Estimating axle weight when loading a spring ride tandem

Plum a trailer gauge into the dash and after a couple of loads you can figure out what reading you need on the front. I do this all the time if I'm loading at a place were the tractor tandems are uneven and the trailer is level. My gauge is an odd ball, it reads 45 legal load and for the front the first pile is 15 and the second is 20 then move to the back. Hope this helps.

There should be after market air bag systems out there that can mount between the springs and frame. I have seen this on the old reyco three spring suspensions done. The air bags will be small and look like the ones that were used on the old freightliners years ago that had what was referrred to as the mini air ride. I once had a timpte trailer I had bought used that had this system added and it worked out well. should make for a little better ride and tire life on your tractor.

They have a string gauge.I think what it is is a piece of metal that attaches to two points.and a guage will measure the bend..or the resistance(?)..telling you the weight..I don't know how accurate they are or anything..I know that I had talked to Murray trailer in Stockton,California about a measuring device on their reunion type trailers..you might try calling them..best of luck.jeff

Thank you guys for your various replies, I had a layover day today so i used the time to try and follow up on some of your suggestions. I didn't have any luck with the mini air ride angle, the one aftermarket company I talked with said there just isn't any helping a Pete quadraflex. I did find a company that makes a scale for spring ride tandems, and the fellow seemed very helpful. The cost is a good bit higher than a system designed for air suspensions, so I guess it's still going to come down to choosing to sell this truck and get one better suited to the job, or spending a bunch more to finish what I started. The truck is very light, which is nice, but pretty underpowered for big loads as it has a c12 Cat at 410/1450. It can tote 26T, just not very fast or into a headwind. I think that will become a daily issue with the high side whereas it only bothers me with certain loads on the flatbed. I sure do like the 362 though, it always was just a really good looking truck!

Art,
Thanks for the encouraging words about my truck, I'm still not sure I want to take on all that would need done though so call me if you really think you'd be interested in having it. Tom@785 346 4977 or [email protected]

Thanks Kurt, you and Mike from PA both seem to think it will work so I guess I'll give it a try. My neighbor just sold his corn and will need it hauled from the bins to a nearby ethanol plant. He has a grain cart with a scale in it so we figured we could use it to load my trailer to whatever I calculate based on my empty axle weights. Then I can watch as we load each hopper and see what the gauge reads. The haul will be less than 100 miles, no scales to cross in case it takes a couple of loads to get it right. My big concern with the cabover is that its hard to get close to max weight on the steer without being slid pretty far ahead. With my flat, I leave the 5th wheel at center(30" kingpin) and load 25 tons and will only have 9500-10000 on the steer with that little c12. The overage ends up on the spread, but I will have to be right on 34000 with the closed tandem hopper. On the subject of the engine, I don't know what to think for sure. I haven't had it on a dyno, but CAT has done the latest ecm updates and told me they can't uprate the torque or hp because it's a BRIDGE engine that is in a particular group of engines bound (legally) to 410/1450. It's a 2004, built during the time when CAT was paying penalties to EPA because they couldn't meet emmisions. It's geared right with 3.90's on 11R22.5 tires, but would be alot easier to drive if it had a 13sp instead of the 10sp that's in it. We have a big truck salvage yard right nearby, and a takeout 13sp would probably be money well spent. I grow hay too, and when I'm loaded 8' high with 25 tons of square bales, I80 between Council Bluffs and Des Moines just works it and me to death. Being able to split the high range would help alot there. This should probably be in a whole different post, but does anyone want to comment (from personal experience) on rerating a Bridge engine by any of the other people out there that do it? I did a google search on it but alot of what I read made it sound as though some of these people don't really know what they're doing.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't there a system that goes onto your fifth wheel the measure axle weights? I could have sworn I seen it somewhere for dump operators. Also I commend you for keeping a cab-over alive. I too still run a 73 K-100 with a small cam m-11 and pull a tri axle roll off with it. 3.55 rears and a 13 speed, she pulls like an underpowered top. I used to put new hires in it but stopped and decided to start a frame up resto on it. Truck still works in the meantime though and I love seeing others out there. Keep it alive