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Dock locks, damage and suspension.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Chebbydriver7195, Apr 4, 2019.

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  1. Apr 4, 2019 #1
    Chebbydriver7195

    Chebbydriver7195 Light Load Member

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    If I dump the air suspension on the truck to tilt rear of trailer up will it hurt the truck?it was the only way for me to actually get against the dock.
     
    Chebbydriver7195, Apr 4, 2019
    Chebbydriver7195, Apr 4, 2019
    #1
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  3. Apr 4, 2019 #2
    Snow Monster

    Snow Monster Medium Load Member

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    What you could do is drop the air on the tractor, then crank down your landing gear before you start loading.
    That way the suspension won't be damaged and you won't feel as much jarring and vibration in the truck as the forklift runs in and out of the trailer.
     
    Snow Monster, Apr 4, 2019
    Snow Monster, Apr 4, 2019
    #2
    WesternPlains and Finfn1372 Thank this.
  4. Apr 4, 2019 #3
    WesternPlains

    WesternPlains Road Train Member

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    I like that idea of landing gear down. :biggrin_25514:
    When suspension lowered. That kingpin plate is almost touching the tires. Not a good position to be doing much at all.
     
    WesternPlains, Apr 4, 2019
    WesternPlains, Apr 4, 2019
    #3
  5. Apr 4, 2019 #4
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Why do you have to be "against" the dock? You should have some gap between the trailer and the dock.
     
    Ridgeline, Apr 4, 2019
    Ridgeline, Apr 4, 2019
    #4
  7. Apr 4, 2019 #5
    tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Is this dock on an incline or something? You shouldn't usually have to 'tilt' the trailer. If you're on an uneven slope the position of the tandems can affect the height at the rear of the trailer.
     
    tinytim, Apr 4, 2019
    tinytim, Apr 4, 2019
    #5
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
  8. Apr 4, 2019 #6
    tnevin225

    tnevin225 Road Train Member

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    No you won't hurt it. There are plenty of trailers with air systems that automatically dump the air bags.
     
    tnevin225, Apr 4, 2019
    tnevin225, Apr 4, 2019
    #6
  9. Apr 4, 2019 #7
    x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    I was getting ready to say... Most docks have the tandems at the 48 foot mark or all the way back. I rarely disconnect unless ordered to by the stiff suits...
     
    x1Heavy, Apr 4, 2019
    x1Heavy, Apr 4, 2019
    #7
  10. Apr 4, 2019 #8
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Some plates won't reach far enough, I know what the op was saying, and we have a place we have to either do that, or hit the dock lock hard enough to push it down. The plate won't reach without the trailer being close enough to be locked in.
     
    25(2)+2, Apr 4, 2019
    25(2)+2, Apr 4, 2019
    #8
  11. Apr 4, 2019 #9
    street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Hes talking about dropping the tractor air bags...
     
    street beater, Apr 4, 2019
    street beater, Apr 4, 2019
    #9
  12. Apr 4, 2019 #10
    Chebbydriver7195

    Chebbydriver7195 Light Load Member

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    Feb 24, 2019
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    Well the truck is fine. This place usually uses one of those metal portable docks but it was broken. The road slopes down toward the dock really bad. If I had a shorter trailer it would be fine.
    I didnt think about using the landing gear to take some pressure off truck. Like I said tho even with suspension dropped(on just the truck) I had to lock the diff and back up to the point the rear trailer tires were lifted significantly. Almost off the ground
     
    Chebbydriver7195, Apr 4, 2019
    Chebbydriver7195, Apr 4, 2019
    #10
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