tool for sliding the rear trailer tandems

[wrongwayTommy]

I was given a tool to try by a fellow driver one day when he saw me having trouble sliding my read trailer tandems.The pins would not let go,so i broke out my hammer.He loaned me a tool I really like.It makes sliding the tandems a breeze for me.I liked it so much I bought one.I reccomend this tool for those trailers whose read tandems are hard to let go and slide.No longer do you need another driver to help.By the way,I am not affiliated with those folks who make this tool in any way,I just love it and use it.

STA-RAT - Semi Tandem Axle Release Assist Tool

[Windwalker]

I used 6 rubber tarp straps. Hook them in the center of the trailer where the handle attaches to the lever that pulls the pins. And, one at a time, hook them near the spring mounting. 6 of them pull far more than any driver can pull by hand. And, from the way that tool gets reset, they pull more than it does as well. Even figured out a way to use them on that damned lever you have to lift up on.

Cost, about $10. Never had a problem once I started using them.

[jkilgore]

When I worked for Millis, they issued all of their drivers one of those STA RAITs. It is pretty awesome for sliding tandems.

[Glad Hand]

Hell, I've been using vice grips with success for years. Pull the lever out as far as it will go. Catch a bite with the vice grips. Rock the truck. Pull the lever out a little further. Catch another bite. Rock the Truck. Continue until the pin unlocks. Works for me.

[Windwalker]

Hell, I've been using vice grips with success for years. Pull the lever out as far as it will go. Catch a bite with the vice grips. Rock the truck. Pull the lever out a little further. Catch another bite. Rock the Truck. Continue until the pin unlocks. Works for me.

I did the "vice-grip" thing too. The rubber bungees worked much faster. Take one bungee and stretch it out in your hands. Then, take six of them and see how far you can stretch them all. Fully stretched (one at a time) under the trailer, they pull far more than any one man can pull. Most of the time, hook them up, get in the truck and jog it, then lock down your handle and slid 'em to where you want them. Never took me more than 5 minutes to get it done.

And, a whole lot cheaper than any of those tools that they come up with.

[worldisnotenough]

I just tried to pull ten bungees to test your theory and I broke them! Do they have to be new? I think these were like twenty years old! But still that means I'm strong though right? Now if only I could get the darn peanut butter jar open!

[Windwalker]

I just tried to pull ten bungees to test your theory and I broke them! Do they have to be new? I think these were like twenty years old! But still that means I'm strong though right? Now if only I could get the darn peanut butter jar open!

[wrongwayTommy]

hay,I like the bungee cord idea and I love the price,too bad I am late...

[Windwalker]

I used them to slide tandems, to hold the fuel nozzle in the tanks so I wouldn't have to worry about a spill, and to keep other things in place when driving, and on occasion, to hold trailer doors open while backing into a dock. Far more useful than a single tool that only has one application.

[wrongwayTommy]

duct tape has some new competition ... bungee cords

[terrylamar]

Hell, I've been using vice grips with success for years. Pull the lever out as far as it will go. Catch a bite with the vice grips. Rock the truck. Pull the lever out a little further. Catch another bite. Rock the Truck. Continue until the pin unlocks. Works for me.

Sounds like this would work. Or, actually, it sounds like a lot of work. If you jog back and forth from your cab to the tandem back to the cab and repeat as needed, how many miles do you get in per day?

Just picking on you!

[Dave_0755]

I have fought those straight bar tandem releases for years.

The ones that have the lever lifts are the best. You just go back there pull up on it and 99% of the time the pins just pop right out and the lever goes all the way up. If they don't release just pull up on the lever go back to the truck and rock it one time gently then go back and it raises....no problem. I've never had 1 ounce of problems out of the lever lift releases.

If I purchase a trailer it will have that type of release on it or I won't be a buyer.

[Windwalker]

I have fought those straight bar tandem releases for years.

The ones that have the lever lifts are the best. You just go back there pull up on it and 99% of the time the pins just pop right out and the lever goes all the way up. If they don't release just pull up on the lever go back to the truck and rock it one time gently then go back and it raises....no problem. I've never had 1 ounce of problems out of the lever lift releases.

If I purchase a trailer it will have that type of release on it or I won't be a buyer.

I'll take that rod that I can attach the bungee cords to any day before I take the lift-bar. I've fought with those lift bars. They get old, they get to be just as bad, and even worse, than the pull-rods. I've already put a 3-ton bottle jack under the lift bar to try to get it to move. Didn't get it to move, but after bending the bar, I took it down to the shop and left it there. After doing that with several trailers over a 4 month period, the shop manager strongly suggested the company never get another one with that type. They have to use a torch to heat the bar and straighten it back out before they can send the trailer out again.

But, try sliding tandems when one of the pins is disconnected from the pull mechanism.

[AsphaltVoyager]

I have fought those straight bar tandem releases for years.

The ones that have the lever lifts are the best. You just go back there pull up on it and 99% of the time the pins just pop right out and the lever goes all the way up. If they don't release just pull up on the lever go back to the truck and rock it one time gently then go back and it raises....no problem. I've never had 1 ounce of problems out of the lever lift releases.

If I purchase a trailer it will have that type of release on it or I won't be a buyer.

Better yet, get the trailers with the hydraulic pin releases. They work a trick, lemme tell ya.

[VPIDarkAngel]

Better yet, get the trailers with the hydraulic pin releases. They work a trick, lemme tell ya.

As do the pneumatic ones. The only catch is, one must have the trailer parking brake engaged in order for that to work. One can't just use the hand valve.

I also use the vise-grips on trailers without the air-release, but I also use a company-issued pin-puller to help pull the handle out on the older trailers. I rarely run into problems with that method.