Hooking to a trailer

I do that about 50 times a night lol so I would like to hear about this also.

 

Watch your drives as they start to go under the trailer. Mirrors not perfectly adjusted can throw you off.

 

Back under it straight?

 

I went by amount of tire as it went under. The more even, the more better and straighter it seemed.

 

Many times I haven’t backed perfectly straight and the trailer corrects it. But it’s by inches. I never miss the Kingpin or make the legs move more than maybe a centimeter. Just go in slow and look at both mirrors making sure both wheels are more or less symmetrical under that trailer. A crooked mirror can set you off some.

 

I make sure the 5th wheel plate is set down so it's presenting to the trailer at a angle for it to "Hop up" onto and "CLANK!" the plate horizonal while it goes into the jaws doing what it needs to do to make the final hook.

I don't worry about that trailer too much. As long the jaws shut and she passes the tug test.

 

If it's loaded heavy& you are at too much of an angle it could mess up landing gear.

 

before you fully back under any trailer, line up your tires to the trailer edges. if you're (say) 2 inches off, pull up, straighten out, do it again. repeated incorrect lining up with the trailer will in time, bend the landing gear.