After getting my Class 2 last October I’ve been kept very busy by the agencies and am still enjoying it. Some of you may remember that I asked for a bit of advice regarding me taking redundancy from my full time job (Kimberly Clark) at Barton on Humber. Well I did put in for it but was not offered it so I’m still working there (3 on, 3 off) and driving on my days off.
Anyway my question is regarding the raising and lowering of the rear suspension on rigids. Apart from reversing up to loading bays are there any other reasons to use it?
I saw a dray rigid on the A62 at Marsden last week use it. It’s all up hill and down dale there. The road he was backing into went up a steep hill causing the rear underun bar to ground. He lifted the suspension to clear it. I guess he would make good use of it whilst tipping too. Them barrels get heavy.
It’s also handy to lift it if your reversing over something. It keeps the mud flaps higher and so there is less chance of them catching. (kerbs etc.)
If you go on to do your C&E and do any drawbar work, being able to lift the rear suspension on the prime mover can make it easier to wind the support leg up.
If you do use it, always remember to re-level it as it can make a difference to the handling of the truck and running with the air bags fully inflated won’t do them much good. Also if you only just have enough clearance for a bridge having your suspension raised might be enough to catch it
it will depend on how heavy the load is and where its positioned on vehicle and it’s also good to have all wheels on the ground when the strong winds are about.
It is to do with part loads effectively, cuz it’s all part of the self leveling system…
If you don’t touch owt’, then it raises and lowers by itself, to level out (Sometimes on Motorway slip roads, or hill starts, it starts going up and down by itself trying to level out on the slope… )
The 7.5 tonners I use with air suspension are used to access normal / full size bays, as without it the ramp wouldn’t drop low enuf…
RE: Lowering it to make unloading easier - One rule of thumb tho… If the pallet you are pump-truckin is REALLY heavy (i.e 6ft of milk) then only lower the back a TINY amount to assist it rearwards, OR you’ll find yourself running after it to stop it flying out the back doors at 80mph…
Not that i’ve ever done anything like that of course…
Ragtop:
It is to do with part loads effectively, cuz it’s all part of the self leveling system…
If you don’t touch owt’, then it raises and lowers by itself, to level out (Sometimes on Motorway slip roads, or hill starts, it starts going up and down by itself trying to level out on the slope… )
The 7.5 tonners I use with air suspension are used to access normal / full size bays, as without it the ramp wouldn’t drop low enuf…
RE: Lowering it to make unloading easier - One rule of thumb tho… If the pallet you are pump-truckin is REALLY heavy (i.e 6ft of milk) then only lower the back a TINY amount to assist it rearwards, OR you’ll find yourself running after it to stop it flying out the back doors at 80mph…
Not that i’ve ever done anything like that of course…
Luv
Chrisie…
He He He. I had a spanking new MAN rigid on hire this week and thought “This suspension’s cool - just like the bendys.” Dropped it at the rear to tip them and promptly scrambled a pallett of eggs off the back straight onto the floor ." Apparently they didn’t half pong when they’d thawed out .
tezza:
Anyway my question is regarding the raising and lowering of the rear suspension on rigids. Apart from reversing up to loading bays are there any other reasons to use it?
it makes it much easier for loading livestock if you drop the back end
so I’m still working there (3 on, 3 off) and driving on my days off.
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and it’s also good to have all wheels on the ground when the strong winds are about. 
)
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