Empty Trailers, High Winds And A Bunch Of Things I Can't Wrap My Head Around

You're doing great Davy, if only everyone understood that it's idiotic in most cases to be out in those conditions we'd have far less wrecks. They'd rather be out there doing 20 mph eating up their whole clock just because they have the hours. If they'd just go back to sleep for a few hours they'll be able to go much faster and make more money, but more importantly be safer.

I got a question for everyone regarding winds that nobody seems to agree on or have scientific proof to support their reasoning. If you're running empty or light and it's windy out are you running with your tandems all the way forward or as far back as you can based on location? If you run them forward you'd add more weight to the trailer axle which I would think helps. At the same time I've seen the argument to run them all the way back. They say that if you try to flip a table over it takes more effort the farther the legs are apart compared to having them closer together.

That's an excellent question/what if, Rob T. Here in Ohio, the winds CAN get pervasive up towards the lakes. Because Tom is almost always 'light' per se, with corrugated, he runs the tandems all the way BACK, in windy conditions.

I'm not sure of the physics behind it, honestly. I'm hoping someone can explain this; I believe G'Town and Errol V. have, in the past.

Thanks,

~ Anne ~

I tend to keep mine set (empty or loaded) somewhere between 7 to 10 holes from the front at all times, weight of the load and state laws depending.

I run and leave mine at the 40 foot mark....If possible, when parked I shift the truck n trailer at a 15 degree angle? or so, against the wind. Not always possible, have done it at home down on the corner emtpy lot when windy. I figure it's harder to flip if not straight like a wall lol

We do get high winds regularly, here at home, since we are at the 4300 foot level...

I don't know the science or anything but my anecdotal evidence is that it feels more stable in the wind with my tandems the whole way back. We have a load out of salt lake that is under 20k that goes across Wyoming and when I get that one I like to run either the tandems back until I get to N Platte.

Davy I think plenty of drivers just don’t have enough respect for the truck/roads. “It’s just wind, I can make it “ they say. Maybe they make it a few times so they’re emboldened but luck won’t be on their side forever unfortunately. I do think it makes a big difference how heavy they are and we don’t know that information so it’s just one of those things where I have to hope they are heavy enough to be driving in those conditions.

As far as tandems all the way back or not, I ran with mine back I was light and it was windy. It helps with the stability because of the table argument AND I can’t explain the physics of it but it allows the wind to push the back end of the trailer easier without blowing the whole thing over. I shut down many times in high winds, it wasn’t something I messed around with but I did drive in moderately high winds with lighter trailers lots of times.

One nice thing about flatbed is I don’t have to worry about wind very often. If I’m empty the wind just doesn’t blow me around much and when I’m loaded I’m usually heavy and my loads are less square and tall than dry van/reefer. Not saying I never have to worry about it but it’s rare these days. Helps offset some of the crappy things about flatbed lol.

Thanks you guys. Interesting about the tandems , I chased that one down the rabbit hole. I too thought more weight on the trailer axel would be better, until I read a thread from aerodynamical engineer. From what I understood, moving the tandems forward creates a pivot point in lateral wind, the way he explained it is push a pencil sideways in the center of the pencil, the whole thing moves sideways. now move your finger towards one end, and push, it will easily rotate as it moves sideways. The extra 10 feet or so of trailer cantilevered past the tandems creates an area for uplift and rotation as well as lateral movement. In moving the tandems to the real, it widens the platform and distributes resistance against lateral force better.

I had a load a few weeks ago coming back from Bella Fourche SD that was only 3k pounds in the box. Of course it was high winds, through WY and SD. I tried with the tandems almost all the way back and it felt more stable in wind. The last empty that I hauled, I moved them back so they were about 45 feet to the axel, so pretty far back. Granted I waited until the winds died down to reasonable levels before I left, but it was very stable. I also tried them all the way up just to test it, and it felt very nervous and would buffet in the wind. Im still not completely sold on the idea yet, but Im experimenting with it.

Thanks you guys. Interesting about the tandems , I chased that one down the rabbit hole. I too thought more weight on the trailer axel would be better, until I read a thread from aerodynamical engineer. From what I understood, moving the tandems forward creates a pivot point in lateral wind, the way he explained it is push a pencil sideways in the center of the pencil, the whole thing moves sideways. now move your finger towards one end, and push, it will easily rotate as it moves sideways. The extra 10 feet or so of trailer cantilevered past the tandems creates an area for uplift and rotation as well as lateral movement. In moving the tandems to the real, it widens the platform and distributes resistance against lateral force better.

I had a load a few weeks ago coming back from Bella Fourche SD that was only 3k pounds in the box. Of course it was high winds, through WY and SD. I tried with the tandems almost all the way back and it felt more stable in wind. The last empty that I hauled, I moved them back so they were about 45 feet to the axel, so pretty far back. Granted I waited until the winds died down to reasonable levels before I left, but it was very stable. I also tried them all the way up just to test it, and it felt very nervous and would buffet in the wind. Im still not completely sold on the idea yet, but Im experimenting with it.

Very educational thread, Davy. Cool information being kicked around in here.

Personally, I'm thinking the 'flip the table' concept does, in fact, hold water.

Thanks, all!

~ Anne ~

ps: In going through some photos on pinterest, etc .. with trailers on their sides, I've YET to see a box with tandems all the way back. Doesn't mean there aren't any, but it's apparently less than the norm. In my quick, random sampling, they were all forward.

Davy, I recently read a comment that there are only 30 to 40 regular contributors here on TT. That negatively amazes me. I’ve recommended this site to dozens of drivers and I don’t know of even one who has become a contributor. It’s very frustrating to me because I’ve learned so much here. It is so valuable to have a place to ask questions and get solid advice and information. I guess much of the general driver population is stubborn and anti/progressive. I want to help other drivers but it seems rare to find anybody who wants continuing education. Human nature is a confusing thing.

Lots more people read things here than those that join, while some do join and never post anything.

Agreed. I have been on here for the past month or so reading all the important information, wisdom, and humor the community here has to offer. This TT is a valuable resource for sure.

It is a bit disheartening to hear/see that so many people 'wash out'. This concerns me as a person who is looking at driving as a second professional career.

I suppose that in the end, we make our own choices and we all tolerate stress and adversity differently.

Anywhoo, just Rambling on there, but I wanted you to know that your diary has been very helpful and the insight you have provided in there has me REALLY LEANING TOWARDS Knight Transportation for my own reasons of course. no telling just how many other folks' careers you have positively impacted.

Rustybone Rambler is concerned:

It is a bit disheartening to hear/see that so many people 'wash out'. This concerns me as a person who is looking at driving as a second professional career.

This is not about other people’s failures...

Focus on yourself. I mean laser focus. People washout for many reasons; lack of understanding, unrealistic expectations, underestimating the difficulty, lack of commitment, and of course the unique lifestyle.

I promise you this; if you continue to educate yourself, stay positive and purposefully prepare for what you are about to experience your likelihood for success will dramatically increase.

Read all that TT has to offer... including the valuable blog database. Use this time wisely.

Good luck.

Rustybone Rambler is concerned:

It is a bit disheartening to hear/see that so many people 'wash out'. This concerns me as a person who is looking at driving as a second professional career.

This is not about other people’s failures...

Focus on yourself. I mean laser focus. People washout for many reasons; lack of understanding, unrealistic expectations, underestimating the difficulty, lack of commitment, and of course the unique lifestyle.

I promise you this; if you continue to educate yourself, stay positive and purposefully prepare for what you are about to experience your likelihood for success will dramatically increase.

Read all that TT has to offer... including the valuable blog database. Use this time wisely.

Good luck.

Good Morning G-Town,

I thank you so much for your advice.

I will continue to stay positive and focus on myself--that is for sure. I am reading up on here as much as I can. I have a limited amount of time before my new career begins.

Again, I thank you for this-- soaking it up like a natural sponge!