Fifth wheel lock CLOSES prematurely before hooking up!

Yes replace it!!!

That's an accident waiting to happen.

 

Get a rebuild kit and jump on YouTube. Every manufacturer has a video on how to rebuild. It's very easy

 

I’m not in anyway trying to be a smart ###, or trying to tell you how to do things, but you’re on to something with the trailer shaking before hooking. It could be as simple as that. I’ve blasted under trailers dropped too low and had the fifth wheel jaws clamp before latching the pin. If a trailer is too low dump your air, get under it then lift it up and hook. But if this is not the case, then yea absolutely get that replaced. That’s an accident waiting to happen with the best outcome being that trailer sliding off in the parking lot and not the highway.

 

There is a kit with three springs that go under the plate. I do not remember which one of the three but if it breaks the 5th wheel will do that. Look at other 5th wheels and see if you have all the same springs. It maybe faster to unpin the plate and flip it over for installation.
They are like a screen door spring not a rolled up coil.

 

I repaired two in the last year. About $30 dollars worth of springs. I replaced one with the plate on but got frustrated and flipped the plate over on the second. They may have been different heights?

 

I bought a couple trucks had Fontaine wheels on them. They had 3500 series Hollands on them before they ever left my yard.

 

I have had fontaines on several trucks, and had zero problems with them. I Have one on my truck now, but I need a taller fifth wheel and just bought the new style slider with taller perches off a new pete, so will be getting a new holland to put on it.