tachograph:
When picking up a trailer the first thing you should do is forget the stuff you was taught for the test
Reverse nearly up-to the trailer and check that the trailer break is on.
Lower the unit air suspension.
Reverse until the 5th wheel is under the trailer plate but hasnāt yet reached the trailer pin.
Raise the unit air suspension until the trailer legs are clear of the ground.
Reverse slowly until you hear the 5th wheel mechanism click locked. (Thatās a click not a loud bang)
Do a tug test or two and put the break on, then get out and check the 5th wheel and put the dog clip on if there is one.
Connect the suzies and wind the trailer legs up then release the trailer break.
Uncoupling is the reverse, lower the trailer legs then after releasing the suzies and releasing the 5th wheel clamp pull slowly forward until youāre clear of the pin then lower the unit air suspension and pull forward until youāre clear of the trailer, you can then reset the unit to ride height.
Cool. Thats the method I used (apart from raising trailer off the ground). I waited until I had checked pin had been clamped before raising. Didnāt want it running away as it was not the newest of trailers and I had no idea if brakes were an good.
You have a point about the brakes but as a rule they should be ok. The reason to lift the legs clear of the floor when hooking up,is that it stops any stress on the legs if you arnāt quite lined up right. Not so much of a problem if empty but with a load on the bugger donāt slide much.
That last bit about raising the unit to get the legs off the floor is really useful - Iāve been picking up loaded milk tankers.
If you back under but are just a few inches to one side you wonāt get back on the pin with the legs under load and on the floor, just a lot of wheel spin and the frightening thought of those legs trying to move sideways with all that weight on them! Raise the suspension a little bit when you are under, get the weight off the legs and then back and it will click in like a dream! (well usually I apply too much gas and itās more of a bang and a swear word than a click, but once or twice itās been a click!)
Hi Dean, Iāve been out of touch for a while and have just re-tuned in to find you are out there in class 1ās, no more buses I guess. Well done mate, Iām made up for you even if you have started speaking double Dutch to us poor class 2 drivers.
all the best
Rich
