Position Of The Trailer Tandems
Sliding the trailer tandems forward or back affects the weight on the steering axle, but only to a minor degree. Sliding the trailers forward puts more weight on them and takes weight off the tractor’s drive axles; sliding them back puts more weight on the rear of the trailer and takes weight off the tractor’s drive axles.
Amount Of Weight Moved Per Hole
Trailer tandems are held in place by a set of locking pins that slide into holes drilled into the tandem slider rail. The spacing between the locking pin holes on the trailer will determine how much weight is moved per hole; the two most common hole spacings are 4 inches and 6 inches.
Example 1:
You scale your truck at a truckstop and receive your scale ticket; in this case, the drive axles are 700 pounds overweight (34,000 pound maximum), so you’d have to slide your trailer tandems a minimum of two holes toward the front of the truck.
A CDL is required to drive any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. Tractor tandems are commonly referred to as “drives,” which is short for “tractor tandem axles.” Drivers often refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as “tandems.”
Sliding your trailer tandems toward the front or back of the vehicle will primarily change the weight distribution. Sliding the trailer tandems forward shifts weight off the trailer and onto the drive axles. The two main hole spacings you’ll find are 4 inches and 6 inches. You can estimate that you’ll move 250 pounds per hole for 4 inch spacing.
What are tandems on a semi trailer?
The USDOT defines tandem axles as being more than 40 inches apart and less than 96 inches apart; drivers commonly refer to their trailer’s tandem axles as simply “tandems.”
What are tandems in a truck?
A tandem dump truck has one axle in the front and a double axle in the back, allowing the weight carried in the truck’s bed to be evenly distributed thanks to the two wheels on each side of the rear axle.
What is considered a tandem?
Tandem, or in tandem, is a configuration in which a group of machines, animals, or people are lined up one behind the other, all facing the same direction; it can also refer to any group of people or objects working together, not necessarily in line.
Why do truckers slide tandems?
Sliding your trailer tandems toward the front or back of the vehicle changes the weight distribution between the tractor’s drive axles and the trailer tandems; sliding the trailer tandems forward puts more weight on the trailer tandems and takes weight off the tractor’s drive axles.
What is a double trailer called?
Semi-trailers without a front axle are known as B-doubles (Australian English) or tandem tractor-trailers, tandem rigs, or doubles (American English). Semi-trailers with two trailer units are known as B-doubles (Australian English) or tandem tractor-trailers, tandem rigs, or doubles (American English).
Where should I set my tandems?
Generally, tractor tandems are referred to as ” drives,” which is short for “drive axles.” The safest bet is to set it for the California 40′ mark, which will get you as close to legal as possible until you can weigh out.
What is a super dump?
A Super Dump is a dump truck with a Strong ArmTM trailing axle that allows the truck to transform on demand, significantly stretching its overall axle length to comply with bridge laws (legal vehicle weight limits).
How far back can my tandems be?
You’ll need to reduce the amount of weight you load onto your truck when the distance between the first axle of your tandems is 35 feet, and the distance between the rear axle of your tandems and the last axle of your trailer tandems is 35 feet.
What is a Tridem truck?
A tridem-drive tractor pulling a trailer with a tridem axle (7 axles total) comes close to B-train payloads without the operational drawbacks of a double-trailer configuration in general freight operations.
Which is better single or tandem axle trailer?
A single axle model is best if you are hauling a lot of low weight loads, need maneuverability, and want to keep your costs down; a tandem axle model is best if you are putting serious highway mileage on your trailer, hauling heavy payloads, or plan to expand your business.
What is the benefit of a tandem axle trailer?
Tandem axle trailers have more than one axle and are typically associated with the following advantages: They are more stable at highway speeds, making them ideal for people who will be towing the trailer for long distances at such speeds.
Why is it called a tandem?
Tandem bicycles can reach higher speeds than single bicycles, and tandem bicycle racing exists. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement (fore to aft, not side by side), not the number of riders. Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the mid 1880s. Tandems can reach higher speeds than single bicycles, and tandem bicycle racing exists.
Can you drive with your tandems all the way forward?
Going all the way forward should not be a problem in any state as long as your weight is legal; it’s going all the way backward that will be a problem. Some states, such as Tennessee, have a 41 foot rule.
When should I slide your tandems?
A: Sliding tandems are necessary and required for three main reasons: to adjust (move) some weight off of the tractor’s rear axles to the trailer tandem axles; to adjust weight OFF of the trailer axles and move some of the weight forward to the tractor axles; and to adjust weight OFF of the trailer axles and move some of the weight forward to the tractor axles.