But do what ever. I've used that 100' tape way over the 50' mark many times and it really doesn't take that much room in my tool bag!