Pigtail tools
Posted by Ajax_Stormwing@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 38 comments
I have a trainee who doesn't have a lot of upper body strength, and she's short. End result is that the electrical plug gets stuck in the trailer half the time. In most other respects, she's fine, (and as a trainer, I'm working on any deficiencies I find) but we do almost all drop and hook, so that's gonna be a difficult prospect to get past. I'd hate for her to fail just because she can't pull the cord off the trailer. Does anyone know of any tools that could help with this?
supajaboy@reddit
Put her in flatbed, have her lift some tarps and crank some wenches for a month.
JimBobPaul@reddit
I do flatbed, and I've yet to have the opportunity to crank any wenches. Where can I find these wonderful wenches that need cranking?
Just fucking with you.
supajaboy@reddit
Lol I forgot wench is one of those medieval names for women hahaha. I been cranking the wrong wenches it seems
D-Ray1469@reddit
Update with wench location please. Lol
oasuke@reddit
can she not get on top of the catwalk and then pull it?
Ajax_Stormwing@reddit (OP)
Sadly, no. I don't have a catwalk. Beyond that, the trailers have their plugs offset to the side. Aside from Volvos, I don't think anyone has a wide enough catwalk.
Ur_Fav_Step-Redditor@reddit
I’m in a freightshaker and we have a catwalk. I know international does. Hell, i dont think I’ve seen a highway truck without one!
Can she not stand on the frame to get to it?
If not, I’d say go to your local college and pay an engineering student $50 to draw something up then get on Etsy or Fiver and get someone to 3D print it. Or your local metalworker or someone crafty.
Ajax_Stormwing@reddit (OP)
I specifically don't have a catwalk because I have a 4-pack of batteries, with a top-side lid on the box, wired in with the forward set of batteries behind the driver's stairs. It helps drive the off-duty climate control for longer periods before the Opt-Idle kicks in to recharge it.
Nice-position-6969@reddit
Put dielectric grease on the outside of the wire connector before putting it in the next trailer.
Mistermeena@reddit
I squirt a bit of penetrant in there if they're stiff
overpaidlazytrucker@reddit
Replace your pigtail it shouldn't take a lot of force to install or remove one.
Ajax_Stormwing@reddit (OP)
It's the trailers. Some sockets are new and tighter than a nun's nasty (thank Chris Boden for that line), others are more wallered-out than the proverbial "your mom" is.
Mistermeena@reddit
In Australia that expression is: tighter than a nuns cunt
The first time I ever heard that was my fucking high school shop teacher haha
Buster_335@reddit
Love that man lol
Feisty-Season-5305@reddit
Leverage tool. cheap simple and efficient
JimBobPaul@reddit
Maybe lightly sand the pigtail. Just enough to smooth it out. Then a touch of oil. It'll make a big difference.
OrganizationNo6167@reddit
Just disconnect airlines lower landing gear and maybe tape the electrical plug lid up and drive out
JimBobPaul@reddit
No
bigfrappe@reddit
Get some super lube dielectric grease. Locally it's about $10 for a lifetime supply. Slather on the dingus end and it helps with insertion and removal. Bonus points for getting the company to buy it.
ashaggyone@reddit
No catwalk or side steps? Cheap tractor buy. There are catwalks that require no tools for installation and removal. Step stools are cheap, too. I'd be pissed if i didn't have a catwalk. Even if it is just drop and hook, a trainer should be teaching how to stow load bars in a rack. Not every load forever will be drop and hook.
Ajax_Stormwing@reddit (OP)
We don't have load bar racks, either. It's all straps. If you want a load bar, you carry it inside the cab. The reason we don't have a catwalk (or steps) on my tractor is because we have an off-duty air conditioner, and as part of the installation, there's a battery box in the frame rails, where the catwalk would be.
Caveman23r@reddit
Wiggle it side to side seems to be my go to when they are hard to pull out
kyson1@reddit
A step stool is the only advice I can give, besides adding some lube to the situation. Most of the other advice here is going to end up breaking stuff. A hammer has no place in the connecting and disconnecting of the air lines and light cord.
tvieno@reddit
A small 16 oz rubber mallet. Use it to tap the plug in. Then use it as a lever to pull the plug out.
I would advise against using a metal hammer because those aluminum plug arms are more likely to break if you hit them too hard, even unintentionally. A rubber mallet is more forgiving.
Kortobowden@reddit
She just having a hard time pulling it out? Could probably bend a piece of metal to work like a hook on each side of the plug(or in the two holes) to get some leverage to pull it out a bit easier.
Jasonunlimited@reddit
This is a weird ass idea but keep a short piece of rope tied around the end of a hammer, wrap/loop/tie the other end around the pigtail plug. Hold plug cover with hand, jerk back on the hammer handle with the other. 🤷
NoMasterpiece2063@reddit
Pretty good idea honestly, slide hammer action
Jasonunlimited@reddit
I’ve rednecked up way too many random things in my day 😆
Scooter-20001@reddit
I hear you brother!
ldlong2832@reddit
Carry a small hammer you should have one for tires anyway.
Bamfurlough@reddit
Then I don't think she's strong enough to be a truck driver. There is certainly a physical component to this job. If you can't do some of the activities then you shouldn't be a truck driver.
interlopenz@reddit
Post a picture of the plug and you'll get a solution; this will be a leverage tool that she carries with her.
firstblush73@reddit
There are removable steps that can be mounted in a different assortment of ways, maybe search for something that would work with semi trucks?
(The ones I have seen go over a tire or hook into a door latch)
ashaggyone@reddit
Yes, for semi tires. Yes, for catwalks. Yes, for rail steps. Collapsible, or foldable to slip under a bunk, in the dog door, or behind an unused seat.
just_me1969@reddit
What is she.....a fucking midget. We gotta driver who's not even 5ft 6in. And he doesn't have any problem.
Ajax_Stormwing@reddit (OP)
Not a midget. She's three inches taller than the legal maximum standard for a midget.
Dindu______Nuffin@reddit
The red and blue lines you can get a handle extension that makes it a lot easier, can't think of ever seeing anything to make the green one any easier. Maybe a step stool so she can get better leverage on it? Or a crowbar would probably work
IronAnt762@reddit
Small ladder, small rubber or better dead blow hammer. Gooseneck or 90deg claw pry bar or hand size pry bar and a 2x4 chunk. WD-40.