The Danger of Dropping Loaded Trailers on Asphalt
It’s that time of year again—when the sun tries to convince asphalt to become petroleum again, and a single thunderstorm can turn your favorite drop yard into a sinkhole.
“Well, it seems solid enough,” you thought.
But gravity is insistent, and "solid ground" can be deceiving. The last thing anyone wants to come back to—after a nice meal or a few days of R&R—is a trailer up to its neck in planet Earth.
Let that sink in for a moment.
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What’s The Worst That Could Happen?
Wait—Isn’t This What “Tarmac” Is For?
Funny you mention it.
Tarmac comes from “tar-penetration macadam,” a road surface invented in 1901 by Scottish engineer Edgar Purnell Hooley. He improved on an earlier method by John McAdam (yep, that’s where macadam comes from) by adding tar to bind the crushed stone layers together.
Hence: tar + macadam = tarmac.
It was originally used for roads and later runways, and the name stuck—even though today we mostly use asphalt concrete, a different brew of rock and goo. Sadly, it still shares one fatal flaw:
It melts when it’s hot.
Liquid Oxygen + Asphalt = A Bad Chemistry Experiment
Liquid oxygen (LOX) is a powerful oxidizer with a boiling point of -297°F. It doesn’t just freeze the ground—it saturates it. If LOX leaks or vents onto asphalt, especially if there’s already oil, grease, or fuel residue on the surface, it can create an extremely dangerous situation.
When asphalt (made from petroleum) absorbs LOX, it becomes shock-sensitive. That means:
A small impact—like dropping a tool or stepping hard—can cause a fire or explosion.
Not a flare-up. An instant detonation.
And because asphalt is porous and sometimes oil-contaminated already, it’s a perfect sponge for LOX.
Use the Concrete Strips—They’re There for a Reason
In many asphalt drop yards and dirt lots, you’ll notice narrow concrete runners or slabs where the trailer legs should land. Use them. You definitely don’t want to have to explain to dispatch that you sank your trailer six inches behind the concrete pad provided specifically to keep that from happening.
These runners are designed to handle static weight without warping, denting, or turning into black porridge under your gear. A few extra seconds lining up can save you hours of grief—or a repair bill you don’t want to see.
Safe Drop Checklist
- Pick solid ground – Concrete if possible. Avoid soft shoulders, patchy asphalt, wet dirt, and old tire ruts.
- Chock your wheels – Especially on sloped or uneven ground.
- Use dolly pads.
- Lower landing gear to about an inch or two from the ground.
- Dump the air bags on the trailer to keep the landing gear from binding later.
- Place the wheel chocks and cone.
- Disconnect air lines and pigtail and pull the lockjaw handle.
- Dump the air bags on the tractor.
- Ease out from under it. Watch for lean or shifting.
- Final walk-around – Are the legs stable? Ground dry? Trailer level?
- Dropping for another driver? Leave the CoA for them and don’t forget your tools and fittings.
Dolly Pads: Your Trailer’s Best Friend
I would advise every driver to carry a pair of landing gear pads. A quick google shopping search yields a whole assortment available for purchase. The industrious folks out there could build some with half a Saturday, a length of rope, a pressure treated 2x6, a skil saw, and some decking screws. Even thick plywood beats bare legs on soft ground. Why?
- They spread the weight
- Prevent sinking, binding, and tipping
- Protect asphalt and equipment
- Save your back—and your Monday
If you wouldn’t park a motorcycle on it, don’t drop a loaded trailer there without pads.
Final Thought
Whether you're headed home for the weekend or just grabbing a hot meal, don't let your trailer settle in for a deeper stay than you planned. Use your pads, find solid ground, and treat every drop like someone else's paycheck depends on it—because it just might.
Solid drops save time, gear, and hassle. Sloppy ones? Well... they make stories. The kind you don’t want to have to tell.
Stay sharp, stay safe, happy travels.
