What hitch setup is this?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by setter12, Jun 21, 2011.

  1. I_HATE_MINIVANS

    I_HATE_MINIVANS Heavy Load Member

    If there are multiple pin sizes they could be a road hazard. If the pin is too small, the jaws will still close and lock behind it, making it pass a "tug test" but without enough positive "tongue weight" the pin could bounce out, especially with an old leaf-spring tractor like ex-Roadway junk. Kind of like if you're pulling a regular hitch-ball type trailer behind a pickup truck and the coupler is designed for a 2" ball but you're using a 1-7/8". I have a 1-7/8" ball on my lawnmower just for moving trailers around the yard when I mow the grass, some of them use 2" balls, but it works around the yard. If I were to use a 1-7/8" ball out on the highway pulling something with a 2" coupler, it would eventually come loose because it would bounce up, even though it would pass a "tug test".

    My advice would be to go to a truck stop and find a dropped trailer that doesn't have a king pin lock on it, crawl under it and measure the diameter of the pin with a tape measure, then compare it to the 5th wheel camper or race car trailer you want to pull with the same kind of truck/5th wheel that you would pull a commercial semi-trailer with.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

    1,594
    683
    Feb 21, 2010
    Rock Creek B.C. Canada
    0
    A standard king pin is 2.00 inches in the groove. a 6 inch vernier works great to measure it.
    To measure to see if you have enough clearance on the set back measure from the center of the hitch jaws, to the outer corner of the truck. If you do not have enough clearance, I would call the trailer Manufacturer and see if they have an adapter to extend the reach, or get a different truck, very few sliders on a truck will travel back past the mid point of the axles.
     
    I_HATE_MINIVANS Thanks this.
  4. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

    3,425
    3,179
    Apr 20, 2011
    Dahlonega, GA
    0
    Correct and Correct, I use a standard king pin lock if I drop my trailer.
     
  5. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

    3,425
    3,179
    Apr 20, 2011
    Dahlonega, GA
    0
    There's no adapter for that, just slide the 5th wheel back, if you can get it centered like mine, you should be fine.
     
  6. setter12

    setter12 Bobtail Member

    13
    0
    Apr 19, 2011
    0
    The measurement from the center of the kingpin to the front of the trailer drop is 74". Sho-tyme, how much clearance is on your trailer?
     
  7. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

    3,425
    3,179
    Apr 20, 2011
    Dahlonega, GA
    0
    Mine is 76" from the kingpin to front of trailer at the kingpin height, so I'm guessing they should be the same. If I turn my tractor, at the closest point, front of trailer to the mud flap hanger is 4 inches. When my tractor is straight to the trailer, there is 23" from the back frame of the tractor to the front of the trailer.

    If you need anything else, let me know.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.