Moving trailer box?

tomstractorsandtoys · Aug 22, 2015

I bought a semi trailer box about 10 years ago for storage of tractor parts. I now need to move it because we are building a new shop. I am concerned that the brakes are now rusted fast from setting. What are my options? Should I just lay underneath and start torching out everything i can reach? I am going to hire someone to move it so I need to deal with this before they get here. How about hooking an air compresser to the lines and seeing what moves? I only need to move it a three hundred feet. Thanks Tom

Bob · Aug 22, 2015

The only brakes that should be engaged are the spring parking brakes.

Are the release bolts/caging bolts present?
Caging air brakes

CJinMI · Aug 22, 2015

Does it have spring (parking) brakes?
If your lucky, & it doesn't. don't do anything-Do not put
air to it ever. If it does it can be dealt with.
If your not familiar with brake chambers let us know
so you will be safe. Spring chambers can be Deadly.

JD Seller · Aug 22, 2015

You can provide air to the brake system to see if the chambers release but I will bet that the shoes are rusted to the drums. I have several storage trailers that are old enough to vote. I just cut the rod coming from the air chamber. Then take a LARGE hammer and hit the slack adjuster towards the chamber. This is the release direction. Then after you get the cam released bang on the shoes themselves to break them loose from the drums. It will now free wheel. Then just block it when you park it.

notjustair · Aug 22, 2015

I was just about to reply the same - you should be able to cage them. I would be careful with them as you are talking about equipment that has been sitting long enough to affect the brake spring integrity. Those things have lots of force behind them when they are caged.

The only thing I have ever had to cage brakes on were school buses. They are continually maintained so I felt better about laying there and doing it.

jimg.allentown · Aug 22, 2015

Depending on the age of the trailer, it may or may not have spring brakes. A look underneath should tell. If the brake chambers are doubled up, it would have spring brakes. If they are just single cans, they do not. If they do not, then the brakes would have released long ago as the air leaked out of the system. Those old brakes relied on a full charge of air to keep the parking brakes applied. If they are spring brakes, they may release when air is applied, but may not if the chambers fail when aired up. Brakes rusting fast to the drums are an age old problem with trucks that have air brakes. The usual remedy is to air it up and use a BIG hammer to smack the shoes loose. Unless one or more of the brake chambers fails, it should not be a major problem to move it.

john in la · Aug 22, 2015

As said if it is the old style single can brakes they released long ago when all the air leaked out.

If it is the newer style double can spring brakes your best bet is to cage them as the pancakes are most likely rotten and will not hold air.
You can try applying air to the emergency air line (red glad hand nearest driver side) and see if they hold air.
If after caging or applying air the brake shoes are rusted just whack them with a maul to try and free them up.
If you do not have the cage bolts and it will not hold air your only other option is to do like JD said and cut the rod between the slack adjuster and the can.

caterpillar guy · Aug 23, 2015

If he just takes the bolts loose that hold the can he can also drive the slack adjuster to release the shoes. Then the rod would be usable if he wanted. Then no danger of the can coming apart. If the drum rings they are already free. If it sounds like a pumpkin then they are stuck.

Moving trailer box?

tomstractorsandtoys

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Bob

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CJinMI

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JD Seller

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notjustair

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jimg.allentown

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john in la

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caterpillar guy

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