Safety and success starts with your pre-trips
How to check your brakes hoses and tubing:
This applies to all air lines – The brake hose to the chamber, the service or supply line from the tractor or the trailer or brake line under your trailer that feeds the brakes on the tandem.
The first thing you do is check for audible leaks or sounds. Any sound indicates a leak and Out Of Service (OOS) order.
Multiple hoses and tubes should be held together with a spacer and not tape – tape implies a repair to the hose which is an OOS item.
All hoses and tubing cannot have any damage that extends through the outer reinforcement ply. If you can see the inner tube it is an OOS, but any cut, slash or pinhole that cuts the outer lining still counts. Just because you can’t see the inner tube doesn’t mean the damage doesn’t go through.
There cannot be any swelling or bulging of the hoses or tubes. This indicates the inner tube is ruptured, compromising the hose the same way if the outer lining was damaged.
Look for any damage by heat, brakes or crimping that will restrict air flow.
Hoses should not be in contact with other parts of the vehicle, especially those that can generate heat.
Make sure the air line that supports the brakes on your sliding tandem are no less than 18 inches off the ground and held up by at least two springs. There should also be no foreign objects hanging from these lines.