boots do not allow split coupling at all. i picked up a deep pin trailer in the yard and the gap was…lets just say that some of their drivers would have no chance of getting between the cab and headboard so i began a split couple and got told off for it. ‘dont do that here in front of the camera but how you do it off site is up to you’. in other words, he agrees with me but the non drivers who make the rules wont allow it 
the irony is that the 30 foot trailers are hooked up with approx 4/5 feet between cab and headboard 
scanny77:
boots do not allow split coupling at all. i picked up a deep pin trailer in the yard and the gap was…lets just say that some of their drivers would have no chance of getting between the cab and headboard so i began a split couple and got told off for it. ‘dont do that here in front of the camera but how you do it off site is up to you’. in other words, he agrees with me but the non drivers who make the rules wont allow it
If that had been me the trailer would have been left where it was. They are always quick enough to throw H&S stuff our way so I would throw some of it back at them by asking why they are not allowing an H&S recommended method of coupling.
Coffeeholic:
scanny77:
boots do not allow split coupling at all. i picked up a deep pin trailer in the yard and the gap was…lets just say that some of their drivers would have no chance of getting between the cab and headboard so i began a split couple and got told off for it. ‘dont do that here in front of the camera but how you do it off site is up to you’. in other words, he agrees with me but the non drivers who make the rules wont allow itIf that had been me the trailer would have been left where it was. They are always quick enough to throw H&S stuff our way so I would throw some of it back at them by asking why they are not allowing an H&S recommended method of coupling.
i didnt even know there was a file recommending it. would you perchance have something i can print off? 
i do like producing documents and waving it around 
I haven’t got a web link, I have an aversion to trawling through all the crap on the H&S site, although I think Krankee has posted a link in the past. I have a book with all the methods detailed and if you look a bit further up this thread you will see a link where you can send off for a free copy. It’s published by the Society of Operations Engineers, of which the Institute of Road Transport Engineers are a part of, and I think they would know a thing or two about coupling trailers. I have seen H&S notices recommending the book as further reading to stuff they produce on coupling and uncoupling.
Edit HERE you go scanny. I Googled split coupling and found this page on the H&S site where at the bottom of the page they do indeed recommend the SOE publication.
Never had the need to do one (so far) but ever increasing waist size will mean its just around the bend lol , wot worries me as mentioned before when a stupid fitter/dealer etc puts the brake on the wrong button!
it could all end in disaster!
Fallmonk:
wot worries me as mentioned before when a stupid fitter/dealer etc puts the brake on the wrong button! it could all end in disaster!
There is no more chance of split coupling ending in disaster than the older method of coupling. Coupling a trailer is a dangerous thing no matter what method is used, if you do your choice of the three methods properly then you minimise the risk of disaster, cut corners and there is an equal chance of disaster. The main consideration with split coupling is to ensure the 5th wheel plate is flush with the trailer, then if it should move because the brake isn’t on the pin will catch and stop the trailer. Yes it will be a brown trouser moment, and I speak from experience there, but you won’t get crushed, in fact you’ll have the same gap as if you weren’t split coupling.
I did an assessment in Woolies at Bedford a while back and during it they mentioned they didn’t allow split coupling. I was looking forward to going out to get my trailer and split coupling just so as I could have a major argum … err ‘discussion.’ Unfortunately there is a massive gap between all there units and trailers so I didn’t get the chance. 
Coffeeholic:
Edit HERE you go scanny. I Googled split coupling and found this page on the H&S site where at the bottom of the page they do indeed recommend the SOE publication.
cheers pal 
im sure they will appreciate it especially after the other day when i questioned a notice regarding security problems on the road
Wincanton (B+Q) as has been said have a ‘no split coupling’ policy, but then just like everyone else who doesn’t know their arse from their elbow provide you with leaflets on how to close couple safely. Connect to your trailer with the unit at an angle so it leaves you a lot of room to get in on one side. Thats great info, only problem is, they park them about 2foot apart and at an angle so that you can barely open the door of your cab let alone do any ‘angle’ stuff. They have done their job and provided you with a safe working guide, only problem is you can’t actually do it.
Mike-C:
Connect to your trailer with the unit at an angle…
That’ll be Cranked Coupling then, the third method the H&S recommend and sanction.
Sorry, Reef isn’t here so I’ve taken over his pedant duties for a while. 
Coffeeholic:
Mike-C:
Connect to your trailer with the unit at an angle…That’ll be Cranked Coupling then, the third method the H&S recommend and sanction.
Thats the one, but like i say you can’t do it, you can only just about get out your cab if your unit is straight. Their demonstration picture shows a unit and trailer with about an acre of space either side. I think they are total ■■■■■■■■■■ if i was pulled for attempting to split couple i would say, ‘no, i’m just pulling out and was gonna ask the traffic office to get the shunter to pull the trailer some where safe so i could Crank couple’, mind you, Crank coupling comes naturally to me !
Look at it from another angle then.
Why not introduce palm couplings for the air lines, they are universal in Europe and America and called glad hands.
They are easy to fit using one hand instead of struggling with 2 hands and a greasy C type
Cranking? Two hands and a greasy C? Hey, it’s trucker ■■■■.
Wheel Nut:
Look at it from another angle then.
I’m getting to like you wheelnut !!
Coffeeholic:
Mike-C:
Connect to your trailer with the unit at an angle…That’ll be Cranked Coupling then, the third method the H&S recommend and sanction.
Sorry, Reef isn’t here so I’ve taken over his pedant duties for a while.
At B&Q Coventry when I get a hire trailer I hitch up, wind legs up, walk round and press the shunt button in then pull forward and position the unit and trailer so that I can easily connect air lines and electrics.
Same with un-coupling.
I feel that this is safer than split coupling (IMO)
andy187:
Coffeeholic:
Mike-C:
Connect to your trailer with the unit at an angle…That’ll be Cranked Coupling then, the third method the H&S recommend and sanction.
Sorry, Reef isn’t here so I’ve taken over his pedant duties for a while.
At B&Q Coventry when I get a hire trailer I hitch up, wind legs up, walk round and press the shunt button in then pull forward and position the unit and trailer so that I can easily connect air lines and electrics.
Same with un-coupling.
I feel that this is safer than split coupling (IMO)
That has to be the final word on it. That is spot on.
andy187:
[At B&Q Coventry when I get a hire trailer I hitch up, wind legs up, walk round and press the shunt button in then pull forward and position the unit and trailer so that I can easily connect air lines and electrics.
Same with un-coupling.
I feel that this is safer than split coupling (IMO)
That is offcoarse with the upmost care, as moving an unbraked trailer can lead to accidents, which would then raise a whole new rain forests worth off leaflets containing updated guidlines.
I’ll split couple.
Seriuosly though, a tug driver was killed in Purfleet docks last year, he only coupled the red line to trailers whilst discharging the Ferry, couldnt stop and ran into the back of another trailer.
The main consideration with split coupling is to ensure the 5th wheel plate is flush with the trailer
I also tend to top out the suspension on the unit - that way if the trailer is going to run anywhere it SHOULD be away from me, and I don’t think that the bay is moving anywhere !!
G
Trailers aren’t always on bays. I know what you mean though.
Typical of the SOE, making a printed version of the Guide available to non-members, and all of the costs involved, yet when they were approached by TNUK to the effect that we could ‘host’ it as a free ‘download’ to our members, they failed to reply.
If anyone wants a copy, I can email it to them. Having access to the Admin panel, I already have access to everyone’s email addy, therefore there is no need to post it (providing your profile is up to date). If there are a large number of requests, then obviously it would be easier if I emailed it ‘in bulk’, but this would disclose to members, other members email addy’s (but not their Username).
For anyone requesting, on this thread, please indicate, “Bulk: Yes/No”.
Requests not indicating “No”, will be interpreted as a “Yes.”
I think I’ve just confused myself.
Trailers aren’t always on bays. Wink Razz I know what you mean though.
Tell me about it, accidentally released one from a shunter once at TNT (why I pressed the release rather than when I was going for the brake I don’t know), just had to watch it slide back off the fifth wheel and pray that security were not watching … … … …
… … … … I could of course have dropped the fifth wheel to try and stop it, but I was trying to work out why the shunter was moving forward at the time… … (it wasn’t)
G