trucker tools?

I have had back trouble in the past and rather than risk it by pulling on the handle myself or with a hook I use a section of heavy wall plumbing pipe.This can be found either at a hardware store or even laying around the house or shop somewhere. Go in from the front, slide it into the loop and through to a point on the 5th wheel ( about where the pivot point is). Grabbing the pipe closest to the cab, simply pull out and down. The extra leverage makes even the toughest 5th wheels a breeze to unlock.

 

I've seen the 5th wheel pullers in just about every Pilot and TA that I've been in. I've had problems with mine also. Last time I went to the KW, I asked them to look at it. Don't know what they adjusted and I may be full of it, but I can swear that it works much more easily now than it did.

 

I bought one of the cheaper aluminum ones, without the back hook. Then I went to the shop and "opened" the hook a little (from a 180 degree turn to about 140 degrees). This way I can run it thru the holes on the back decking to store it. Just an idea.

 

Believe it or not 5th wheel need to be adjusted about every 50,000 miles! Look for the owners manual for the truck or just go on line to whichever make (5th wheel) you have. That is the lease looked after piece of equipment on the truck! It's even recommended to be steam cleaned once a year!