Today I redtagged 5 trailer chassis. The bad thing is three were already on property meaning another driver either found them acceptable or more likely didn't know what to look for. It's not like it's hard to see. Anyone can pick it out at a glance.
Left pin retainer Right pin retainer
Not going to retain much bent past a 45* angle. That ziptie will help a whole lot.
This one complies with lazydriver's mgmt letter, right? It was checked, it's in the down position, and it has the all saving ziptie.
Except with the slightest finger pressure upward the improperly applied ziptie allows the retainer to swing up enough that the pin handle will clear and allow the pin to go forward with no trouble. But, it complies.
An example of a proper operating (factory original) retainer on the right side of chassis. Improperly applied ziptie but we can't have everything.
However, on the left side of the same chassis is a POS replacement retainer that is bent so bad it is almost 90* to the main guide bar. That ziptie makes for lovely decoration. Might as well be a bow as it is about as useful.
The underside view of the pin on the good side. Lots of solid steel to keep you safe and a good retainer to make sure it stays there.
The underside view on the bad side. I had to change the angle to get the pin in the picture it was so far back. It's like this because the driver pulled the pin handle back to get the bent retainer to hook over it. He might as well have taken it out entirely and thrown it away.
A side angle of the bad retainer showing how far the pin had to be pulled out to meet the bent retainer.
This one I was supposed to bring back from the railyard. Tough choice here. Latch severely bent retainer over pin handle OR push pin in to where its supposed to be. Redtag.
The RR pin on the same trailer. Those rocket scientists at BNSF loaded the container on top of the locked pin. Fully loaded thats a 70k lb box pushing down on that pin. The container needs to be lifted off completely so the pin can be unlocked and the container put in it's proper place. Believe it or not drivers have driven down the highway with pins like this. Between the front pin and this the container was halfway to falling off.
This looks ok, right? U shaped pin handle meets up with a retainer. Ziptie that puppy up and hit the road. Except..........that retainer is mounted incorrectly. It should be on the opposite side of its mounting point at the bolt. It's position properly mounted would allow several inches of handle to protrude past it for proper securing. As pictured it rests on less than 1/2" of handle. One jiggle and its off.
The other rear retainer on the same trailer. WTF is this toolbox spare parts abortion? In the pic the pin is swiveled into the locked position. Now to secure it to the retainer just drop the slot over the handle. Uh, now wheres that slot?
Here it is! Drops over rather nicely.........sorta. Except to get tab A to meet slot B I had to rotate the pin 90* unlocking it. They don't hold containers down too well that way. What to choose, what to choose.
Saved my favorite for last. Right front retainer on chassis. Bent so bad it broke at upper right. Met someones standards as they put the almighty ziptie on it. Ok for travel as it was found on property.
The left front retainer. Bent so bad that neither side made contact with the pin handle at all. I know, lets put a 1/8" piece of plastic in place to keep the pin in. I was able to reach up from underneath the chassis and push the pin forward unlocking it.
