Now im not a newbie on coupling trailers.
Iv never done one off those split couples before.
I had some guy last night do trailer change in services last night god iv never witnessesd anything quite as dangerous as this half wit trying todo a split couple.
As i said iv never done fridges so dont know the correct procedure.
This lad jumped out.
Pulled pin had lines in no legs down. Never put trailer brake on.
Jumped back in truck drove forward trailer moved about 4ft forward with truck.
I said to him your trailer just moved 3 or 4 ft there when you pulled off.
So he then puts legs down takes the lines out leaves red in jumps in his truck drives off.
I shouted stop peep horn his red line was stretched bout 15ft when he stopped would have snapped if i never shouted.
Iv never witnessed anything as dangerous attempt at uncoupling a trailer.
There’s a few techniques with split coupling, my method is take your time, check brake on trailer is on, put unit under trailer a bit, take a bit of the weight ideally not enough to lift legs off floor, check unit and trailer brake again, don’t leave ignition on jump on to catwalk connect airlines albeit slightly puckered up when inserting the red one then complete couple and tug test, dog clip, raise legs, release brakes and bugger off. Double check dog clip before getting back in cab.
Stop half a mile up the road to attach reg plate which I forgot in my first paragraph.
Uncoupling, brake, legs, pull pin, Pull forward a foot or two depending on how fat one is, turn off check unit and trailer brake, remove lines (pucker up again), double check everything then bugger off.
Stop after a hundred yards to collect reg plate I forgot again.
Slightly pedantic but if I’m not in the drivers seat the engine shouldn’t be running and keys should be with me, unless I’m ■■■■■■ and mucking about or in a combination that requires engine to run a PTO, crane vehicle etc.
I have seen two trailers on their knees in the last two weeks, one by a newbie and one by a 40 year veteran and both were avoidable by not rushing and doing your basic checks. Nobodies perfect and if you are rushed or someone takes your attention away accidents do happen
The thing you should always remember is the yellow suzie is connected before the red suzie when coupling and removed after the red suzie when uncoupling as it is controlled by the unit handbrake so if the trailer brake is off/not working then the trailer won’t go anywhere.
Unless you have forgotten to apply the unit handbrake as well !!
Tooz:
The thing you should always remember is the yellow suzie is connected before the red suzie when coupling and removed after the red suzie when uncoupling as it is controlled by the unit handbrake so if the trailer brake is off/not working then the trailer won’t go anywhere.
Unless you have forgotten to apply the unit handbrake as well !!
not relevant when driving a volvo - they don’t apply the parking brake on the trailer when handbrake is on. if you don’t sepcifically go through the procedure of applying the trailer brakes as well.
As I said I don’t know the exact procedures to split uncouple as I’ve never needed do one.
But I wouldn’t be pulling pin with legs up lines in and no parking break on.
Tooz:
The thing you should always remember is the yellow suzie is connected before the red suzie when coupling and removed after the red suzie when uncoupling as it is controlled by the unit handbrake so if the trailer brake is off/not working then the trailer won’t go anywhere.
Unless you have forgotten to apply the unit handbrake as well !!
not relevant when driving a volvo - they don’t apply the parking brake on the trailer when handbrake is on. if you don’t sepcifically go through the procedure of applying the trailer brakes as well.
How you park Hilldown on a Snowy Road if Trailer isnt braked with Handbrake?
I had once a DAF with that. But just a few Hour. Phoned Wabco with Number of Brakevalve and they gave me another Number. Went then to DAF and bought it.Changed it myself. Was just the Valve with Handle you have to open and close Handbrake.
Tooz:
The thing you should always remember is the yellow suzie is connected before the red suzie when coupling and removed after the red suzie when uncoupling as it is controlled by the unit handbrake so if the trailer brake is off/not working then the trailer won’t go anywhere.
Unless you have forgotten to apply the unit handbrake as well !!
not relevant when driving a volvo - they don’t apply the parking brake on the trailer when handbrake is on. if you don’t sepcifically go through the procedure of applying the trailer brakes as well.
How you park Hilldown on a Snowy Road if Trailer isnt braked with Handbrake?
I had once a DAF with that. But just a few Hour. Phoned Wabco with Number of Brakevalve and they gave me another Number. Went then to DAF and bought it.Changed it myself. Was just the Valve with Handle you have to open and close Handbrake.
Themoocher:
As I said I don’t know the exact procedures to split uncouple as I’ve never needed do one.
But I wouldn’t be pulling pin with legs up lines in and no parking break on.
Trailer brake
Legs
Numberplate
Pin
Drive forward a little
Unplug lines
Drive off
Only had to do this often on fridge trailers at a previous job when they started getting excited over aerodynamics and mpg . At the moment the MAN I have been using the last few months has a moveable 5th wheel so if there is not enough room for me to plug lines in easy I just pull the lever and drive forward slightly.
I had a shift for Culina Stafford where Im sure I had to sign a form that I was profficient at how to split couple.
I signed it and cracked on, but for the life of me every time I see the words ‘split couple required’ I cant help but picture the missus with her legs on me shoulders.
Probably just me and apologies to the admin for making lite of one of the most dangerous forms of coupling up, especially if she has her stilettos on. Nearly took me eye out the other night.
Tooz:
The thing you should always remember is the yellow suzie is connected before the red suzie when coupling and removed after the red suzie when uncoupling as it controlled by the unit handbrake so if the trailer brake is off/not working then the trailer won’t go anywhere.
Unless you have forgotten to apply the unit handbrake as well !!
not relevant when driving a volvo - they don’t apply the parking brake on the trailer when handbrake is on. if you don’t sepcifically go through the procedure of applying the trailer brakes as well.
How you park Hilldown on a Snowy Road if Trailer isnt braked with Handbrake?
I had once a DAF with that. But just a few Hour. Phoned Wabco with Number of Brakevalve and they gave me another Number. Went then to DAF and bought it.Changed it myself. Was just the Valve with Handle you have to open and close Handbrake.
I never have this issue as my trailer is so old it has a ratchet hand brake
Darwins laws will stand, you stopped him making an almighty ■■■■ up last night, but you’ve only postponed the inevitable mess.
They haven’t got a minute to live, and split coupling even if you do it regularly takes a bit of thinking about same as shifting your fifth wheel.
Someone has deemed this twerp fit to be allowed out in their vehicle, the person who allowed him out is the one who needs looking at, not just the damage they are going to cause but company duty of care to the general public.
But I’ve seen people that behave perfectly when they have to (when they know someone that matters is watching) but then they go back to behaving like a right arse. So the boss thinks they do the job right all the time. It’ll probably be some other poor sod that suffers.
Had a mate drop a trailer on it’s knees a while back. Parked in the yard, got out and pulled the pin - cue trailer rolling back and landing on it’s knees. When I called him a knob for forgetting the procedure, he told me that he’d always done it this way
Not a newbie, been driving for years - but had always got away with it (up until that point anyhow). His biggest problem was getting his numberplate off the back of the trailer
I pull fridges every day now so split coupling is now normal to me. I did have a brown pants moment when I started doing it a few months ago though.
Put the unit under the trailer leaving room on the catwalk (obviously short of the pin), raised the air a little, and put the handbrake on.
Got on the catwalk and started doing the lines up. Next minute, something didn’t seem right. There was something moving, but I knew it wasn’t me. [zb]ing trailer was about to squash me!!!
NEVER ASSUME THE TRAILER BRAKE IS ON. CHECK IT. I have never demounted so fast in my life! (apart from that girl in Thailand a few years back who turned out to be a fella called Keith).
brake, brake, brake! 
. At the moment the MAN I have been using the last few months has a moveable 5th wheel so if there is not enough room for me to plug lines in easy I just pull the lever and drive forward slightly.