Question:
Sliding tandems and 5th wheels are great, but just how much weight does it transfer each 'hole' that you move?
Trailer: It depends on how far apart the holes are! Usually 3" to 6" apart.
For trailers with 3" spacing, about 250-300 lbs. per hole.
For trailers with 6" spacing, about 500 lbs.
Sliding 5th wheels are usually 250 to 300 lbs. per notch.
***NOTE*** This info is from my personal experience only.

Answer:
Thats an interesting topic. I usually start at 350 pounds per hole on the tandems and 200 on the fifth wheel.
It can change drastically depending on how I'm loaded. Because I do alot of multi stops I can't always load the way I want. If heavier pallets are on the front a different weight moves. If I'm not loaded all the way to the rear of the trailer a different amount of weight is moved. I don't think there is any stead fast rule for weight transfer. So I start with 350 and 200 and adjust from there.
You have to start somewhere, Hoss's formula is pretty good.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
For the tandems, it really does depend on how it's loaded. If the loads far forward, you get a lot less pounds per notch. If the loads right on top of the tandems, one hole can make a big difference.
I also use the 250-350 general rule per hole. Our holes are spaced 6' measured center to center -- with 3 inches steel between each hole. Never heard of holes spaced 3" apart before. Doesn't seem like it would leave room for anything BUT the holes....?
("holes" and "but"s...better quit while I'm ahead)

Answer:
One thing newbies don't get right away:
Sliding your fifth wheel does not change your trailer tandem weight (well, maybe 100lbs...maybe)
The fifth wheel slide only transfers significent weight between your drives and steers.
Example: If your drives are 34,500 but your steers are only 11,500, you can shift that 500lbs to the steers by sliding your fifth wheel forward a notch or two. But it won't change the traler tandem weight since the fifth wheel is still supporting the trailer in the same place - no matter where you slide it on the truck's frame -vs- the trailer tandems, which DO change where they support the trailer when you move them.
Do your first weigh.
It you're close to gross, get your trailer tandems as close to 34,000 as possible first.
Then adjust your fifth-wheel to balance the remaining 46,000 between the drives and steers.
I've found this is the quickest way to determine you "can't make it legal" before returning to the shipper to re-load. Get your tandems right first.
[This message was edited by Shuffler on December 01, 2002 at 18:17.]

Answer:
Our holes are spaced 6' measured center to center -- with 3 inches steel between each hole. Never heard of holes spaced 3" apart before. Doesn't seem like it would leave room for anything BUT the holes....?
That's what I was trying to say. Thanks for clarifying it for me.

Answer:
Each hole on your tandems should move the load around 250 lbs. Fith wheel, around 500 lbs. Of course, again, it depends on how it's loaded. But, the above have worked pretty well for me as a starting point. Remember. If in doubt, SCALE the load. $7.50 is a lot cheaper than an overweight ticket.

Answer:
I don't like the way my trailer rides if I have a larger proportion of the weight on the tandems, rather than evenly spread through those and the drives.
What I do is make a note of the legal maximum length for bridge laws in the states I'll be going through. I weigh it. If the load is unbalanced or overweight, I adjust within the limits I'm allowed. The only time I would put the maximum on the tail end of the trailer would be if the weight of the fuel was a factor. But in that case, the load would likely be near gross anyway.
I've heard that in icy weather, it's better to have more weight on the tandems. I don't know. Maybe someone can address this question. Personally, I've never tried it. I'd rather not screw up based on some hearsay advice. If there is sound reason for doing that, I'd like to see it.
According to Charles Kuralt, "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."
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Answer:
Lightfoot,
I agree. If I'm under gross, I want my tandems to be lighter than the drives if it's loaded so I can do that.
It "bobs" less, and on slick roads, it reduces the chance the rear of the trailer will come round and try to pass the front. Better to leave the trailer tandems light on snow and ice and drag them along, instead of giving them too much weight to break loose back there and try to pass you. That's how I look at it.