Tips on tools to carry with you

Excellent idea on the c clamps

 

I have a pair of vice grips, also a 4lb hammer ....had to slide the tandams on the trailer but they were froze

I pulled the rod as far as I could get it and clamped the vice grips on it then I walked around and hit the locking pins with the hammer to loosen them


then I went back and pulled the rod till it locked and slid the tandams

 

Everyone makes jokes about duct tape and baling wire but, you will be amazed at what you can fix with Gorilla Tape(the new duct tape) and zip ties (the new baling wire). As far as hand tools, 4-5 lb. hammer, locking pliers (get name brand of your choice cheaper is not better) adjustable wrench (again you get what you pay for) a straight and Phillips screwdrivers are the absolute basics.

 

Zip Ties! For dangling cords and quick fixes on all kinds of things. Box cutter or good jackknife for trimming zip ties etc.

 

Kitty litter. Great for getting started in a snowy parking lot.

 

A roll of teflon plumbers tape will come in handy if you have a bad air hose, when you remove the gladhand just wind the tape on the threads and you're set. I learned and use this little trick in the Army for those last minute air line fixes.

 

One more vote for the air hose that attaches to the glad hand. That thing is worth what I paid every time Ive used it. I switched the cheap hose for a better one and put a quick connect on the end.

Nobody has mentioned flashlight? On your first day you should at least have a flashlight a hammer and vise grips.

 

While I carry a heavy maglite, I normally use my headlamp. Headlamps are VERY "handy" (pun intended) when you need to work with both hands in the dark. I can't imagine trying to chain in the dark without it. Can't very well hold a flashlight in one hand and try to connect 2 ends of a chain together, and forget about trying hold a small flashlight in your mouth, slobbering and getting a mouthful of chemical laden snow off the bottom of the trailer.

 

I have a headlamp that I'll be taking out on the road with me, also have a magnetic flashlight that will come in handy when chaining, checking the fifth wheel, etc.

 

It's not a tool requirement, but it will help you leave the tools in the dog house and keep you out of trouble and save you a lot of hassle at some point ...

When dropping a trailer, DO NOT pull out the pigtail by pulling on the cord itself. Always pull on the metal "finger grippers" on the pigtail plug. You pull on the cord enough times, you will begin to work the wires out of the internal sockets and they are a PITA to repair today, and espeicailly in the dark and cold and when time is critical. If you get a new-to-you truck and it's older and the pigtail on the trailer side seems "loosy-goosy" or otherwise not very tight, ask the shop if they'll replace the entire cord assembly before you head out.

Also when hooking up to a trailer, try and push in only by gripping the actual metal plug and pushing in, not by gripping the cord and pushing. When you do this, you will loosen the plug to cord "grip" and this will exacerbate issues later.