yellow straps on trailer wheels

The only thing i can thinkof is that some companys are now running trailers with a air supply to the trailer tires. The primary supply runs through the center of the hub and then you have an air line that goes to each valve stem of the inner and outer tire to keep the tire at the proper air pressure.

 

Do mean something like this?

 

Those straps are for in the winter. You can look in the mirror and make sure the wheels are turning and the brakes didn't freeze to the drum when you parked. That way you won't drag the wheels and ruin the tires

 

they are equalizers that balance the psi between the inside and outside tire. The tire on the inside get hotter than the one on the outside and thus creating a higher psi. This also acts as a pressure release valve for the inside tire.

 

i think hes talking about the ones on the lugs, there used to tell us if theres a lug coming loose

 

He's talking about a rubber strap that is attached to a lug nut on the trailer wheel. Its long enough that it sticks out and hangs outside the tire. You can look in the mirror and see it that way you can be sure the brakes released and the wheels are turning. Sometimes the brakes freeze to the drums in the winter and if its slick and they dont release, you can be going down the road with a set of duals not turning. I have seen it happen. Even though the road is slick and icy, its still possible to make some big flat spots on the tires and ruin them.

The plastic things that go on the lugs to see if they are coming loose look like a pointer, the mechanic lines up all the pointers the same way and if a nut comes loose you can tell at a glance.

 

you are right brickhauler that is what he is talking about they are not that popular in the south yet but they are being used more and more,they took the place of painting lines on the trailer tires to see if they were turning from years ago but this too onlly works if the person behind the wheel looks out at his mirror sometimes.

 

I see them alot on garbage trucks.