Forget to use dolly / landing gear

[tonymcc]

Hi,

Did a search of the forum and didn't find any discussion on this. I'm a new owner of a straight truck and would like some info about the rear landing gear. If a driver forgets to use it, when would there be concern? If near truck capacity was on board and then a 6,000 - 8,000 lb. lift truck, is there damage to the suspension or air ride if the landing gear is forgotton?

Thank you,

Tony

 

[RichM]

Air bags could be damaged. A Lot depends on how fast Evil Knevil drives into the truck.Some of the battery powered fork lifts weigh 12,000 pounds alone. I always check as too how they are going to load the truck,using a p/jack or f/lift. I don't unlock my rear door until I know whats going on,if you have barn doors throw a load lock bar right across at the rear to keep out Evil until you know what he is using.

 

[tonymcc]

Thank you for such a quick response. How would you know if there was damage? If the bed lowers and lifts correctly, all is well?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[RichM]

Sounds like it is OK,Check the bags for air leaks,also if your air compressor is staying on pumping it's a good chance there is a leak back there.

 

[tonymcc]

Thank you. I probably know less about the suspension than about anything. Can these bags be adjusted? Can you raise just one side maybe to balance a slightly uneven load? I'm not even sure where the actual bags are, but I can certainly look closely. I guess I sound like a real novice, but the air suspension is new to me.

Thanks,

Tony

 

[X1_SRH]

Tony,

The air bags are located on the rear suspension at the location where you'd find the rear coil springs on an old hot rod.

If your bags are damaged you may hear them hissing when the truck is turned off. You'll hear the slow leak just like a tire going down.

Hope this helps - Scott

 

[tonymcc]

Thank you Rich and Scott.

Tony

 

[geo]

also watch out for some of dock plates that , you don't punch out your door if you have a roll up door
when i had my truck alway's put up the door and had a load lock across back to keep em out of
when i walk in as they said in other post check the freight out to see how i was going to load it and told them don't go on my truck until it is ready with landing gear down, if i could load it myself with a pallet jacket i did it
as they don't care about your equipment, they told me what do you care it's only company truck, than i would tell em it's my truck
and if they damage my truck had a 2 by 4 with there name on it

 

[bryan]

HI
Yes you can adjust air ride.Take it to a shop and have them show you where the leveler valve is and how to adjust it.Usually you pull a cotter key out of the leveler rod and move the rod up or down till you get the effect your looking for then put the cotter key back in.

 

[Rikk]

Also, besides dammage to the truck. It s a major safty factor. A lift can weigh between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds. I had a situation where a doc jocky drove the lift on the truck before I had the gear all the way down and almost flipped the truck.


Rikk
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