I was at a place the other day where the shunter showed me a space where to put my trailer. After id parked he walked over and started helping me uncouple. Even though he’d done the brake and legs I still walked round the trailer anyway to double check as I’m still responsible for it at that point.
I noticed he hadn’t wound the legs all the way down. They were about an inch or 2 off the floor. So I Wound them all the way down.
He seemed experienced and pretty old school, but what would the reason be for this? He must of intended to do it.
its old school not have legs all way down so that when picked up if not absolutely square on then legs don’t twist and snag as trailer moves slightly when locating in jaws and then when “snatching” to test hooked up legs don’t bow forward.
the old timer:
its old school not have legs all way down so that when picked up if not absolutely square on then legs don’t twist and snag as trailer moves slightly when locating in jaws and then when “snatching” to test hooked up legs don’t bow forward.
Rowley010:
I was at a place the other day where the shunter showed me a space where to put my trailer. After id parked he walked over and started helping me uncouple. Even though he’d done the brake and legs I still walked round the trailer anyway to double check as I’m still responsible for it at that point.
I noticed he hadn’t wound the legs all the way down. They were about an inch or 2 off the floor. So I Wound them all the way down.
He seemed experienced and pretty old school, but what would the reason be for this? He must of intended to do it.
Unless the trailer is going to have a heavy load you should always leave the legs just short of the ground if you’re not sure wind them down then come up 2 full turns of the handle.
As you come off the trailer you should move forward until you hear the jaws disengage, stop lower the drive axle then move away, winding the legs all the way down on some trailers will cause the front to be to high and thats when you get club plant pot doing what they do best and missing the pin.
This is basic stuff yet and alarmingly high percentage of drivers get it wrong.
the old timer:
its old school not have legs all way down so that when picked up if not absolutely square on then legs don’t twist and snag as trailer moves slightly when locating in jaws and then when “snatching” to test hooked up legs don’t bow forward.
Agreed, sideways movement can also bend the legs.
Watch how many plant pots tug test with the legs on the ground, unbelievable
I always leave a gap, but not as much as two inches.
I like to dip the suspension when going under to pick up the trailer, stop with the 5th wheel under the plate, then when you level out the suspension - the trailer is now slightly off the ground - and already level - thus facilitating couple-up. If you need to “split couple” you can also jump out and do the cables at this point. On getting out to do this, I’ll take that opportunity to “make sure the bloody red button is out” - as about a decade ago, I went to pick up a trailer with the blue and red both pushed in - resulting in the trailer trying to roll off the plate the moment I was on the catwalk putting on the red airline.
Because there was a leg gap - the trailer stopped the moment it lipped off the 5th wheel ramp and stopped, about 3 inches short of a brick wall behind the trailer. “Near miss of the Decade” for me that one.
Luckily, I was perfectly square on, so there was no “lipping damage” which may well have occurred had I been backing on with a twist in the steering…
If you have the legs touching the ground, you’ll either be damaging the legs on couple/tug test or you’ll end up coupling in a “lifted up” state, which means you risk having daylight between the 5th wheel and the bottom of the trailer.
Rowley010:
I was at a place the other day where the shunter showed me a space where to put my trailer. After id parked he walked over and started helping me uncouple. Even though he’d done the brake and legs I still walked round the trailer anyway to double check as I’m still responsible for it at that point.
I noticed he hadn’t wound the legs all the way down. They were about an inch or 2 off the floor. So I Wound them all the way down.
He seemed experienced and pretty old school, but what would the reason be for this? He must of intended to do it.
Unless the trailer is going to have a heavy load you should always leave the legs just short of the ground if you’re not sure wind them down then come up 2 full turns of the handle.
As you come off the trailer you should move forward until you hear the jaws disengage, stop lower the drive axle then move away, winding the legs all the way down on some trailers will cause the front to be to high and thats when you get club plant pot doing what they do best and missing the pin.
This is basic stuff yet and alarmingly high percentage of drivers get it wrong.
But when you go under isn’t that the point in then raising the unit up so that you don’t miss the pin? The shunter also asked why I did that when I coupled up. He said he only sees the younger ones do it. It’s just what I’ve been taught to do.
Picked up a Mega last night, whoever dropped it was part of the Plant Pot Brigade because the driver couldn’t of been bothered to wind the legs all the way down, hell its a freaking Mega trailer, they have short stubby little legs anyway! Went under, unit all the way down the mudflaps are on the deck and it still rode up the mudguards a little!
Rowley010:
But when you go under isn’t that the point in then raising the unit up so that you don’t miss the pin? The shunter also asked why I did that when I coupled up. He said he only sees the younger ones do it. It’s just what I’ve been taught to do.
We’ve had the same discussion on here numerous times in the past.I’d guess that he’s just doing exactly as I’ve described in seeing no difference between the coupling/dropping procedure for air suspension as steel.
What a load of ■■■■■■■■. Old school was ok with old kit. Wreck the back of the unit to save turning the legs all the way down ffs. Air out, rubbing plate under, lift the air and back under. The equipment has moved on so use it correctly
Getting under a trailer loaded to 36tonnes with legs that havent been wound down far enough even with the air dropped from the rear suspension even with 500hp behind it isnt always a barrell of laughs though…mind you most of the ferry trailers i pick up nearly always have bent legs/ knackered winding gear anyway…
Leaving the legs short,its to take the strain off the legs and your arms,when you wind the legs up if the trailers loaded,especially if you don`t have air suspension
lolipop:
Leaving the legs short,its to take the strain off the legs and your arms,when you wind the legs up if the trailers loaded,especially if you don`t have air suspension
When was the last time you saw steel suspension on general haulage?
On a really heavy trailer,you may have to raise the suspension slightly…or you’ll never get enough weight off the turntable to pull the pin.
Shunter in question,probably works in the retail section.
OVLOV JAY:
What a load of ■■■■■■■■. Old school was ok with old kit. Wreck the back of the unit to save turning the legs all the way down ffs. Air out, rubbing plate under, lift the air and back under. The equipment has moved on so use it correctly
I really can’t get my head round how people don’t get this !
I started in 2000 and have driven god knows how many different trucks due to a lot of time on agency, I can only ever remember driving one truck on a steel back end, a Seddon aki for a couple of days.
If you have a heavy trailer they can bow at the front that even with the legs on the ground you can’t lower the unit enough to take all the trailer weight off it.
God knows what winseer is on about with connecting up lifted could mean a gap
commonrail2:
On a really heavy trailer,you may have to raise the suspension slightly…or you’ll never get enough weight off the turntable to pull the pin.
Shunter in question,probably works in the retail section.
correct.
stevieboy308:
OVLOV JAY:
What a load of ■■■■■■■■. Old school was ok with old kit. Wreck the back of the unit to save turning the legs all the way down ffs. Air out, rubbing plate under, lift the air and back under. The equipment has moved on so use it correctly
I really can’t get my head round how people don’t get this !
I started in 2000 and have driven god knows how many different trucks due to a lot of time on agency, I can only ever remember driving one truck on a steel back end, a Seddon aki for a couple of days.
If you have a heavy trailer they can bow at the front that even with the legs on the ground you can’t lower the unit enough to take all the trailer weight off it.
God knows what winseer is on about with connecting up lifted could mean a gap
you would if you turned left or right out of depot and the trailer goes BANG on the floor.
It’s funny watching old timers and young 'uns in our yard dropping trailers, some are pointing to Mecca, the others with 28 tonnes on are pointing to LONDON ( way down sarf )
“Near miss of the Decade” for me that one. 
