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To shift weight on a truck trailer, move the trailer's tandem axles forward to put more weight on the drive axles and less on the trailer, or backward to do the opposite. If the drive axles are too heavy, slide the tandems forward towards the truck's drive axles. If the trailer axles are too heavy, slide the tandems backward towards the rear of the trailer.
Steps to Shift Weight
- Assess your weight distribution: Get the truck and trailer weighed at a scale to determine which axles are too heavy.
- Locate the trailer tandems: These are the set of axles on the trailer that can be moved.
- Unlock the tandems: Release the air from the tandem axle locking system to disengage the pins.
- Move the tandems:
- To shift weight to the drive axles:Move the tandems forward.
- To shift weight to the trailer axles:Move the tandems backward.
- Secure the tandems: Lock the pins into the desired holes on the slide rail to secure the tandems in their new position.
- Re-weigh: Go back to the scale to verify the weight distribution is now correct.
General Principles
- "Move toward the problem":
This is a common phrase for shifting weight. If the drive axles are heavy, move the tandems forward to reduce that pressure. - The effect of sliding tandems:
- Sliding tandems forward: shifts weight onto the trailer's rear axles and takes weight off the tractor's drive axles.
- Sliding tandems backward: shifts weight onto the tractor's drive axles and takes weight off the trailer's rear axles.
- Always re-weigh:
The amount of weight shifted per hole can vary, so always re-weigh the truck after an adjustment to ensure compliance.