I’ve been building up a small fleet of “big rigs” for my railroad layout. When painted, lettered and weathered they look pretty decent except for that empty space between the back of the cab and the trailer. Has anyone attempted to simulate the air hoses and electrical cables? If so, I’m sure a lot of us would appreciate seeing what you’ve done. Any truck drivers out there, how about a rough sketch of where the hoses and cables are placed, etc.?
For the hoses, how about using some fine black wire. You would have to measure the outside diameter of the coating to get the size you wanted.
For the electrical connection, I think of a coiled wire. The first thing that comes to mind would be a spring from a pen. Also, your local hardware store may have a selection of small springs that would be the right size.
Good luck,
Richard
and if you are modeling the early UPS trailers, be sure to reverse or make the connections “odd ball” so no one else can pull your trailer.
charlie
You’ll have one blue and one red gladhand/hoses. They are substantially smaller than RR gladhands, even smaller than the ones on MU hoses, IIRC.
The last 20 years or so are mostly curly wire electrical cables. However, before that there were lots of straight cords used. These are usually black, but silver and other colors have been used. There will be silver, chrome, of zinc colored plugs on each end.
The connectors are usually plumbed in a small recessed box on the front left side (but this can vary also) of the trailer nose. Hoses/cords typically have springs suspending them from the cab, but exact arrangement varies.
This is all tiny stuff in HO. Sure wouldn’t hold up to a lot of thrashing around.
Don"t forget the pogo stick.
I’m not a truck driver but have logged more than a million miles and repaired them for 39 years. The standard trailer hookup for a dry van or flat bed would be one red line (Emergency, charge line), One blue line (service brakes) and one electrical cord. These air lines can be either coiled or flexible rubber. The electrical cord can also be straight or coiled and the latest are green in color. The red line always is on the left front of the trailer and the blue is either on the right or right next to the red depending on the manufacture of the trailer.
Low bed trailers will have 2 hydraulic hoses to operate the hydraulics on the goose neck. Live floor trailers will also have 2 hydraulic hoses. Dump trailers will have one hydraulic hose and some will have an accessory electric line for the cover to be operated from the cab. Reefer trailers would also be the same as a dry van but may have an optional controller in the cab to monitor the reefer unit.
And the pogo stick is the spring loaded pole that holds the hoses and cables up off the deck so they won’t wear out. http://www.75chromeshop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_59&products_id=2797 The large end has a spring inside to allow it to bend on turns and spring back up.
Pete
I’m a driver, if you need pics shoot me a message and I’ll gladly send pics or help anyway I can
Thank you gor the offer of pics. If you want to send them via e-mail I’m at pcsassoc@windstream.net .
I have mostly dry vans but also have a covered wagon with wooden sides and tarp cover, a gasoline tanker and a two-axle dump body.
What are the approximate diameters of the hose and cables? I was thinking of using 30 AWG electronic wire-wrap wire. It will hold shapes and positions fairly well.
Thanks again.
Chuck
Thanks to all of you - good information. Everytime I look at those trucks I always get drawn to that empty space between the cab and trailer. Drives me nuts.
Chuck
A lot of tractors have headache racks too. Particularly those pulling flat beds. These can be very interesting in filling in that space.
Richard
I model in N scale, and I made headlights on one of my Mack R tractors. I installed a AAA bettery in the trailer and a switch underneath the trailer. I have four wires going to the trailer from the tractor, and every time someone new comes by the layout, they if the electrical wires are functional, and I tell them yes!
The hoses and cable are spprox 3/4" on my truck the brake hoses are black rubber, and the electrical cord is green. They’re braided together. On a tanker (which is what I pull) the connections are basically in the center of the trailer (vertically and horizontally). Here’s my email. Dschroeder83@yahoo.com I’m glad to help anyway I can
None of the tractors at my work have the pogo stick that somebody mentioned, but they do have a small bracket to hang the hoses when the tractor is running light. Some of the dollies for running doubles do have that pogo stick thing. Most tractors have 3 trailer connections and some have 4: red/blue - air hoses, black - electrical, and green - trailer ABS. The color code is usually standard (@ work) but I’ve seen the ABS cable to be yellow sometimes. Sorry I can’t help with hose diameters but they’re probably 1" or 1.5", just a guess.
DOT regulation for trailer connection air transfer is 1/2 inch inside diameter. The coiled plastic hose is about 5/8 inches in diameter. The rubber ones are about 3/4 to 13/16 inch. Electric lines are around 3/4 of an inch. Our dump trailers use 1 inch ID hydraulic lines that are around 1 1/2 inch outside.
I almost forgot about our powder trailers. The tractors that pull them have a hydraulic driven rotary screw air compressor for unloading the fly ash and cement powder. One is mounted on the deck just behind the cab in a box with a large air cleaner on top.We also have a driver that takes his mountain bike and straps it to the deck so he can ride around when getting loaded and unloading.
There could be any number of things mounted in the open spaces such as headache racks, tool boxes, generators for sleeper power instead of idling the main engine, pumps, spare tires, collapsible cranes, and other equipment. Most larger fleets are looking for increased fuel mileage and decreasing the space between tractor cab and trailer. They are either using fairing and flexible panels or buying shorter tractors. Then there are the hard core roadies with the giant houses (sleeper). They will have water tanks for the kitchen and bathroom with shower, heaters and hot water, and I have seen one with a gas fire place.
Pete
Thanks for all the info, folks. Will post some pics when I get a couple of trucks done.
If you do take any pictures, please try to post them here in this thread. I’m sure many of us would be interested.
Thanks
You want pictures? Here you go. Have fun. http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/trucks.htm Vintage to modern and everything in between.
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix//trucks/paul_downing/pd_ws05.jpg Minimum of connections. This is not your standard truck. Good shot with load of info. Notice the half fender, Canadian spread axles, a revolution counter on the center hub, outside the frame air drier and the little ladder frame mounted.
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/trucks/wayne_crane/2012/12-16/img_0133.jpg Headache rack and all the necessary hoses and electrical. Loads of custom work here. Notice the full round fender on the center wheels and full fender mounted to the trailer. The box behind the fuel tank has louvers. This may contain an APU for hydraulic power for the trailer or even a pump or generator for something else.
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/dodge.htm I started my career working on these beasts of burden. When dodge built real trucks.
Look around Hanks site and be kind and sign his guest book.
Pete