Tandem pins not engaging on a new trailer?

Were you going backwards. Forward would only apply more force. I definitely think you can get them to pop out.

 

Here you can see the slider rail pinching the pin.

 

Get the railoff that pin and I'd bet it pops out.

 

My Trailer would do that. 1 pin would be close, the other further off from the hole. The pins are quite smaller than the holes, more than other Trailers set ups. What I’d do, to get them lined up, is back up, at an angle, to twist the tandem set into alignment. Which way to angle the TT, depends on which side is too far away. If Drivers side is further from hole turn wheel clockwise to get the angle, passengers side, counter clockwise, just enough to get an angle on TT, then set trailer brakes and back Truck up. I always get it rolling, slow, then Jack it a bit, push clutch in, and hit the trailer hand brake. That shifts the tandem set on the rails, so pins will both line up. Hope that makes sense. Don’t worry about backing it up too hard to make them slide. If your loaded heavy, it can take quite of force.

 

Gotta love the Tag. It says Vantraxx pre aligned slider. Lol. I hated mine. It was the same type Hendrickson, but wasn’t Vantraax. I hear Vantraax are worse. Known for eating up tires. This problem isn’t the Drivers fault. It’s just a crappy set up. With a little practice, you’ll get it to work. Mine was much older and more misaligned/sloppy than yours. Just have to keep moving Tractor back, against it, with brakes set. Might have to do it at the angle, like I said. Both ways, wouldn’t hurt. It’ll go one way or the other. If all else fails, pull the release pin, slide it all the way forward and all the way back, to try to center the bogie on the rails. Then lock it in where you want it.

 

It's an automatic ticket if that gets seen at a weigh station. Out of service if you can't get them all locked then. Your company actually told you to roll with only two pins locked? Did they do it in a documented fashion, such as a QC message?

I probably would have taken it, but only as far as a shop.