Coupling & Uncoupling from trailer safely
Simple everyday tasks can become dangerous when we become complacent and fail to follow proper procedures, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board. Improperly uncoupling or coupling a loaded trailer can cause injury or cost a lot of money if we get sloppy.
Coupling or Hooking Up to a Trailer
Pre-trip inspections should include checking the truck’s frame and suspension, as well as making sure the fifth wheel jaws are open and greased. If the trailer is too high, the fifth wheel jaws may not lock properly, or the plate may slide under and past the kingpin.
Uncoupling Your Trailer
Dolly down your landing gear until the feet are about an inch off the ground and check that the ground is supporting the weight and your trailer isn’t sinking. Plus, you’ll feel really silly if you tear an airline off your truck because you forgot to disconnect it from the airbag.
How do you uncouple a semi trailer?
The steps below will assist you in safely uncoupling.
- STEP 1: Position Rig.
- STEP 2: Release Locking Jaws Pressure.
- STEP 3: Chock Trailer Wheels.
- STEP 4: Lower Landing Gear.
- STEP 5: Disconnect Air Lines and Electrical Cable.
- STEP 6: Unlock Fifth Wheel.
- STEP 7: Pull Tractor Partially Clear of Trailer.
- STEP 8: Secure Tractor.
When it is time to disconnect a trailer from your tractor What is the first thing to do?
To unhook the glad hands on the trailer, simply grab the bottom here and pull up on them. They come up like this – so pull this one off first, then pull this one up – you have to lift up on this because there’s a catch. You have to lift up on the electrical lid and pull out on the electrical line – lift up on this.
Where should the tractor be when you inspect the landing gear after uncoupling a trailer?
When uncoupling a loaded trailer, lower the landing gear until it: Makes firm contact with the ground, then crackles into a low gear for a few extra turns.
Why should you lock the tractor glad hands to each other when you are not towing a trailer?
When you’re not towing a trailer, why should you lock the tractor glad hands (or dummy couplers) to each other? A The connected brake circuit acts as a backup air tank. B If you didn’t, you’d never be able to build system pressure.
What happens if the trailer is too high when you try to couple?
When you try to couple a trailer that is too low or too high, the tractor may stike and damage the trailer nose; if the trailer is too high, it may not couple correctly.
When you get ready to back under the semi trailer you should line up?
4. When you’re ready to back under the semi trailer, line up as follows: A About 12 degrees off the trailer’s line.
How much weight can a semi trailer landing gear hold?
It depends on your 5th wheel landing gear. For example, the Lippert Landing Gear part # LC333966 is rated for 6,000 lbs, but it can be used with a trailer that weighs more than 6,000 lbs because it is only supporting a portion of the load; the tires, wheels, and axles should be supporting the majority of the weight.
When checking that the trailer is securely coupled to the tractor the landing gear should be?
The landing gear should be slightly raised while you check if the rear trailer is securely coupled to the front tractor. After you’ve backed under the trailer and locked the kingpin into the fifth wheel, raise the landing gear slightly.
What might happen if the trailer is too high?
In addition to improper coupling, backing into a trailer that is too high off the ground can cause damage because the rear of your truck cab may collide with the front of the trailer, and the trailer king pin may become stuck in front of the fifth wheel plate, which can be a costly and time-consuming mistake.
What does coupling mean in trucking?
The fifth-wheel coupling connects a semi-trailer to the towing truck, tractor unit, leading trailer, or dolly, and grease is applied to the fifth wheel’s surface to reduce friction.
What should you do if the brakes are not released when you pushed the trailer air supply valve?
Check the air line connections if the spring brakes do not release when you push the trailer air supply control. If the air supply in the trailer air tank has leaked away, there will be no emergency brakes and the trailer wheels will turn freely.
When should you lower the landing gear on a loaded trailer?
Use two hands and square feet up to operate the landing gear, and make sure it’s in the proper gear when lowering and raising it. When the trailer is loaded, the landing gear should be in low gear.
How do you know if your trailer is equipped with anti lock brakes?
Antilock brakes are indicated by a yellow ABS malfunction lamp on the left side of the vehicle, either in the front or rear corner. Look under the vehicle for the ECU and wheel speed sensor wires coming from the back of the brakes.