Weird problem...

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by nextgentrucker, Oct 13, 2025 at 7:41 PM.

  1. BillMot

    BillMot Bobtail Member

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    Looks like your trailer isn’t lining up right, which is why it’s wobbling side to side. First thing I’d check is your fifth wheel. If it looks crooked to the right, the kingpin might not be fully seated or the fifth wheel could be a little off. Even a tiny misalignment can make a heavy tanker wander down the highway.

    Next, check the trailer itself. A bent frame, messed-up suspension, or worn leaf springs can make it pull. Tires can also cause issues. Retreads or mismatched tires will mess with how it tracks. Make sure all of them are aired up and matched across the axles.

    Also look at how the tanker’s loaded. Uneven weight can make it swing more than usual.

    Bottom line, start with the fifth wheel and kingpin, then check the trailer and tires, and keep an eye on the load. Most of the time fixing one of those will stop the side-to-side wiggle. If it’s still hunting, get a pro to look at it before you put too many miles on it.
     
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  2. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    My money is still on brand new drive tires with nearly a full inch of tread on them.
     
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  3. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    Will do!
     
  4. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    This is crazy... Why do them like that? Why fix something that isn't broken unless I'm missing something.
     
  5. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    So... I stopped at a Truck stop, dropped the trailer and do some inspections and look what I found, this is all four of them btw, I forgot what they are called but that's on the trailer btw, any thought on this? I took a better picture of one of the tires. ( Drive axle )

    20251014_121514.jpg 20251014_121527.jpg 20251014_121751.jpg 20251014_121826.jpg 20251014_121947.jpg
     
  6. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Do what? True tires? So that they last longer and run out better.
     
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  7. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    I could understand last longer but I don't know about "run out better" if when new they make your trailer do the dance lol.
     
  8. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Any new tire with deep tread will make the rear of your truck feel loose for a little while. Truing the tires isn’t why your truck feels the way it does. A new tire isn’t perfectly round. So truing them helps them run out better (ie: less likely to have abnormal wear) over the life of the tire.
     
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  9. Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    I’ve driven loaded trailers with bad “Shocks” and never experienced your issue. Also, trailers with new tires, no issues neither.
     
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  10. nextgentrucker

    nextgentrucker Road Train Member

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    I honestly hope you're wrong about this LMFAO!! I hope it's a trailer issue and not a truck issue because I can't put up with that for weeks, I'd go insane...

    The new tires are on the truck, it's probably what @Long FLD is saying but I'm hoping it's not, I'll drop that load off tomorrow and pick up an empty tank, I'll update you guys on how it goes.
     
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