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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.:thumbsup:

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

 

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!

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::clap::bow:

 

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

 

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.

 

duct tape has some new competition ... bungee cords