5th wheel unlocks by itself.

All of this saying what parts could be broken leave out the fact we don't even know if it was actually hooked up. He never actually looked to see if it is....

Sure make #### sure it's hooked and the jaws locked and then if something happens go waste time at a shop. Could very likely simply be cold and the grease gummed up the works, could be a lot of things.

Most likely thing is simply high hooking it and it not actually engaging though.

 

Said he hooked or backed into it twice. None of us were with him of course. Just have to be there with him to make a 100% assessment. Did he get out and shine a flashlight up in and look at the jaws..i don't know. But a false hook is all anyone can figure. Soo..wore out, springs,broke or missing, bad kingpin? Myself i would look under head for a broken spring, half of it may be hanging yet on its hook hole. Try another trailer see if it changes, then if all else fails to the shop we go. I never get one rebuilt, i get a new one. But thats me. Rebuilds may be fine for others. That is my MO for the last 44years. May be not the best way, but i don't want to see my wagon taking an alternate route in mirror.

 

One thing you can try if it is to much grease in there is squirt a little diesel fuel around the jaws periodiclly and thin the grease out and that has helped me especially in the winter when it gets below zero.

 

Good call on it. Be safe..not sorry.

 

Ironically I just got done from a call at a warehouse. The guy hooked up to a trailer, thought he had a good connection. He did his inspection on the 5th wheel and he even said something didn't look right. He pulled forward anyways, hit a bump, and the whole trailer disconnected. He got cussed out by his safety and his dispatch about why if he felt something was wrong didn't he go get it checked out.

He had to call me in order to raise the trailer up off the ground enough for them to get a yard truck underneath it. He jacked the legs on the trailer all the pieces.

Always ride safe rather than being like this poor bas----.

 

I rarely have to drop my trailer. But any time I have rehooked to it...or any other, I ALWAYS get out put my eyes on the kingpin lock and look for daylight between the 5th wheel and bottom of trailer.

Good one you for trusting your gut that something wasn't right.

 

When I was having problems with it on the 680 Kenworth I had A 25 year veteran fellow company driver who knew his Krap messing with it with a crowbar resetting it.

First time I brought back to the shop it was winter and the head mechanic degreased it and pressure washed off than regreased it.

It worked one time than the next morning it wouldn't lock on even though the release Handel had gone in and it would take a hard tug to get it to break loose.

Brought it back to the shop and the lead mechanic put a Dummy Pin on a plate made for testing on the fifth.

Over and over he couldn't get it too totally lock in. I came back 2 hours later and he said he fixed it.

It worked fine that day.

The next day it took slamming the truck back into the trailer 3 times before it passed the tug test.

I never trusted my connection even though you could see the jaw around the pin.

Now in my Western Star I have never slammed into the trailer pin because I don't think no good can come from that abuse.

I roll the window down and just slowly back up until I hear the handle release and than give it a hard tug test .

In 8 months I have yet to fail a tug test .

 

Did you get out and visually see the jaws fully locked around the kingpen? Only way I trust that it is fully locked.

 

Busted spring? Ice in there? Regardless obviously this is a NO GO. I would get it checked out Before pulling ANY trailer ..Anywhere.