How do you hook up to the trailer

hmmm do you do that to the ladies too?

 

It doesn't matter how you hook up to it.... Just hope that you don't jump the king pin!

 

The very first time our instructor demonstrated backing up and coupling he forgot that he dumped the air and backed too far and jumped the kingpin. Snapped off both rear mudflaps when they hit the landing gear.

 

It's Simple, I call this the hook up. There is the King Pin and the Fifth Wheel. Back that thang and grab the King pin. Sometimes you have to hit it hard and fast, I prefer slow and easy. And be sure and have some lube on it so it slides in. Don't forget you got to tug hard on it after your connected. Them video are good info too.

 

Works every time !

 

Hahaha thats great.

 

To add another note;

I drop the frame before I back under the trailer. This is so I don't ram the header board with the 5th wheel. Dont back in all the way though, as you'll end up with a trailer in the sleeper birth. Stop backing when the 1st drive axle goes under the trailer. Get out and check your alignment. If aligned, raise the frame. There should not be a gap between the apron and 5th wheel.

I do this as it beats the alternative, which is having to raise the trailer. If I only had a dollar for every time I picked up a trailer that was dropped to low.

 

all these stories about jumping the kingpin or ramming the header board make me appreciate that back window of my daycab even more

 

I would never had told this story! But thanks for the laugh......