In-cab 5th wheel release

Some days I can pull as many as 10 different trailers during my shift. With the truck I currently drive I dont have too many issues with the fifth wheel release, but one of the other trucks I drove I would have to back up again into the trailer once I had set the trailer brakes, otherwise I couldnt release it. Used to drive me crazy until I worked out how simple the solution was!

 

Unless your a newbe you should know how to release the pressure against the 5th wheel so that it is not difficult to release, Then the J hook works fine.

But if you get one thats been abused, jamed, or just not serviced correctly that inside release could be a very large benefit. I know christner has them and there driver like them alot. I can imagine N.Dakota everything packed in ice....

But you still may need that old J hook when you least expect it.

 

I have had an in cab 5th wheel release for 2 1/2 years now. I will not work for any company that does not equip them on their trucks. It is not possible to release the 5th wheel while rolling, on my truck the parking brake needs to be set, then you flip a switch and finally you pull a knob out to release the 5th wheel.

 

Are you talking about gordon? I drove for them and it's a knob you pull out, not a switch on the dash... I see no reason for it, you still have to get out and disconnect the hoses and lower the landing gear when dropping...

 

I was always under the impression that they were illegal on road trucks.

 

Yeah, I was gonna say, I don't think I'd want something on my truck that even had the remote possibility of screwing up and letting the trailer go on the roll.

 

Are you sure it's not the switch to release the fifth wheel to slide it forward or back? I have never seen a switch that would release the kingpin.

 

Yea they have been around for a cpl years now, I havent dealt with any but my friend that was driving a day cab freightliner had one in his, he liked it because he did alot of drop and hook

 

I drive an 07 KW T-600. You have to have the parking brake set, a switch on the dashed turned on, and then have to pull out on a knob on the dash. It would take a lot of work to have a trailer come off going down the road.

Mark

 

all of our new tractors have 5th wheel release - (875's and newer)

our shop boys have rivited a shroud over the switch so you wont bump it with a coffee cup or something.