That trailer brake handle, how does it work?

Okay, then WHY has is the trolley brake been part of standard equipment for decades after the trailer brake was invented?

 

Many? Like how many? If you're pulling "many" axle sets out of trailers I think it's time to have a talk with the shop.
Most of the times I've seen a driver try to move a trailer with the Johnny bar down it either just slid the trailer tires or stalled the truck out.

 

30 years ago I remember the same argument over the disappearance of the 'Wet - Dry' valve that limited front axle braking. Supposedly providing LESS air to the front brakes during inclement weather was thought to prevent jackknife situations.

Later research showed this to be incorrect and the valves were eliminated. Functional front brakes provide more stopping power in all conditions and I remember the large number of grizzled drivers who swore they wouldn't drive a truck without the wet/dry valve...I'll bet most of them are retired and probably hauling angels breath for Heaven Trucking LLC.

The trolley bar will go the same way....Then trucking bosses will need a new Owner Operator Disease as 'Un Grabbem' Trolley Brake' won't work any more.....

 

LOL...things change, don't they. When front wheel brakes became standard most of the guys would back the steer axle brakes completely off. We didn't get inspected as much in those days. A lot of the old timers swore that steer axle brakes were not only dangerous but unnecessary.
On long downgrades in the woods with no jake you'd crack the drivers door in case you had to bail,turn the water valve on, set the johnny bar just slightly, and use the foot pedal for the rest. A little prayer didn't hurt either.
The "good old days". I'm glad they're gone.

 

I was drawing pictures of trucks in school,,,

 

The '72 Peterbilt in my avatar didn't have front brakes at all, and to tell you the truth, I never really missed them, although, I can list the panic stops in all my career on one hand. I've always agreed, a rolling steer tire may be the only thing that keeps you out of trouble. Yes, they were the "good ol' days" , and considering where trucking has gone, I miss them terribly. For the record, you can't back off front brakes anymore. If the wheel has a brake, it must work. Went 'round and 'round with a rookie DOT once at a scale with the Pete. He swore he was going to give me an "OOS", because I had no front brakes. You can imagine his face when he came back from inside the scale saying, "take it away driver". Man I felt good about that..

 

Front brakes weren't required till '76...

my '68 R-600 had a drum hand brake on the back of the trans...didn't work...but the trailer had spring brakes.

The backup was a '47 white gas job with a 5 and 3 aux single axle with no trailer protection valve...park in gear, jump out with a block of wood, stick it behind the drive tires and then pop off the emergency line quick disconnect at the low-bed goose-neck to pop on the spring brakes...glad I only used it 3 times!

the old POS did move a D-8 across town [no hills involved]

 

Dad told a story of blowing an airline coming down Mt. Pocono and how it was before spring brakes...ride it till it stops, you hope, and then change your undies and finally change the airline...

 

Years ago, if you saw one of these babies drop out of the ceiling, it was time to bail,,

 

I didn’t say I pulled many axle sets from under trailers, I said I have seen many axle sets pulled from under trailers. I live close to rail yards. And trucking facilities. Seen one a few weeks ago in commerce, Ca. 710 and Washington Blvd exit ramp missing it’s slider.