Tandem placement and turning radius

Everything in this thread has been basic.

I quibbled with him. When making "normal" turns, having the 5th wheel forward does shorten the vehicle. However when making a u turn, having the 5th wheel back allows a tighter radius. I think it's a difference of less the 3 feet, so if you're in that kind of position, ya dun messed up several decisions ago.

 

It can be - just nail a 6 inch board perpendicular at the 10 foot mark to simulate the tandems. You'll since the drag marks of both the "tandems" and the tail.

 

Just get all the cows to one side or the other, that'll change your turn in a hurry.

 

I reckon that would give Ya'll new meaning to the words ... " Tail Swing " ...LOL

 

Ya know, if it was dark that would be the classic cattle theft set up. See'em, load'em, go.

 

LOL.. you better start soon as the sun goes down.. cause it's gonna take a while to load.. that setup they can only push 3 maybe 4 head at a time ...it's real slow loading at that place

 

Bill pretty much explains it.

Think about that view from above. A 5th wheel centered above the drives means the kingpin moves with the tandem. But if the 5th wheel is forward of the tandem, the rotation of the tractor moves the kingpin towards the inside of the turn sooner. One would think this means more off-tracking, but because the 5th wheel is forward of the tandem, the kingpin follows a longer arc than the tandem, effectively reducing off-track. That's why I said I thought moving the 5th with the intent of changing the cornering behavior wasn't a productive endeavor.

A framework that sticks out behind the tandems to hold the 5th wheel.


The tongue of my trailer and the stinger are between that blue Bronco and the drives.

When I initiate a turn, the initial movement of the kingpin is to the outside of the turn. The truck pivots about the tandems at low speeds, so the stinger moves opposite the steer axle as the truck rotates.

Those are guys that haul cars, not carhaulers.

 

If it's a tight lot and they want me to slide the tandems at the gate I tell them I'll make sure to slide them before I dock or drop. If they insist I'll slide them forward again to maneuver if need be.

Now I pull a 53' with the tandems fixed all the way to the rear. It's a whole 'nother world I can assure you.

 

You are right, I’ve been there before and have done the same thing as him. I drove through looked for an easy spot came back to guard shack and have had to re-enter. Unless another driver was parked in the way somehow it’s not that difficult of a turn back in.

 

There were other semi-trucks parked in the way at the time. I didn't have enough forward space.