Tractor-Trailer Combinations

You wouldn't have to go too far west. You can see double 53's on the Ohio toll road.

 

It's three 28' pup trailers and the truck is 105' long. You can make a right turn and look out the passenger window and see the last box! You'll see them out west. I ran out of Las Vegas NV and did what they called the loop. Vegas to Reno sleep in a hotel then Reno to Salt Lake sleep the back to Vegas. What was real exciting is driving on ice. The truck pivots in 5 places so you can get out of shape in a second. I would creep down the grades with just enough air pressure on the trailer brakes to keep them straight. I'd pull down on the johnson bar or trailer brakes and apply about 5lbs to 10lbs depending on the truck and pay attention to every second. I think I aged about 10 years on that job. I left and went to a safer job hauling gasoline.

 

You can't. You've got to break the set down because it pivots in too many places. But I have seen drivers back doubles and that takes some real skill. I've back a set of doubles for about 20' and that was it. I got good at breaking the set down and rebuilding it. Sometimes you'd have to drop a center box or the first one and hook an empty. I could break it and rebuild it in 15 mins. Then do a pretrip and be down the road.

 

It's hooked into the same system as if you only had one trailer. The dolly (which is just another fifth wheel with axles) has air lines on it that connect with glad hands just like the trailer connected directly behind the tractor.

 

Just to get a visual, I found a 'Tribute to Road Trains' from Australia on Youtube. There are some unbelievably long combinations on some of the images... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pImS6HVOaJ8
This one is a LONG road train... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCpYoiaynMo

 

I've got to clear up a misconception alot of drivers have about triples. They believe that the last box is going to sway back and forth and be dangerous. I've pulled trips out of Las Vegas heading north. I'd go up U.S. 95 and if anyone has been there a few times you'll know that the wind blows across that road, sometimes real hard. I've been in gust up to and above 50 mph. All the times I've been in wind storms that last box has NEVER crossed over the white line. Sure when you look back you see it swaying some but not as radical as some believe. If you do have a set that is swaying too much then it is loaded wrong. The heaviest box must be first then the next one so the last box is the lightest.

Someone asked if they weighed more. Yes and out west they are permitted for more. IIRC my truck was permitted for 105' at 110,000lbs. I'd much rather have a heavy truck than a light one. But that's me because I like the feel when I let the truck work for me. They also asked about brakes. It's the law that every axle must have working brakes on them. I'd get under the set during my pretrip and run (adjust) the brakes. Even when you pull a converter gear with no trailer on it it's got to have working brakes. I never did hook up the brakes when pulling a gear but I knew I'd get nail for it if I got caught. They lock up alot when there's no weight on them so I'd by-pass the brakes by hooking the lines in a little tricky fashion.

 

I've seen two 53' doubles lately in Canada - didn't know you could haul two that long!! I've never seen a triple, though.

I can't imagine driving those things through circuitous roadways!! And going down STEEEEEEP hills!! Scary!!!