What are the feet in the middle of a semi truck for?
So you were driving by a semi truck the other day when you noticed a pair of small feet hanging from the middle of the rig. They were far off the ground, but ended in flat plates instead of wheels. No, they aren’t some kind of built-in jack for changing tires. They are the “landing gear” to hold up the front end of the trailer when it detaches from the truck.
What is semi truck trailer “landing gear”
Jost International explains, “The landing gear consists of two legs that can support the heavy weight of the trailer.” The assembly, also called “the stabilizers” is very similar to a large jack. One side, called “the driving leg” has a gear box which is usually driven by a large hand crank.
Wouldn’t it take forever to jack up a semi truck trailer? Yes, it’s a long process. But semi truck landing gear has a clever trick. Most models include two gear speeds. So when you pull the crank handle towards you, you engage a slower, torquey gear designed for lifting a loaded trailer. Push the handle in, and you can make better time but cranking gets harder. This is a better gear for an empty trailer and a driver trying to make good time.
What is the purpose of semi truck trailer landing gear?
The purpose of the landing gear on a semi trailer is simple, support the loaded or unloaded trailer without help from the semi truck. The importance of landing gear can’t be understated: This simple device saves countless hours by allowing truckers to drop one trailer and pick up another.
Let’s say a semi truck driver hauls one trailer from New York to a warehouse in Chicago, but arrives at dawn to beat rush hour. Even if the warehouse staff isn’t in yet, the driver doesn’t need to wait. If they’ve already arranged a “back haul” home to New York, they can drop one trailer, grab another one, and be on their way. This might be the difference between getting home to their family for a decent night’s sleep, or not.
The landing gear is a simple pair of jacks. It is one of the simplest components on a big rig. But in many ways, it is one of the most important.
