When loading/unloading should trailer air bags be dumped?

Not really, it serves no purpose I know of.

 

I decide whether or not to dump by the height of the dock I'm backed up to. Sometimes I need air in the bags to get the trailer high enough that the ramp will be at a reasonable angle. When that is the case, leave the truck running at fast idle so that your air isn't depleted during loading / unloading. I don't think there's a requirement either way.

 

I run a flatbed and i rarely if ever set my trailer brakes. hope thats what your talking about anyways lol. but ive never had a problem with it. now most van haulers and reefer haulers ive seen always set them

 

If you're attached to the trl while sitting at the dock then no you don't touch the air bag dump.But if you have to unhook,you first lower the landing gear,pull the fifthwheel pin,remove the glad hands and pigtail,then lower your airbags,wait a few seconds till they are completely deflated then slowly pull your trk out.Once your pulled out turn your airbag dump to inflate the bags then wait patiently for your trl.You won't need to lower your airbags when hooking up,I never do.

 

oh is that what the poster is asking,lol.

 

Some trailers dump the Airpretty quickly with the Brakes Set. Others will take a while.

 

What matters to the air bags themselves is, if they get overstretched. The shocks or straps usually keep them from overextending. If you are only unloading 2000lbs. at a time your not going to get much movement. But what I haul is usually a large piece of equipment. That moves 30,000lbs.+ off of the truck and trailer at once. The truck and trailer would pop up like popcorn if they weren't deflated. Also if you unload one side at a time, the bags dumped will help with leaning till your unloaded.

 

Normal and safest procedure to load would be to pull the red button to lock the trailer brakes while loading. Many trailers are loaded with no tractor attached and hence the air bags would not adjust in that situation anyway. The air bags will only raise a few inches and never seen a loading dock that could not accomodate that.