Re: [A/S] towing with a big rig

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxx>]

Could have been a Freightliner I saw. Was a big 5W behind it.

The problem I see with a conventional semi-tractor is lack of weight on
the driving wheels. The typical RV or 5th wheel isn't designed to put
half the trailer load on them, but that's the case with the semi
trailer. So in hard braking the semi-tractor would tend to spin because
of low weight on the back tires and that's not fun. It would need the
box with a ton of concrete or other traveling stuff to start to be
balanced and safely driveable under the light load conditions any RV
would give it.

The little semi tractor that I saw, was built with more weight on the
rear axle, the front axle more out in front of the engine compartment
and with lots of cab back in the middle of the frame to put some weight
on the rear axle for better stability.

Gerald J.