Transporter 2 Condo Unit

[mwilson]

Here are two Coronado Mid-Roof Condos hooked back to back with a beam hitch. These just came in from Laredo, TX.



Notice the front drive on the towed unit has the axles pulled, I asked the driver when that changed as they used to chain them up.

He said that too much weight was being transferred to the steer axle of the towed unit so they drop the forward axle while underway.

I took a few pictures of the air lift device they created to lift the axle during turns and also when approaching toll booths.

It is plumbed to the Red Trailer Park Button in the forward truck, all he does is push the red button in and the axle will lift.



Pretty clever, I say... .....



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

A couple more..... also notice the boards clamped to the fairings on the towed unit so that the wind won't damage them. Also are wired together.

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

Why did they tow the tractor backward with much of the weight on the steer axle instead of forward with weight on the drive axles?

I like the headlight look on the FL conventional.

 

[mwilson]

The high sleepers can't be saddled to the fifth wheel and towed facing forward like the 4 truck hitch I posted last week, the bunks are too tall to clear underpasses and such lifted that high.



There is a new style of hitch that will allow a high bunk to be towed forward, we have a 50 truck order due in and they should be using the new style. Those will arrive as 3 truck hitches, 2 forward and one backward.



I will get pictures when those start showing up.



I have warmed up to the looks of the Coronado Trucks as well, it has grown on me.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

I see. I didn't think of the already high roofs on those big standup sleepers. They must approach maximum height for the highway system when all ten wheels are on the ground.

 

[mwilson]

As luck would have it a 3 truck unit was just rolling in as we were leaving.



Couple of quick shots that we grabbed on the way by. .



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Your dealership must have a hell of a flooring account!

How many of those tractors do you sell each year?

 

[mwilson]

These 3 Blue Cascadias are sold units for us, I think.



The two Coronados are bound for Canada, they are just breaking them down here as they cannot enter New Brunswick saddled up. The transporter will drive one up tonight, then has to get back to our facility to get the second one and drive that one up.



I am not sure how many units we sell a year, I will ask.

We have Western Star inventory in Westbrook in additon to the Freightliners, it will probably surprise me... ... ...



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

I noticed they pull the muffler tips off, probably for clearance but what do they do about the airflow turning the turbo? Do they plug the exhaust or stuff a rag or something in the turbo inlet to keep it from turning? When I hauled a D-6 Cat with the short straight stack I would put a can over it.



Nick

 

[mwilson]

I noticed they pull the muffler tips off, probably for clearance but what do they do about the airflow turning the turbo? Do they plug the exhaust or stuff a rag or something in the turbo inlet to keep it from turning? When I hauled a D-6 Cat with the short straight stack I would put a can over it.



Nick

I don't think that is an issue on trucks anymore, so much crap between the exhaust outlet and the turbo such as the SCR, DPF and the mufflers.



I know what you are referring to as we were always careful to plug exhausts on dozers and skidders as those were prone to turbo destruction if not plugged.

John Deere 440,540 and 640 models were famous for it as the forestry exhaust terminated on the top of the operators cage so if it were loaded facing the rear you would trash the turbo if you did not plug the exhaust.



Saw that very thing happen a couple times.....



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I noticed they pull the muffler tips off, probably for clearance but what do they do about the airflow turning the turbo? Do they plug the exhaust or stuff a rag or something in the turbo inlet to keep it from turning? When I hauled a D-6 Cat with the short straight stack I would put a can over it.



Nick

Nick,



Of all the towed/decked trucks, both medium and heavy duty, our dealership received over the years I was there, I don't remember the exhaust stacks ever being plugged while in transit.



Our Ag division delivery truck drivers didn't cover the exhaust stacks on big turbocharged diesel farm tractors either and I don't recall ever having a problem with the turbos as a result.



Bill

 

[mwilson]

Another thing that I have noticed is more and more trucks are coming without an exhaust stack period. The last several Penske and Ryder trucks that have landed here are like that.

But there is no smoke anymore so as long as you are not in the dust an underslung exhaust saves weight and expense.



Mike.

 

[rbattelle]

lift the axle during turns and also when approaching toll booths.

Why toll booths?



-Ryan

 

[mwilson]

Why toll booths?



-Ryan

They charge only for wheels touching the ground, if the axle is lifted it doesn't count.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Do they charge for wheels or axles? Toll boths charge motorcycles as two axles and I pay the same as cars or pickups.

I've recently obtained EZ Pass and Okie Turnpike transponders for all the toll booths I'm going to transit on my upcoming ride from west TX to New England and down the eastern seaboard. I'll pay car rates.

 

[rbattelle]

They charge only for wheels touching the ground, if the axle is lifted it doesn't count.

I thought that might be the case, but then thought there's no way the DOT wouldn't catch on and start charging regardless the number of axles on the ground.



-Ryan

 

[HBarlow]

Toll takers at the booths probably don't pay attention assuming that is just the way they are transported and state troopers who see them wheels down later down the road won't know they lifted the axle for the booths.

Its a clever idea imo.

 

[mwilson]

Do they charge for wheels or axles? Toll boths charge motorcycles as two axles and I pay the same as cars or pickups.



I've recently obtained EZ Pass and Okie Turnpike transponders for all the toll booths I'm going to transit on my upcoming ride from west TX to New England and down the eastern seaboard. I'll pay car rates.

Sorry Harvey, axle would have the correct term to use.....



I checked the EZ Pass site for Maine and you are right, you will get clocked the same fee as a car.



At least with the EZ Pass on board you won't have to stop, dig change out of your pocket, drop the change, etc...



I was going to ask if you had considered getting one for all of these East Coast Tolls, glad to see that you purchased one.



I bought one for my personal vehicles, you move the transponder from vehicle to vehicle when it for a personal account.



I love it plus I get a toll discount on Maine highways but not in other states.



The 65 mph tollbooth in Hampton, NH on I-95 for users with EZ-Pass just plain rocks, Maine is considering the same setup in Kittery for starters.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

I thought that might be the case, but then thought there's no way the DOT wouldn't catch on and start charging regardless the number of axles on the ground.



-Ryan

EZ Pass has kind of slowed down the lift axle thing, as there is no savings by lifting the axles with the electronic system.



Back in the day the trucks with tri-axle trailers were rigged up so the forward and rear axle would lift when empty, the center axle carried the trailer.

Cut the toll charges from 6 axles to 4 axles when empty.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

Yeah, I've had enough experience with toll booths on a motorcycle to know its a pain. It's worse when wearing heavy cold weather riding jacket and heavy gloves. The rider has to stop, perhaps several times as he moves up behind a line of cars or trucks, then eventually stop in the booth, shift into neutral, put the kick stand down and stand up, remove gloves, unzip jacket, pull out wallet or change, pay, take change and ticket, put away wallet and change, zip up jacket, pull gloves on again, sit and lift the kick stand, shift into gear and launch, all with a line of impatient car drivers waiting behind you and often with a cold wind blowing through the booth. There is often a slick road surface in the booth due to oil and grease dropping to make it hazardous to a rider also.

I'm looking forward to using the EZ Pass and Okie TP Pass on this upcoming trip.