Thanks for the useful tips, everyone.
Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
KNOW YOUR HEIGHT seconded. Our DDs are all 16 foot.
Although I did once take one under a bridge marked 15 foot 9…VERY slowly
All the replies you have had thus far are good advice but… HEIGHT… HEIGHT… HEIGHT… HEIGHT… HEIGHT.
It is the one thing that catches people out time after time after time… even experienced blokes. HEIGHT… HEIGHT… HEIGHT…
It wasn’t your DD burnt out in a lay by on A43 at Silverstone was it ?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
blue estate:
It wasn’t your DD burnt out in a lay by on A43 at Silverstone was it ?Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
No - apparently that was a curtainsider full of washing machines. Ours are box trailers.
dieseldog999:
they are usually spring loaded one way things so the deck goes up then they pop out till you reset them.
just remember if its got a motor below the deck to lift the air if you see any humps that you need to go over slow or if you ever go places like onto a ferry or you will rip it clean off…
That was a very useful bit of advice - the yard I am delivering into has a horrible “hump” in the entrance gateway that requires just such an approach. Fortunately the previous job-holder had mentioned this to me already (we have a single Iveco unit on our fleet that has a ridiculously low ground clearance under the fuel tank - they avoid sending it on this run simply because of the aforementioned “hump”).
Anyway, all passed off without incident 
Also make sure the lever to raise or lower the suspension at the back is pulled out and set to level itself. I know some or most self level anyway above a certain speed but anything can fail. If you checked the lever was in the correct position then it’s not your fault. There’s a photo somewhere of a B&M DD where the driver failed to check this and went down the motorway with the air all the way up, back end of the trailer over 16’16” and hit a motorway bridge.
Rowley010:
Also make sure the lever to raise or lower the suspension at the back is pulled out and set to level itself. I know some or most self level anyway above a certain speed but anything can fail. If you checked the lever was in the correct position then it’s not your fault. There’s a photo somewhere of a B&M DD where the driver failed to check this and went down the motorway with the air all the way up, back end of the trailer over 16’16” and hit a motorway bridge.
Exactly what happened with one of our double-deckers a few years back. Driver left Park Royal and went North on the M1 with the suspension fully raised. Ripped the door frame off the body on a Motorway bridge…
I know you’ll do this anyway but make sure the load is correct. They tend to lie down easily on roundabouts when a duff warehouse has loaded the top deck and the bottom deck is empty, or nearly so
It seems obvious, doesn’t it
Not sure if it’s been mentioned but if it’s a box or fridge make sure cups and bars are out the way before lowering top deck the last thing you want when lowering is a cup which is still in place as the top deck will catch it on the way down resulting in probable damage.
good_friend:
I know you’ll do this anyway but make sure the load is correct. They tend to lie down easily on roundabouts when a duff warehouse has loaded the top deck and the bottom deck is empty, or nearly soIt seems obvious, doesn’t it
Fortunately for me our warehouse lads are pretty switched-on to that sort of thing. Or at least, the regular lot are - just as well the supervisors do NOT allow temporary staff or newbies to load the double-deckers…
5 minutes is more than I got.
Double deckers are pretty easy never got trained on them and never had an issue.
But I have only driven non movable floor ones and standard moveable floor ones.
I tried the Argos Urban double deckers once and they were a bit more complicated but I suspect easy once your used to it.
Stop being a ■■■■■. 
If you think your being thrown at the deep end try driving one of these
First day on the job and I got told to deliver an empty tuffnells trailer to a customer. I had never driven an a-frame trailer in my life before so they hooked it all up for me. When I got to the customer site I spent about 1 hour trying to reverse it into position. If you want a challenge try them.
adam277:
5 minutes is more than I got.
Double deckers are pretty easy never got trained on them and never had an issue.
But I have only driven non movable floor ones and standard moveable floor ones.I tried the Argos Urban double deckers once and they were a bit more complicated but I suspect easy once your used to it.
Stop being a ■■■■■.
If you think your being thrown at the deep end try driving one of these
First day on the job and I got told to deliver an empty tuffnells trailer to a customer. I had never driven an a-frame trailer in my life before so they hooked it all up for me. When I got to the customer site I spent about 1 hour trying to reverse it into position. If you want a challenge try them.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
nobody needs that grief .
not for double wages unless it was a straight trunk job.
the taliban that eurotramp in them deserve all of their wages and a bit more.
apart from the main reason that who wants to drive a poverty spec cf daf?
What makes it worse is it’s a poverty spec rigid that happens to have the ability to pull a trailer.
Poverty spec artic units are imo so much better kitted out compared to rigids on the basic stuff. Like cubby holes, working radios and usually air-con. 
Probably one of the worst trucks i have driven. Gearbox went on me twice as well. Along with a load of other issues.
Oh and the rigid body is demountable. So always got covered in grease from the legs… If they didnt jam or break. Usually the rule at tuffnells was if you had 3 legs out of 4 working then your good to drop it. 
Always had to take a hammer with me incase a leg was dodgy or stiff.
adam277:
What makes it worse is it’s a poverty spec rigid that happens to have the ability to pull a trailer.
Poverty spec artic units are imo so much better kitted out compared to rigids on the basic stuff. Like cubby holes, working radios and usually air-con.
Probably one of the worst trucks i have driven. Gearbox went on me twice as well. Along with a load of other issues.Oh and the rigid body is demountable. So always got covered in grease from the legs… If they didnt jam or break. Usually the rule at tuffnells was if you had 3 legs out of 4 working then your good to drop it.
Always had to take a hammer with me incase a leg was dodgy or stiff.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
rather you than me…as nancy says.just say no.
First day on the job and I got told to deliver an empty tuffnells trailer to a customer. I had never driven an a-frame trailer in my life before so they hooked it all up for me. When I got to the customer site I spent about 1 hour trying to reverse it into position. If you want a challenge try them.
Yes they are a challenge to begin with but I have always loved a challenge and with time and practice it becomes so much easier.
Rowley010:
Also make sure the lever to raise or lower the suspension at the back is pulled out and set to level itself. I know some or most self level anyway above a certain speed but anything can fail. If you checked the lever was in the correct position then it’s not your fault. There’s a photo somewhere of a B&M DD where the driver failed to check this and went down the motorway with the air all the way up, back end of the trailer over 16’16” and hit a motorway bridge.
Would that be 17’4’’ by any chance
Back to school for you, I see you haven’t posted this week I forgot its half term anyway extra mathematics next week Rowley BOY
robthedog:
Rowley010:
Also make sure the lever to raise or lower the suspension at the back is pulled out and set to level itself. I know some or most self level anyway above a certain speed but anything can fail. If you checked the lever was in the correct position then it’s not your fault. There’s a photo somewhere of a B&M DD where the driver failed to check this and went down the motorway with the air all the way up, back end of the trailer over 16’16” and hit a motorway bridge.Would that be 17’4’’ by any chance
Back to school for you, I see you haven’t posted this week I forgot its half term anyway extra mathematics next week Rowley BOY
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
he was probaby pulling one of those special deckers with airbags the size of a pair of hindenbugs.