Load With Tandem

Really don't understand the sliding the tandem. Which hole do I put it in.

Hey Justin. The hole you put it in is the hole that:

1) Gives you legal axle weights

2) Keeps you within the legal length limits

If you satisfy those two requirements, you're in the right hole you could say. The entire point of being able to slide the tandems is to redistribute the weight across the three sets of axles so they're balanced out and under the legal limit. The numbers you're looking for generally are:

- under 12,000 on your steer axle

- under 34,000 on your tractor drives

- under 34,000 on your trailer tandems

If your trailer tandems have too much weight on them you slide them back toward the rear of the truck. If they're too light you slide them forward toward the front. Each hole you move it will move approximately 400-600 pounds, depending on how far apart the spacing is between holes. Different manufacturers and types of trailers can have different spans.

As far as where to put the tandems initially, as long as you satisfy the two requirements above it's just a matter of personal preference. The trailer rides a tiny bit more smoothly with the tandems further back but not enough to worry much about. It's backing up where you'll find a huge difference. When you have those tandems pretty far forward the "tail" of the trailer (the part behind the trailer tandems) really moves a lot from side to side when you're backing in on an angle but it allows you to cut a little sharper. Putting the tandems further back "prevents the tail from wagging so much" but won't allow you to cut it quite as well in tight places. So it really comes down to a matter of personal preference for the circumstances you're in.

Our High Road Training Program has a section I built myself called truck weight and balance and it covers all different topics regarding your truck's legal length and weight requirements like understanding the bridge law, calculating fuel burnoff, properly loading cargo, calculating how far to move your tandems when adjusting weight, and plenty more. Go through that section and you'll understand everything a whole lot better.

And Bretts "Truck Weight & Balance" section in High Road Training - is probably THE VERY BEST TUTORIAL I have ever seen on the topic.

Tip-o-the-hat (again) to Brett for his tutorials.

Rick

And Bretts "Truck Weight & Balance" section in High Road Training - is probably THE VERY BEST TUTORIAL I have ever seen on the topic.

Tip-o-the-hat (again) to Brett for his tutorials.

Rick

One quick note : States like California love to give tickets every chance they get . . . most trailers have a "list" on the side, just above where the release is to slide the tandems . . . this list shows you what states will accept what settings so be careful of WHERE you are running . . . any excuse will do for revenue hungry places like California . . .

Jopa

Easy way to remember which way to go is slide to the problem. If the drives are over weight slide the tandems to the drives, if the trailer is heavy go to the trailer doors.

Now you have to find out how much weight they move, i know swift trailers move about 250 pounds per hole.

One of the heavy loads i just pulled which was 46000 pounds of sugar only had 1 legal hole on my trailer to balance the load at 33700 on the drives and 33600 on the trailer. Sometimes you have to scale it several times to get it just right.

Easy way to remember which way to go is slide to the problem. If the drives are over weight slide the tandems to the drives, if the trailer is heavy go to the trailer doors.

Now you have to find out how much weight they move, i know swift trailers move about 250 pounds per hole.

One of the heavy loads i just pulled which was 46000 pounds of sugar only had 1 legal hole on my trailer to balance the load at 33700 on the drives and 33600 on the trailer. Sometimes you have to scale it several times to get it just right.

Averitt is about 250lb per hole as well. Some loads can definitely be a pain to get right, but, after a while you will be able to guesstimate good enough to get to the scale and be pretty close.

If your trailer tandems have too much weight on them you slide them back toward the rear of the truck. If they're too light you slide them forward toward the front. Each hole you move it will move approximately 400-600 pounds, depending on how far apart the spacing is between holes. Different manufacturers and types of trailers can have different spans.

I could be wrong, but most of the trailers made now move 200-300lbs per hole. The 5th wheel does 400-500? is that what you ment Brett?

It all comes down to the type of trailer, I.E; Great Dane, Hyundai, Carrier, Utility.. I think Im forgetting a few others.

GTI's trailers are mostly Danes, they move 243lbs, our refers are Utility i think and move 230. Heartland Express has Danes that move 243 and Hyundai that move 233.

all trailers weigh differently too. Danes are heavier, Hyundai are lighter. At least ours are..

Thanks guys. I'm with knight transportation and everything is so fast pace. I been on the road the past 3 weeks and now I'm stuck in El paso, TX until tomorrow

I could be wrong, but most of the trailers made now move 200-300lbs per hole. The 5th wheel does 400-500? is that what you ment Brett?

I think your right. I had my numbers mixed up. Trailers are usually 250-400 pounds per hole, 5th wheels usually around 500 pounds per hole. In recent years they may have even begun making them all toward the low end of that......which they should be. I mean, heck - don't be shy about drilling holes! Put em there and put em close together to give everyone maximum flexibility.