Using the trolley brakes?

It's there, it's a tool, it's OK to use it properly. Use it to check your brake lights, listen for air leaks, tug tests things of this nature. Others will comment for other uses.

Speaking of front brakes--- older trucks used to have a 'slippery' switch which would cut the front brakes power by 50% when the driver was worried about slippery conditions. Like many things, modern thinking and technology has improved with time.

 

i still see container haulers smokin the wagon brakes/tires so not to use their trk brakes.ive only used the trolly bar for sliding trl axles,tuggin,and if you ever hook a trl that is trackin bad you can try jammin the bar at low speed(10mph or less) in a lot ,it will usually straighten it out .

 

I will apply it just enough at night to use brake lights for back up lights when backing if I need extra light.

 

Like somebody else said, its good to test your trailer brakes. It only applies the trailer brakes so if the trailer handbrake stops you then you know your trailer brakes are working.

The main thing I use it for is listening for air leaks. You can use the brake pedal, but there will be more noise from the steers and drive axles' brakes.

 

First paragraph I fully agree.

In the days of manual slack adjusters we used to set the steer axle brakes 1/4 turn less than the other axles

 

I'll just add one more very specific usage, that I use it for daily. For gravel/end-dump drivers, it is used while dumping to hold the trailer. You can't set the park brake, as you need the tractor free to roll back while the bed is lifting. Then once dumped, while lowering the bed, you need the tractor to roll forward until the bed is down.

 

There is a reason companies order trucks withOUT a trolley valve.

And it's not just to save money !!!!

 

Is it because too many women drivers were hanging their purse on it ???