Thanks for explaining it first. showing what your doing in the cab, then showing what is physically going on outside of the cab. It really brought it all together for me. Great instruction! Thanks for taking time out of your day to put something like this together!
I drove semis for several years in the UK before moving this side of the water - as has already been mentioned, EU trailers have fixed bogies, and they are not allowed to slide. The sliding ability of the rear tandem is a great concept, and actually has another use, although I haven't heard it mentioned on any of the US videos I've watched! By sliding the rear tandem forward, the trailer becomes much more manoeuverable when reversing - a great trick if you need to get into a very tight spot! Sliding the tandem forward moves the pivot point of the trailer and so reduces the steering length. This translates to a smaller turning circle, and therefore more manoeuverability! The downside is a longer "tail" swinging around, but thats where experience counts! On the other hand, stopping just before the dock, and sliding the tandem all the way back increases the stability of the trailer for fork lifts entering and leaving, and takes stress off the kingpin! Great video, nice to see "how it's done" over here, thanks!
GOOD INFORMATION!!! I've been driving local runs in CA for over a year. I don't have weight problems but whenever I cross a scale I always wonder about adjusting 5th wheel & tandems. This video was very clear and focused. Thanks.
Thanx alot mane, I'm bout 2 attend trucking school on Oct 27th and I'm watching as many learning as I can, but this helped me alot and I really appreciate it.
Thank you for sharing. I’ve been driving for quite a few years but I’ve never slid my fifth wheel. We have different trucks but your video was pretty informative. Thank you.
Hey E! I'm 50 years old and wanting to start a trucking career. As nervous as I am about starting, your videos are reassuring. Thank you so much for sharing brother.
Hey brother that was a very informative video. I've neither did household goods,lowboy,or dump trailers and really only had to adjust the fifth wheel since all the trailers I've pulled in the past were stationary setups. When I drove in the military it was the same situation. I learned something new from your video thanks for passing on the information.
For a non trucker but an interested person this video was a great explanation of how the weight adjustment works. I had an Uncle who would stretch everything out as far as it would go to get as he said a smooth ride. I don't know if it worked but I just remember him saying that. He would even stop before scales and adjust back into legal limits.
Dude what a great video on 5th wheel an tandems. I used to drive for swift and I learned a couple of tricks I did not know. For the new guy this is a must view. Thanks for your hard work. Guy Belding
E...Great vid. What I was taught was to just count back 6 pins from the left going to the right (back). On the 5th wheel, I was taught to not mess with that unless you have no choice. That is cause 9 times out of 10 the load can be shifted with the tandems. If not then take it back have the load re-worked.
This is so cool. My bf drives trucks and we've been talking teams for a minute. He even gives me little lessons when I go OTR with him. Not sure if that's what I want to do just yet as I don't see myself doing trucking long term, but trucks are cooler than I thought.
What's up E? Just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos. I just finished training and I'm going OTR solo in a few days. Your videos are extremely valuable. Thank you.
+Rafael Degannes Weight distribution. If you have an unbalanced load, it puts pressure and weight in the wrong spots, so you need to be able to slide the tandems and 5th wheel to even out the weight a little bit. Think of the truck and trailer as an old scale with two sides - you need to get it even on both sides or one end is going to hit the ground. It's not a perfect analogy but it's the best way I can explain it. And there are a few different laws for weight distribution/tandem location that vary by state.
Pretty good video. Tractor air ride dumps made moving 5th wheel easier today, but with spring suspension tractors, landing gear is only way to move 5th wheel. There were times had unhook unit and use a bar to move a manual release 5th wheel. Years ago watched a driver just about tear truck apart at Toledo 5 trying to move 5th wheel with loaded trailer not using landing gear to get weight off. Good tip on securing air lines but use a bungee. Cold weather breaks ties. No surprises.
Between your verbal description and zooming up that page of your book, I have a very firm understanding on the tandems and 5th wheel adjustment. Knowing how to get the pin to engage into the tandems was a really big question I had, so cleared that up for me. I really hope you will start making video's again. I just subscribed here and your teaching videos are awesome. Congrats too, on the big following. I watch a lot of trucking videos and you have more even than Allie Knight who seems to be the most talked about Vloger.
OMG!!! This video was AMAZING! I just finished my mentorship with Swift and i'm do to get out Solo and really needed to see this again. I will be using this as my reference. Thank you again.
Man, this is a great video... Thanks for taking the time to do this. It has given me a lot of knowledge on my tandems and 5th wheel. Thanks again, man.
That was a good review since I never have had to move my fifth wheel, And trailers have different ways of releasing the tandems. You were very easy to listen too. Great job.:)
Great video I'm going to start this Monday hauling a dry van I only have experience hauling end dump trailers and I'm very nervous hauling dry van since I've never done it and I didn't go to a school I was taught by a friend who does only end dumps but thank you very informative video and you took a little stress off my shoulder doesn't look too difficult at all. Thanks
Your explanation on your videos is excellent. You have helped me and others get a clear understanding on real life situations in this trucking industry. I have applied many of your skills to my work ethic. There is not alot of people that would pass on valuable information the way you have done so. You have qualities like an instructor or even better than most that I've heard.. By the way do you have any videos on Air Tanks (explanation)? Thanks again....peace out!
nice vid, all the trailers ive seen had air pins on the trailer, where you open a valve and air pressure from the brakes pulls out the pins on the tandems. i guess the older trailers that use the lever to move the pins are getting phased out. thats a good idea with the chalk.
Very useful info. Trucking schools should cover the topic of tandems/fifth wheel sliding in greater detail. Particularly, the reasons to perform such actions and the weight-displacement potential associated w/ each notch of the fifth wheel and trailer tandems, respectively.
This is a fairly good video of how to slide the trailer tandem axles. This particular trailer has "Close" spaced holes for the locking pins to lock trailer to tandem axles. I've always used the principle of each hole slid will shift weight 245 pounds. Trailers with the more sparsely holes, I would use the principle of 475 pounds per hole shifted. "jbmbanter" your Uncle is correct. I would always set the rear pin in the 11th hole from the rear of the trailer, and you would "Glide" down the highway like your riding in a luxury car. If the tandems are slide all the way forward, like I've seen so many times, you will have a large amount of "Tail Swing" which makes it more difficult in backing into a parking slot, or in door #43 when there are trailers already in doors #42 and #44.
Just a little correction for rocking the truck. You release the truck brakes ( not the trailer brakes ) and use your hand brake ( Johnson bar or Trolley valve ) for the trailer. Keep up the good work.
You should get a remote display for your camera and set up your camera on a tripod at your mark watch your remote display in your cab and stop when the mark hits your axle. Anyway just a thought :)
Sometimes the 5th wheel locking pin won't release due to weight of the trailer, so you'll need to release the kingpin. Pull the truck out, release 5th wheel pin, hook tractor to trailer, slide the 5th wheel, and lock it. Flashlight and zip ties are old school. Headlamps and velcro straps are the new way to go.
You can also use your chalk and mark a spot on the ground next to the step with a second mark the required distance to move forward or reverse to set the pins. Just measure the offset from the rear axle to the mark on the trailer and mark the spots on the ground to match. If you are real accurate, the pin will fit right in. You can use the same system for sliding the fifth wheel. Make the mark on the step so it lines up with your line of sight with your back against the seat back.
Nice job drivah, I wished I had seen a video like this before my first attempt in changing the 5th wheel. I had to call another youtuber (Keystrucker) to get a clue LOL..
When empty. I always lube up the slide rails under the trailer with 90W oil, also the locking pins. Once the pins are free, I will then slide the axles all the way back, then all the way to the front. This is all done before loading. Then I place the axles about mid-point. You should have access to a truck scale to position the axles properly for weight distribution after this. When the sliders are lubed, it makes it way easier to position them properly when loaded. WD40 or some other spray lube can be used as well. Always make sure the pins are in the locked position before departing the scale or heading out of the yard.
Thanks for explaining it first. showing what your doing in the cab, then showing what is physically going on outside of the cab. It really brought it all together for me. Great instruction! Thanks for taking time out of your day to put something like this together!
I drove semis for several years in the UK before moving this side of the water - as has already been mentioned, EU trailers have fixed bogies, and they are not allowed to slide. The sliding ability of the rear tandem is a great concept, and actually has another use, although I haven't heard it mentioned on any of the US videos I've watched!
By sliding the rear tandem forward, the trailer becomes much more manoeuverable when reversing - a great trick if you need to get into a very tight spot! Sliding the tandem forward moves the pivot point of the trailer and so reduces the steering length. This translates to a smaller turning circle, and therefore more manoeuverability! The downside is a longer "tail" swinging around, but thats where experience counts! On the other hand, stopping just before the dock, and sliding the tandem all the way back increases the stability of the trailer for fork lifts entering and leaving, and takes stress off the kingpin!
Great video, nice to see "how it's done" over here, thanks!
GOOD INFORMATION!!! I've been driving local runs in CA for over a year. I don't have weight problems but whenever I cross a scale I always wonder about adjusting 5th wheel & tandems. This video was very clear and focused. Thanks.
Thanx alot mane, I'm bout 2 attend trucking school on Oct 27th and I'm watching as many learning as I can, but this helped me alot and I really appreciate it.
Your videos are PERFECT for inexperienced drivers! Thanks for your efforts, please continue.
Thank you for sharing. I’ve been driving for quite a few years but I’ve never slid my fifth wheel. We have different trucks but your video was pretty informative. Thank you.
Hey E! I'm 50 years old and wanting to start a trucking career. As nervous as I am about starting, your videos are reassuring. Thank you so much for sharing brother.
Thanks for the help. I will be starting school with Prime on Monday and I am trying to learn all I can now so I won't be completely lost then.
Thanks for the videos. I have found all of them to be extremely helpful. Please keep them coming.
Thank you very much for this video i learned how to hook up trailer and did it from my first attempt :) YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!
The undercarriage action view of the sliding tandems and 5th wheel were very informative. Thanks for the vid!
Hey man great video. Thanks for having the camera sit outside the truck to see you move the trailer and 5th wheel.
Hey brother that was a very informative video.
I've neither did household goods,lowboy,or dump trailers and really only had to adjust the fifth wheel since all the trailers I've pulled in the past were stationary setups.
When I drove in the military it was the same situation.
I learned something new from your video thanks for passing on the information.
For a non trucker but an interested person this video was a great explanation of how the weight adjustment works. I had an Uncle who would stretch everything out as far as it would go to get as he said a smooth ride. I don't know if it worked but I just remember him saying that. He would even stop before scales and adjust back into legal limits.
Dude what a great video on 5th wheel an tandems. I used to drive for swift and I learned a couple of tricks I did not know. For the new guy this is a must view. Thanks for your hard work.
Guy Belding
I'm a new guy into Trucking so I'm learning all about this stuff. Thank you for your video, it is really appreciated.
I start CDL school in February, and your videos are most helpful.
E...Great vid. What I was taught was to just count back 6 pins from the left going to the right (back). On the 5th wheel, I was taught to not mess with that unless you have no choice. That is cause 9 times out of 10 the load can be shifted with the tandems. If not then take it back have the load re-worked.
This is so cool. My bf drives trucks and we've been talking teams for a minute. He even gives me little lessons when I go OTR with him. Not sure if that's what I want to do just yet as I don't see myself doing trucking long term, but trucks are cooler than I thought.
very good video. Liked the up-close shots of the tandem and 5th wheel sliding.
What's up E? Just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos. I just finished training and I'm going OTR solo in a few days. Your videos are extremely valuable. Thank you.
Yurrrrr 12 years later @yourboye wya need more of these bangers 💪
One of the first videos going into details and also informing us about those dangling wires. Thanks man keep videos coming!
Thanks for your videos. Really informative and an enjoyable way to review after time away.
HELLO my name is Lisa and thanks for sharing. from one driver to the next I enjoy watching your video ,great job thank you
+Virginia Samuels yes but why moving all those parts? why dont just leave them alone? i dont undestand whats the point.
+Rafael Degannes every one does it differently but still nice to watch the video .
+Rafael Degannes Weight distribution. If you have an unbalanced load, it puts pressure and weight in the wrong spots, so you need to be able to slide the tandems and 5th wheel to even out the weight a little bit. Think of the truck and trailer as an old scale with two sides - you need to get it even on both sides or one end is going to hit the ground. It's not a perfect analogy but it's the best way I can explain it. And there are a few different laws for weight distribution/tandem location that vary by state.
Verry good and informative. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Hope one day to have a trainer like you.
That's good stuff. Your presentation was excellent! Thanks
Great video, seen a lot of trucking videos never seen anyone show how to slide 5th wheel and tandem....thanks. Be safe
Pretty good video. Tractor air ride dumps made moving 5th wheel easier today, but with spring suspension tractors, landing gear is only way to move 5th wheel. There were times had unhook unit and use a bar to move a manual release 5th wheel. Years ago watched a driver just about tear truck apart at Toledo 5 trying to move 5th wheel with loaded trailer not using landing gear to get weight off. Good tip on securing air lines but use a bungee. Cold weather breaks ties. No surprises.
Between your verbal description and zooming up that page of your book, I have a very firm understanding on the tandems and 5th wheel adjustment. Knowing how to get the pin to engage into the tandems was a really big question I had, so cleared that up for me.
I really hope you will start making video's again. I just subscribed here and your teaching videos are awesome.
Congrats too, on the big following. I watch a lot of trucking videos and you have more even than Allie Knight who seems to be the most talked about Vloger.
You are the best I learn a lot from your videos Thanks a lot.
OMG!!! This video was AMAZING! I just finished my mentorship with Swift and i'm do to get out Solo and really needed to see this again. I will be using this as my reference. Thank you again.
Cool! I learn something new everyday!! I did not know the 5th wheel was adjustable!
Man, this is a great video... Thanks for taking the time to do this. It has given me a lot of knowledge on my tandems and 5th wheel. Thanks again, man.
That was a good review since I never have had to move my fifth wheel, And trailers have different ways of releasing the tandems. You were very easy to listen too. Great job.:)
best video I seen that covers this procedure.
Thanks for they great tutorial on sliding tandems and 5th wheel, and explaining why. Preciate ya!
Great video I'm going to start this Monday hauling a dry van I only have experience hauling end dump trailers and I'm very nervous hauling dry van since I've never done it and I didn't go to a school I was taught by a friend who does only end dumps but thank you very informative video and you took a little stress off my shoulder doesn't look too difficult at all. Thanks
Your explanation on your videos is excellent. You have helped me and others get a clear understanding on real life situations in this trucking industry. I have applied many of your skills to my work ethic. There is not alot of people that would pass on valuable information the way you have done so. You have qualities like an instructor or even better than most that I've heard..
By the way do you have any videos on Air Tanks (explanation)?
Thanks again....peace out!
Man thank you so much, I couldn't remember how to move my 5th wheel... Thanks dude..
nice vid, all the trailers ive seen had air pins on the trailer, where you open a valve and air pressure from the brakes pulls out the pins on the tandems. i guess the older trailers that use the lever to move the pins are getting phased out. thats a good idea with the chalk.
Thankyou!!!! You answered every question I had that I had that other videos didn't answer....I like to know WHY I'm doing shit....good job!
no one has ever showed me that before. Get them been lucky. this video was very helpful
perfect Teacher buddy............ happy to see this video Great help to very new driver
Thanks for video
Always good to see your bids bro good to finally meet you person to person in Memphis maybe we will see each other again buddy
This is a great video. I didn't know what the tandems actually was or what they do, but now I no. Thanks
I have that same cheat sheet for 5th wheel & tandem weight distribution. I got it from the CHP scale house office in San Onofre, Ca.
I didn't know trucks could do this. Thanks for video. Thanks for being truck driver. I bet you got huge fan club. You look like awesome guy!
This was so helpful , I took the time to cleaned up the cheat sheet, if you would like a copy of the file let me know. thank you very much!
Love ur videos brother..... What about more driving videos ? Shifting and CB talk ? Just a thought for the future ..... Keep it coming and be safe.
Awesome!!! I am a brand new,new driver and this will be so helpful😉
always hear the lingo but never understood it. i appreciate the information and the tools very informational. thank you
Good work brother. Shout out from California!
Thanks Buddy, this is so helpful. you did a Awesome Job.. New Job starting next week.
Dman
Melbourne Australia
Awesome video. Thanks for the great info. Really explained in simple terms.
This video was extremely helpful I took notes that I think will help a beginner like me out in the long run 👌👌👍
Thank you, you really took a Load off me with this Video
Rare informative upload about Tandems, Thank you Sir.
Very useful info. Trucking schools should cover the topic of tandems/fifth wheel sliding in greater detail. Particularly, the reasons to perform such actions and the weight-displacement potential associated w/ each notch of the fifth wheel and trailer tandems, respectively.
Another great video. You forgot to mention the rule, the more miserable it is outside the less likely you are to hit the hole on the first try!
that was nice man i never knew how to do that they dont teach that in truck school great job
Thanks for another great video. Drive safe out there.
This is a fairly good video of how to slide the trailer tandem axles. This particular trailer has "Close" spaced holes for the locking pins to lock trailer to tandem axles. I've always used the principle of each hole slid will shift weight 245 pounds. Trailers with the more sparsely holes, I would use the principle of 475 pounds per hole shifted.
"jbmbanter" your Uncle is correct. I would always set the rear pin in the 11th hole from the rear of the trailer, and you would "Glide" down the highway like your riding in a luxury car. If the tandems are slide all the way forward, like I've seen so many times, you will have a large amount of "Tail Swing" which makes it more difficult in backing into a parking slot, or in door #43 when there are trailers already in doors #42 and #44.
Thank you for your kindness SUPPORT for new truck driver, like me may God keep you safe for life
Just a little correction for rocking the truck. You release the truck brakes ( not the trailer brakes ) and use your hand brake ( Johnson bar or Trolley valve ) for the trailer. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the video. Very informative. Be safe.
You should get a remote display for your camera and set up your camera on a tripod at your mark watch your remote display in your cab and stop when the mark hits your axle. Anyway just a thought :)
I needed this about a week ago.
I think its great with these helpful videos.
thanks for the video bro
working out here in Houston Texas
your a great teacher, and u love wht your doing
Thanks for the great videos bro. I am learning a lot from them
Thanks for taking the time to do this video!
Sometimes the 5th wheel locking pin won't release due to weight of the trailer, so you'll need to release the kingpin. Pull the truck out, release 5th wheel pin, hook tractor to trailer, slide the 5th wheel, and lock it. Flashlight and zip ties are old school. Headlamps and velcro straps are the new way to go.
thanks for making this easy to understand....moving 5th wheel tommroow. ;)
Thanks for the video bro thats some good knowledge!
instead of zip ties you can use velcro staps and then you can use them again if you dont forget them on the trailer......good videos by the way
very well presented- and very helpful- thank you
Thank you, Boss ! GOD BE WITH YOU
thanks for the info, every little bit helps, seen some sorry ass truckers out there that need to watch a LOT of video's. Thanks man.
thanks a lot E Keep on trucking
Thank you for the video. By the why do we need to put the landing gear when adjust the 5th wheel?
Excellent video.
very well done and informative thanks!
Thanks learned a lot. Great presentation.
You can also use your chalk and mark a spot on the ground next to the step with a second mark the required distance to move forward or reverse to set the pins. Just measure the offset from the rear axle to the mark on the trailer and mark the spots on the ground to match. If you are real accurate, the pin will fit right in. You can use the same system for sliding the fifth wheel. Make the mark on the step so it lines up with your line of sight with your back against the seat back.
Mark G agreed by putting the chalk on the floor the trucker can see it from inside the truck and not have to go back an forth
The best explanation ever thank you 💯💯💯
Nice job drivah, I wished I had seen a video like this before my first attempt in changing the 5th wheel. I had to call another youtuber (Keystrucker) to get a clue LOL..
I've always been interested in this kind of stuff
Very helpful and informative. Thanx for posting video
I'm a new CDL operator and your tips are great!
This is very useful information brother, Thanks.
Great info, appreciate it, will definitely help,thanks
well done bro, thanks for your time and info. Javier
Awesome info and demo. Thank you!
Really good video.
Well done.!!! Keep up the cool vids
Great instructor .
thank you for the videos
Another great Vid from yourboyE!!! Hey E can you make a Vid on shifting .
When empty. I always lube up the slide rails under the trailer with 90W oil, also the locking pins. Once the pins are free, I will then slide the axles all the way back, then all the way to the front. This is all done before loading. Then I place the axles about mid-point. You should have access to a truck scale to position the axles properly for weight distribution after this. When the sliders are lubed, it makes it way easier to position them properly when loaded.
WD40 or some other spray lube can be used as well.
Always make sure the pins are in the locked position before departing the scale or heading out of the yard.