Tandem placement and turning radius

Actually lowering the tag axle on the trailer INCREASES the weight on the drives. Think about that see saw again. Tag axle goes down and is essentially pushing the trailer up, removing weight from the tandems on the trailer and pushing weight onto the drive axles.

 

If that lift axle was in FRONT of the trailer axles then it would take weight OFF the drives

 

That reminds me of another benefit of the tag axle back there. When the roads are slick and especially if it's windy I run that tag axle on the ground even when empty. Not surenhow to say this but having that axle down closer to the back of the trailer increases stability. Or you could say it gives the wind less power when trying to push the trailer sideways. When the axle is up there is more trailer behind the trailer tandems and more leverage for the wind. When you drop the axle it takes that extra leverage away.

 

I don't have an air dump - never have. Company stopped specing them after 1 to many drivers went down the road with the suspension dumped and wrecked the drive line. I don't agree with the philosophy, but in 12 years I've never had an air bag fail. The risk isn't to the air bags - it's to the differential if you try and move before the suspension settles.

 

That's mighty interesting.

I didn't know the see saw effect works up and down on a trailer too.