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Pushing a button to release trailer?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by ethos, May 22, 2014.

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  1. May 22, 2014 #1
    ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    I'm getting assigned a new truck soon and I got a chance to see it briefly. There is this button on the dash that says push to release kingpin or something to that effect. Now I'm sure it will be explained to me next week but I'm curious now. I was talking to some other drivers in the yard and they had no idea what it was. The fifth wheel has a release handle. Does this button override the handle, does it lock the handle in? There is a warning on the button that say pulling it will result in the trailer becoming uncoupled. Surely you can't just pull a button and drop your trailer on the street. In my 8 years I have never seen one of these things. Can anyone enlighten me?

    The button looks like one of those push to release the suspension air type things. In fact that is what I thought it was a first.
     
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    #1
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  3. May 22, 2014 #2
    TankerYankr

    TankerYankr Medium Load Member

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    Perhaps it is for the fifth wheel slide?
     
    TankerYankr, May 22, 2014
    TankerYankr, May 22, 2014
    #2
  4. May 22, 2014 #3
    mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

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    It is a fifth wheel release. It only works when the parking brakes are applied. It only releases the fifth wheel, it will not lock it in. It comes in handy on snowy days and when everything is all muddy and nasty under there.
     
    mitrucker, May 22, 2014
    mitrucker, May 22, 2014
    #3
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  5. May 22, 2014 #4
    ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    So to be clear, I pull the thing and I don't have to pull the handle? Also do I need to push it back in once I'm uncoupled?
     
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    #4
  7. May 22, 2014 #5
    ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    No, I have had one of those for years, never used it though.
     
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    #5
  8. May 22, 2014 #6
    Feedlebum

    Feedlebum Light Load Member

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    That is nice to have just don't forget to get out and crank down the landing gear!
     
    Feedlebum, May 22, 2014
    Feedlebum, May 22, 2014
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  9. May 22, 2014 #7
    freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    This thread wasn't what I expected. I was expecting "If you have to push a button to release your a steering wheel, then you are a _____________________."

    IS there air going to it? Hook to a trailer, then once your hear the jaws like, pull the brake brake, press the button and see if it releases. Maybe you can release the jaws with the handle OR the button?
     
    freightlinerman, May 22, 2014
    freightlinerman, May 22, 2014
    #7
  10. May 22, 2014 #8
    freightrunner

    freightrunner Heavy Load Member

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    Let me know if it's true so I can buy a heavy duty wrecker.
     
    freightrunner, May 22, 2014
    freightrunner, May 22, 2014
    #8
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  11. May 22, 2014 #9
    ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    I'm not going to pull any freight with it till next week so we will see then.
     
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    ethos, May 22, 2014
    #9
  12. May 22, 2014 #10
    mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

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    What kind of truck is it? Mine was a Prostar. It had the switch you are describing. The parking brakes had to be applied in order for it to work. It does operate on air. When I pressed it there would be a beep that would change tone when the fifth wheel was released. You will have to press and hold the button until the jaws unlock. I didn't use mine very often. Only on the bad weather days.
     
    mitrucker, May 22, 2014
    mitrucker, May 22, 2014
    #10
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