2011 freight liner Fontaine 5th wheel
When you pull the lever back and slide it over to the “locking” position the lock goes back in about an inch so therefor you can’t hook or unhook to a trailer because or the inch. If you pull the lever all the way it opens 100% so the only way to hook and unhook is by having vice grips . What’s causing this ?
Fontaine 5th Wheel
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Brandon0928, May 14, 2022.
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Another Canadian driver and blairandgretchen Thank this.
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Are these rebuildable or have adjustment?
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Attached Files:
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Probably time to junk it and get a different brand. Like a Holland FW35 for example.
These Fontaine’s are overly complex, require a lot of babysitting and must be clean.
No grease allowed in the jaws. Just oil.
If the jaws are giving trouble, the linkages and other parts are probably loose.
We’ve rebuilt the fifth wheel once already but still have issues.
I’ve had to deal with trailers not being able to hook, refuse to unhook, or have dropped trailers because I miss ONE check to be sure the jaws are locked.Another Canadian driver, Dave_in_AZ and blairandgretchen Thank this. -
Probably the one single piece of a truck you don’t want to risk repairs and rebuild.
I just slammed a new one on the other year - don’t need a trailer coming loose.Vampire, Another Canadian driver, Oxbow and 3 others Thank this. -
I threw that Fontaine into the scrap yard, haven’t looked back.
Installed a good used Holland plate and slide off of one of our trucks that was rolled and been problem free since.
Also, to buy a new Holland plate, is only a little more money than the rebuild kit.
Just buy a new plate.
In Canadian dollars: $500 for a rebuild kit, $900 for a complete new Holland plate, or $2,000 for the entire plate and slide system.
Fontaine is $1,500 for the plate alone.Vampire, Another Canadian driver, Oxbow and 4 others Thank this. -
May be something as simple as a spring that holds the latch or handle in full open position has broken. You need to get a parts diagram for the model you have to compare and see if anything is missing or wore on yours.
Another Canadian driver, Oxbow, Shawn2130 and 1 other person Thank this. -
I wouldn't even bother messing with it. An FW35 shouldn't be more than about 1500 installed. You'll have piece of mind and a better fifth wheel.
Vampire, Another Canadian driver, Oxbow and 2 others Thank this. -
Sounds like I’ll just be getting a new fifth wheel. Thanks fellas
Vampire, Shawn2130, ProfessionalNoticer and 2 others Thank this. -
It was replaced twice under warranty.
Edit: Because dropped trailers twice. Added for context.
The second time the replacement was an Ultra NT.
The first version was known to drop trailers on a whim.
They got a major recall. Horrible product.Last edited: May 14, 2022
Brandon0928, AModelCat, ProfessionalNoticer and 1 other person Thank this.
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