Tug test failure

I once dropped one trailer- twice within a few minutes. Turned out to be a faulty 5th wheel. The jaws locked, it passed the tug test- and let go of the kingpin in just a few yards. I checked it visually both times- really good after it dropped the trl the first time, it still happened again. Thankfully it was just in a truckstop parking lot and not a roadway.

 

Some of the 2010 Cascadias had a different fifth wheel that the jaws wouldn't close completely you really had to smack a tralier good to get them to close. Freightliner changed the design of the fifth wheel quickly.

 

just want to add; my last company i worked for were i got this wrecked truck i drove for them, i did this on first day with them, i kid you not, but i have steps i follow when im hooking up to a trl and i make it a point too follow em,just by the book but a few more, like my dad taught me before hooking the air lines hose too trl, lay them on the cat walk, then push the trl brakes and wait a few mins, to blow the crud out,then hook up, when dad told me i went huh , didnt make sence too me , but know i do it ever time i hook up, it and the drivers i seen with them on cat walk and driving that way is just asking for trouble,i do about 5 brake checks , ya that road trainer was get pissy with me i dont care whos in that jump seat, once im in the captain seat, im gonna do it my way , rest of the class just hopped in and go inl ess then 10 mins i took my full 25 mins , i like too double check everything, then we went on the road , i was kinda showing off,he was suppse to have years of exp, but i shifted and more less used the throttle too shift , that raised his eybrows, thats way my dad taught me,old school,he pulled me over in less then a half hour , i said what i fail, no you pass good,

 

Still to this day wether i'm driving one or getting beside a 18 wheeler , they still scare me,, a 18 wheeler is nothen too be taken for granted, here's why, look at how much weight on that 3 inch king pin is to hold up, almost well lets say 43890 pound of new paper rolls 6 feet high x 3 feet around ,@12 rolls , going too a printing press some were, now that's a lot of weight on that little king pin, that's always scared me the most in trucking,that trl rocking back and forth, look in mirror sometimes with a side wind , it will scare you, so i try not too look at the trl that much. like going down donner or something

 

well if you go out on the public road with the switcher then YOU ARE considered a truck driver ...you got a cdl dont you?

 

I saw a WSE truck that had dropped his trailer in the turning lane a couple of days ago. he/she was leaving the truck stop and made it all the way to the traffic light to make the turn on to the ramp and that's where they left it..

but after reading how you hooked to the trailer, that's your issue. You're not supposed to leave a gap between the two fifthwheel plates (the truck and trailer).

If i back under a trailer and don't feel it push down on the back of the truck, i park and crank the landing gear up a little so i know for a fact all of the weight is on the fifth wheel plates, and then finish the back. i back slow with the window down so i can hear the chinch. once i hear that i drag it (if empty) about three feet, if loaded i'll just tug and call it a day.

 

wait yard dog? never mind what i said, ya'll have those air actuated plates.. i donno how those really work, i have it on my prostar and pretty much neva use it.

 

Does your switcher have an air release for the 5th wheel ??
It could be its in the switch or the jaws themselves ...

 

try at set of doubles over donner, rear box empty and just blwong all over the place. pretty #### scary