How To: 5 Simple Easy Steps to Sliding Semi Trailer Tandems 

Of course anytime!

Yes!! That’s awesome my man so glad it helped you out! 🙌

I was in the same position. I never was actually taught that. I dreaded that fateful day where the receiver demanded they be slid and a gentleman helped that was docked next to me. This video would have saved me the worry has I watched it first

Same boat

Thank you for this 👏

You’re so welcome!!

Thank you!

So awesome! So happy it could help you! 😁

So awesome!! Love hearing that it has helped so many!!

Yes! 🙌 That’s awesome I’m so glad it helped man 😁

Of course man! This makes me so happy and these videos so worth it!!

Awesome! Glad I could help and anytime 😁

Of course my man! So glad it could help you🙌🙏

Man so happy this could help you out! 😁🙏

Thank you so much 😁

Glad you enjoyed it 😁

Absolutely! What other types of videos would you be interested in?

Of course anytime! 😁

Absolutely my man 😁🤙 So happy this helped!

What was? Haha 😂

Awesome!! Glad it could help 😁

Of course! Glad it could help 😁🤙🏼

Thank you! 😁

So glad it helped!!

Absolutely!

Of course!

Thank you so much! Let me know if you need any help man! Be more than willing to help

The way I identify which direction to slide the tandem is to move it TOWARD the problem (a.k.a. overweight axle). If the drive axles were overweight, you would slide the tandems forward, toward the drive axle. Conversely, if the tandem trailer axles were heavy, you slide them rearward which in turn distributes more weight to the drives and reducing the load carried by the tandems. The amount to slide the tandems, or number of holes is determined by the specific trailer manufacture and type. I am sure there may be more, but the two more common ones I have been exposed are either 250lbs/hole or 400lbs/hole. Calculate average differential between axles and determine how many holes to adjust; identify which direction to move the tandems, and slide the tandems the correct amount of holes. Ex. Before adjusting (assume trailer is a type that each hole moved provides a 250 lb adjustment) = adjusting factor Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 31,750 lbs Trailer (Tandem) axle: 35,215 lbs Total weight 78,065 lbs By observation total weight is under 80K so legal, steers are under 12K so legal but tandem is OVER 34K so not legal. - It is identified that the tandems must be slid toward the rear (towards the problem) to distribute more weight to drive axles the lighter of the two axles. - To calculate how many holes determine the difference between the two axles divide by two and divide by the adjusting rate. * NOTE - Use the larger number first then deduct smaller so quantity remains positive. Balance load (35,215 - 31,750)/2 lbs = (3,465/2) lbs ==> 1733 lbs; now divide by adjusting rate(per trailer type/manufacturer) 1.733 lbs / 250 lbs/hole then round off to whole number ==> 6.93 or 7 holes (to the front) to balance load or 4 holes per 1,000 lb (250lb/hole) in this case 1,750 / 1,000 = 1.75 * 4 holes (adj. factor) = 7 holes same result different approach. Ex. After adjusting (Balance Load) Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 33,500 lbs Trailer (Tandem) axle: 33,465 lbs Total weight 78,065 lbs Based on the above information, this tells us that if we slide the tandems rearward (towards the problem) 7 holes the weight should be distributed as evenly as practical between the drive axles and tandems. Given that we have identified (7) holes to travel to balance the load equally, this may not be possible or practical, so the next alternative would be to identify how many holes are required to reduce the weight limit below a legal weight per axle limit. Legal Weight per Axle (34K / axle) Tandem (35,215 - 34,000) = (1,215 lbs / 250 lbs/hole) ==> 4.86 holes or 5 holes this case ALWAYS round UP or 1,215 rounded to next 250 increment is 1,250 / (4 holes per 1,000) ==> 5 holes Ex. After adjusting (Legal Weight per Axle) Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 33,000 lbs Trailer (Tandem) axle: 33,965 lbs Total weight 78,065 lbs In this case is the MINIMUM number of holes to slide tandems to get each axle under legal weight rating, so if I had more I would use them if available and practical. Hope this helps and use whatever tools helps you simplify your process which I like to round off to 1,000 lb increments and can do math more quickly and in head that way by multiplying an adjustment factor. As a side note, if the trailer was such that the hole adjustment rate was 400 lb / hole then I would have to modify the 2nd method to account for that by identifying 2.5 holes adjustment factor per 1,000 lb (400 lb/hole). I hope this doesn't muddy the concept... or 1,215 rounded to next 400 increment is 1,600 / (2.5 holes per 1,000) ==> 4.8 holes or 5 holes It is only coincidental with this example that both ratings (400lb / hole & 250 lb / hole) ended up at 5 holes and would not expect that to be the norm.

Love it! 👌🏻🙏🏼🙌🏼👍🏼

You’re so welcome, so happy it helped! 🎉

@@thedillonsmith ☺️it did thanks

Absolutely you’re so welcome!!

@@thedillonsmith no problem man saludos desde albuquerque new mexico I love over the road but sometimes these tandems man. You explain it good

Ya the over the road life is rough!

@@thedillonsmith yes it is . Do you do videos on driving mountains ? Or parking between two trailers going back

I didn’t do a video like that but if you need specific help I’ll see what I can do! I actually came off the road, I’ll be doing a video on that soon!!

Glad you loved it! And thanks for the ideas, I actually have one on sliding the fifth wheel 😁

Of course brotha! 😁

Love it!!

Of course 😁

Ya mana off course!

Thanks brotha!! 😁🤙

Great advice! It depends also on the trailer manufacturer some are 250, 300, 400, & 600. It varies, but that is a great point thanks for bringing that up for those that need this info 😁

Yes, that's the one part I was wondering about.

Each trailer is going to be different it usually ranges from 200-600lbs per hole

I was bouncing between auto and stick :)

Yes it should automatically lock back in, BUT it’s always a good idea to double check before heading out 😁👍

Doesn’t take very long at all 2 minutes or less 😁

Correct

Are you talking about the fifth wheel or trailer tandems?

@@thedillonsmith a video on both would be great My CDL school didn't teach any of this and I'm pretty sure it's important

So TYPICALLY on the fifth wheel each hole is about 500-600lbs and on the trailer tandems it depends on if they are the holes close together or farther apart it can range usually between 300-600lbs

@@thedillonsmith Okay thanks appreciate it

Yes a lot of times you will be loaded so you can adjust weight on tandems

@@thedillonsmith oh ok thx

You have to have a spread axle trailer 😁👍

@@thedillonsmith ooh thanks man, had no idea 💡

For NJ it’s 41’ from Kingpen to rear axle

100% haha

That is based on where the weight needs to be distributed. Each hole can adjust the weight usually anywhere from 200-600lbs

And the max where the tandems can be based on which state your in. Let me know if you need more help I’d be more than happy to help 😁

@@thedillonsmith how do I know the weight?

You would take it to a scale

@@thedillonsmith the people who trip plan the load don't allow time for stops. I found a video that was very helpful on tandems. Thanks

It’s takes some time, but it’ll eventually become second nature to you. I usually just step it out if I don’t have a tape measure 😁

@ 2pacnasgame ...put stone, stick, beer can on ground to mark your hole don't need tape...Happy Trails

😂😂😂