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

ya spacecowboy thats the mentality of some of the ####### out here these days ...makes me glad i got away from otr and spend most of my time out in the bush away from the low grades that crap in bags , block fuel islands etc etc .

 

ok, I gotta ask - crap in bags?

 

Every time - for the last 20 years. Almost lost one in Canada in -30 weather. The 5th wheel clamped the pin but didn't lock because of the bitter cold. I found out about 10 miles down the road when something told me to stop and check it.

 

Do more then a tug test always look at your jaws. Had a driver make it 80 miles over hard bumps and loose his back box. Especially in cold weather cause grit, sand, and cold grease will keep it from closing all the way. The handle will fool you cause it will be locked in place. I always look cold or hot weather. Not hard to check.

 

Anytime I'm hitched to a trailer, whether it be a tractor trailer or my own pickup and trailer. If it's out of my sight for even a minute I'm checking the connection before I go. It only takes maybe 5 extra seconds to check it.

 

Good reason to have a air release fifth

 

Bad news........... a air release equipped fifth wheel still has a manual release handle to release it manually.

 

When I was otr I checked it on the pre trip and anywhere I was out of the truck. At the docks I probably should have but I just did a tug test and checked the handle.

The one your realy need to watch out for on the road is your tandems.... I've seen that happen and it's ugly.

The only time I've almost dropped a trailer was breaking down joints at 2am in the rain. I dropped my landing gear on the leed trailer hoped in the cab and pulled out without checking the landing gear. I dropped it on my frame because only one side came down. That's why you should always take your time and never just pull out from under, be sure the landing gear will hold.