5th wheel question:

turn it in for scrap, nothing legal about getting rid of junk metal

 

You do know they can be rebuilt, right? Other than being cracked or bent, there's really no reason, IMHO, to scrap one. But, to answer your question: there are no requirements - legally or morally - to render a used 5th wheel inoperable. Like W900KW, said, just haul it to your local scrap yard and sell it by the pound.

 

The vast majority of 5th wheels are rebuilt unless the top plate itself is damaged. All of the parts that "wear out" are replaced in a rebuild.

 

pricing can be cost prohibitive to rebuild. I had a spring break on mine about a month ago. $750 + 1/2 hour labor to replace vs. $350 + 3-4 hours to rebuild. It came out to an extra $150 or so for the new one and get my truck back right away vs. waiting til the next day for a rebuild. I am sporting a new Jost 5th wheel.

 

I bought a new one because it wasn't much more than a rebuild, I got the jost also. Seems to work great i do a lot of drop and hooks all day.

 

I always say to replace. If you want to rebuild because you have the skills and do the work yourself and save some money, that's great. Most guys do not. By the time you pay someone shop rate to rebuild your 5th wheel you are in the ballpark price of a complete new one. Look around, at almost any time someone somewhere has something on sale too! A few things to consider - warranty - if you do the work yourself and something goes wrong, where do you turn? If you do the work yourself and you lose a trailer, you better have a good lawyer. Did you know the top plate and throat of the 5th wheel do wear and cause slop, this is not rebuildable. Replace the entire 5th wheel, full warranty on the whole thing and no worries.

 

I have rebuilt hundreds of them, the hardest part is getting the pins out, then you flip it over to the back of the frame and inspect it if the thought is worn badly replace it if there are cracks replace it if the top is not flat replace it, other than that, a kit for the plate, one for the mounting, and you are good to go. It is not rocket science they even give you instructions with pictures.

 

What kind of 5th wheel is it? Some, like Jost and Simplex, are so simple anyone mechanically inclined can do it with basic tools. Some Hollands require grinding or welding up the lock for proper fit, some Fontain's have a heavy spring that requires a specially tool (most guys make one), so some take a bit more skill to do.

Bent or cracked plates are instant scrap. You also have to check that pin holes aren't worn out and that the plate isn't too thin to rebuild. Most will have some from of wear indicator. Simplex has the word "Simplex" recessed in the plate for instance. Once you clean it up, if you can't read it, it's worn too thin.

As long as the main body is good, there is nothing wrong with a rebuild. As others have said, price out a new one, even though a rebuild is good, it doesn't make sense if it cost close to a new one.