Do *you* check your fifth wheel pin before pulling out?

Dibs on the sloppy seconds.

As for the thread, I agree with 12345 that just a tug test is not enough. At the very least bend down and make sure you arent high hooked and that the handle is in all the way....But really you should get under with a flashlight and look to make sure the jaws are latched properly.

But when you look around a truck stop and see that most drivers anymore are 300 lbs on a good day and have to be herded through the TA buffet with a cattle prod you realize why people drop trailers, because they are ******* lazy!

 

When I first put the truck under the trailer, If it did not lift, I would get out and lower the trailer, put on the glad hands and light cord, then couple up. When doing the walk around I would look at the fifth wheel to be sure it was positioned properly.
When I was going to leave after being parked on the road, I was taught to back up first then a tug test.
Worked for me, and at that time, having some jerk pull the latch, was not unusual.

 

One time I didn't check the pin. P/u trlr in tonawanda,ny tire factor goodyr or one of them butt I drove too the toll booths on I-90 there west of buffalo,ny an was coming around the curves there before the toll booth going westbound an applied the break an then boom sound like a flippin howitzer cannon forgot. 2 check the handle for the tandems an they had slid all the way back an hit.
I thought 4 sure I had hit something a bridge a car or killed somebody or something scared the #### outta me.
Now I do like you said if it don't lift the trlr up I get out pull the handle pull up a little hook the lines an go raise the landing gear lo side then hi side once the weight is free check the tandems then get back in hook it get check it visually an check airpressure on the trlr tires I know it a pain butt I do ain't had a tire blow out yet so it must bee workn.

 

Bad news harvey I am one of 300 lb. Ers. Butt ever since my tonawanda,ny inccedent I am very serious about dropping an pickin up trlr. An no iam not worried about the weightcuz govt will fix that one soon rite for me 2 that's the next bigg one on there radar cuz govt is after us fatties I can imagine what they have instore for us.

 

Its a shame this question even needs to be asked. A visual check should be made every time you hook up, or have been out of sight of the truck. I am far from perfect, but this one preventable that I will not allow to happen.

 

After connecting to a trailer, yes, always.
After a pre-trip inspection where I've already looked at the 5th wheel pin, I'll start to pull out then yank on the trailer spike just to double check.

Better safe than ... that guy.

 

I also check visually. I get under and look at the latch and the whole assembly. Twice a day at least.

Lets be honest, Ive seen thousands of truckers just wake up and take off without even a simple pre-trip, let alone a thorough PT. lol

 

I jus had one incident with tandmens not beeing locked that situation was in my 1 st. 2 months driving an when I p/u tht trlr up I had 2 spend bout 15 minutes raising the landing gear cuz some a hole droppd it with them way up an it had over 44,000 lbs. In the box so when I tried too p/u trlr it was up on the fifth wheel then it slid off I never check the tandems so I juss started too raise the landing gear its alotta work with that much lbs. In it even on the low side so by the time I was done I was beat. An the lbs. Keep the tandems in place

 

Tht is onething my 1st. Trainer taught me an on that trip I was with my 2nd. Trainer an after raising up a fully loaded trlr yes I forgot too the pull the jonny bar like each trlr I p/u or when I start everyday

 

The reason u hear the pig on the cb is the same u hear the cb ramboo they can talk #### an knot have 2 deal with the pain