5th wheel troubles

Loosen the bolt a couple of turns at a time until you get the 1/4" movement WHEN LATCHED. You won't loose your trailer if you go too far with a Fontaine.

 

Yep, you're doing backwards, you need to be connected to the trailer when you make your adjustment. Like mentioned before, after you make an adjustment you need to disconnect and reconnect again to let the locking mechanisms settle in.

 

mine started out that way,I saw a dropped trailer after 5th wheel failure and just paid the 400 to get it rebuilt

 

yea on your fifth wheel you have to have it closed to adjust. but this does not sound like your problem as your bolt is all the way in and its super tight to unlock. tightening the bolt in loosenes the jaws and loosening the bolt tights the jaws. the fontane uses a double wegde system the second wedge on the back side is what controls the first wegde which is part of the jaw. when you push the wegde in more it pushes the first wedge out and loosens the jaw. when you back it of it allows the first wegde to come out more and close the jaw more....stupid question but when you drop the trailer do you set your trailer brakes and than back under the trailer alittle....this helps take the pressure off the jaws to unlock it easy....maybe try that and adjust it out alittle should be about 1/4 travel on the bolt when latched...also till than you can hit the bolt in to help unlock it.....

 

Zero clearance on the adjustment bolt will hold pressure against the wedge, not allowing it to release.

 

The release handle problem will correct when you adjust the 5th wheel properly.