By sliding the trailer tandems forward
, you will put more weight on the trailer tandems and take weight off the tractor's drive axles. Conversely, by sliding the trailer tandems toward the rear of the trailer, you will take weight off the trailer tandems and put more weight onto the tractor's drive axles.
When should you slide your tandems?
Sliding tandems is necessary and required for three main things:
To adjust (move) some weight off of the tractor's axles rear to the trailer tandem axles
. To adjust weight OFF of the trailer axles and move some of the weight forward to the tractor axles.
Where is the 40 foot mark on a 53 foot trailer?
With a 53-foot trailer, position the tandems so that
distance between the trailer kingpin (the pivot point of the 5th wheel) and hub of the tandem's rear axle
is 40 feet (12.2 m).
How far back can I slide my tandems?
When the distance between the first axle of your tandems is
35 feet from the rear axle on your tandems to the last axle of your trailer tandems
, you will have to reduce the amount of weight that you load onto your truck.
Where should the weight be on a trailer?
As you load your trailer, you need to keep in mind that
60% of the cargo weight should be loaded in the front half of the trailer
. Heavier items should be loaded in the front, with lighter, smaller items placed near the rear.
How do I know if my trailer is overloaded?
The truck appears overloaded:
If the cargo is bulging over the sides of the truck or stacked over the top
, it is probably carrying more cargo than it should be. The truck struggles to slow down: If you see a tractor trailer braking but taking too long to slow down, it is likely overloaded.
Where should I set my tandems?
Tandem Axles
Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as “drives” which is short for “drive axles”. Basically the safest thing to do is set it for the
California 40′ mark
. That will get you close as possible to legal till you can weight out.
Which way do you slide a 5th wheel?
If you slide the 5th wheel
toward the nose of the tractor
you will increase the weight on the steer axle and take weight off the drive axles. If you move the 5th wheel toward the rear of the tractor, you will increase the weight on the drive axles and decrease the weight on the steer axle.
How much weight is each tandem hole?
You can estimate that you will move
250 pounds per hole for 4 inch spacing, and 400 pounds per hole for 6 inch spacing
. This will help you estimate how many holes you'll have to slide the trailer tandems to move the proper amount of weight necessary in order to get the axle weights legal.
How do I know what axle position my trailer is?
What happens when you slide the rear tandem axle on your trailer forward?
By sliding the trailer tandems forward,
you will put more weight on the trailer tandems and take weight off the tractor's drive axles
. Conversely, by sliding the trailer tandems toward the rear of the trailer, you will take weight off the trailer tandems and put more weight onto the tractor's drive axles.
Where should a tractor be placed on a trailer?
How do you slide back a tandem on a trailer?
What is the maximum length your tandems Cannot exceed?
In addition to Bridge Formula weight limits, Federal law states that single axles are limited to 20,000 pounds, and axles spaced more than 40 inches and not more than
96 inches
apart (tandem axles) are limited to 34,000 pounds.
Should a trailer ride level?
When towing,
trailers should be level to improve stability, braking performance, and ground clearance
. A level trailer will prevent poor towing characteristics, like sway, and uneven tire wear. If a trailer level is not possible the next best option is to have the trailer nose down a little.
What is the best method to use when loading a trailer to have it make weight?
Lighter items should be placed near the top and in the rear of the trailer
. Your cargo should be packed closely and firmly, and tied down to secure it. Similarly, open trailers should be loaded heavier in the front of the box – up to 60% of the cargo weight.
What causes fishtailing when towing a trailer?
Wind is the most common cause of trailer sway
. When there is a strong force pushing your trailer from one side or the other, it can cause it to sway from side to side. This is usually the result of strong gusts of wind or passing a high-profile vehicle such as an 18 wheeler who is traveling at high speeds.
What is acceptable trailer tongue weight?
Weigh Safe – as well as most experts agree – that an acceptable tongue weight for any trailer is somewhere
between 9 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight (GTW)
. Therefore, if you are towing a 5000 lbs trailer, the tongue weight should be measured at approximately 500 lbs.
What systems do you need to check before pulling a trailer?
Confirm that your
towing vehicle's lights are operating properly
then check the trailer lights as well. Ensuring that all your lights work (headlights, high beams, turn signals, brake, and running lights) will help keep you and your precious cargo safe.
How do I balance my trailer weight?
What is the 40 foot mark on a trailer?
The center of the rear axle
on all trailers must be at the 40-foot mark or shorter and must not weigh over 34,000 pounds on the trailer axles. In a few cases, customer trailers or lease trailers may not have a 40-foot mark on the trailer.
How do you move a 5th wheel forward?
What is the purpose of a sliding 5th wheel?
The purpose of the sliding 5th wheel and sliding kingpin is
to allow for a more generous turning radius when you get into a tight spot
. They accomplish this in two different ways. On the sliding 5th wheel set up, the 5th wheel slides approximately 16”. ON the sliding kingpin set up, the kingpin does the sliding.
Where should my fifth wheel be set?
It is Fontaine's recommendation that the fifth wheel should always be located
in front of the rear axle or bogie centerline of the rear tandem
.
