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Gladhand ?
- Thread starter Nac
- Start date
Dusty Roads
Active Member
Can you elaborate? :idontgetit
RonG
Charter Member
If nothing else they are simple and low maintainance to say nothing about the trouble it would be to change all the existing setups to the quick disconnects in use today.Those things are a hassle to use when there is pressure on them and do not deal with contamination well either.Gladhands are simple and cheap and pretty much universal,they are used on air compressors for the same reason.Ron G
tonka
Senior Member
they do just bigger and better quality... lots of guys use them on there own truck and trailers.... but when your pulling a company trailer they use gladhands because they are cheap and everyone uses them....
BTW most chrome shops have the quick conects in stock... as does most pete dealers.
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RocksnRoses
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2008
- Messages
- 770
- Location
- South Australia
- Occupation
- Owner operater crushing & contracting business
We changed to Glad Hands years ago and were the only ones using them for quite a long time, because the trailer industry kept using the conventional fittings. The reason we changed was because of the type of work we do, both on road and off road, on our truck and pig trailer, the dirt would get in between the sleeves and balls on the connectors and lock them up. We have enough trouble even now with the hydraulic couplers, but the Glad Hands eliminated those problems.
RnR.
RnR.
OneWelder
Senior Member
Years ago several Co. tried it around here, - eventually they found out they had to carry a tool box to hitch up.
Propane torch to thaw sleeve during winter months, penetrating oil and hammer for rust ,dirt, and frustration
But I still see them once in a while
Propane torch to thaw sleeve during winter months, penetrating oil and hammer for rust ,dirt, and frustration
But I still see them once in a while
digger242j
Administrator
When I read the post, I thought of the type of coupling used on air tools connected to big compressors, like breakers. They'd seem to make as much sense as gladhands.
This kind:
Pic copied from : http://www.crowdersupply.com/assets/files/docs/air_king.pdf
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tonka
Senior Member
i think that the air lines would come unlocked when making turns and such...
LonestarCobra
Well-Known Member
We use the quick disconnect style like on an impact wrench on our floats and folding neck trailers. The only reason we use them is so they can be recessed into the trailer, and they dont have any chance of getting broken while winching the trailer on or off. We also carry a set of adapters so we can pull the glad hand trailers also if needed. Our rig up trucks have them recessed into the tailboard and carry the individual air lines that go to the trailer.
mitch504
Senior Member
tonka
Senior Member
Also most if not all RGM trailer makers use quick connects, from the gooseneck to the deck of the trailer.
A note of caution. A regular quick disconnect, like is used on an air tool is illegal according to one Cal Dot DOT inspector. My buddy got cited for using the regular kind. The ones that are legal have the little slot in the outer sleeve that has to align with the little "***" sticking up from the body of the female coupler. Just passing on what I was told.
oversize
Well-Known Member
RonG
Charter Member
One of the problems with those quick disconnects that I have run into is the different configurations that exist that are exclusive to the style that you choose to use.
I have made up adapters that allow me to change styles to accomodate my air chucks etc because you never know what style the next guy is going to be using.There were three different configurations in use when I was active in the trade,I don't know if any one style predominates today or if there are more styles today than there used to be.Ron G
I have made up adapters that allow me to change styles to accomodate my air chucks etc because you never know what style the next guy is going to be using.There were three different configurations in use when I was active in the trade,I don't know if any one style predominates today or if there are more styles today than there used to be.Ron G
Tiny
Senior Member
Our 100 ton trailer has some of the quick connect on it,Summer not too bad just lube the daylights out of them . But winter is a real pain for the same reason OneWelder gave . Frozen fitting are a bear to deal with.Have used logbook sheets to get a fire rolling to thaw the things out .
I hooked up my 25 ton Tagalong to my single axle the other day and it was a bit pain to get the gladhands on I never use the single axle to pull a trailer so the rubber washers where a bit dry. I was thinking that large dia quick couplers would be eaiser. I have a air compressor mounted on my service truck uncovered year round and i never have problem hooking up tools to it,
RocksnRoses
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2008
- Messages
- 770
- Location
- South Australia
- Occupation
- Owner operater crushing & contracting business
We use a Lanolin based aerosol spray (similar to WD40) and I find an occasional quick spray of the rubbers and the back of glad hand where they slide together, makes it easy to couple them up. The lanolin doesn't react with the rubber. The normal couplings are fine if they are away from contamination, used regularly and kept lubricated, but in our situation they run low to the road in all the dust and mud which locks them up.
RnR.
RonG
Charter Member
I always spit on the rubbers before connecting them.I was told to do that at a very early age.I seldom had a problem.If you don't drain your air tanks they won't dry out.LOL.Ron G
