So here's what happened, I've been driving for 15yrs, and I've been driving the same truck for 2yrs, everything was fine,just left company shop 1.5weeks ago, heading to florida,then, te texas, then California, as we are leaving California going up 15 to Barstow for a bite, I pulled into one of those dort lots to turn around and as I'm about to make the turn, going about 2 miles an hour, the trailer disengaged from 5th wheel, needles to say the trailer buried the landing gear, but not too bad, not sure how this happened, before leaving shipper in chino, I double checked everything, it was connected! So then I drive the 80 or so miles to Barstow, up hill all the way with 26k on trailer!! Finally get the truck over to the shop to look at 5th wheel,because I found metal fragments around it upon inspection after it disengaged trailer, shop confirmed metal fragmented up to one inch thick broken off inside 5th wheel!! What!! I never heard of this before what happened? No one has any real answers, my question here is has any one ever even heard of a 5th wheel breaking? I sure haven't and even more so (proof of God), I drive 80 miles up hill with 26k on trailer , why didn't it break then? I'm feeling lucky ,but also thinking of hanging this up, what's your thoughts?
5th wheel disaster averted
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by thelinedriver, Apr 21, 2024.
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We have had 3 of the low profile Holland greaseless 5th wheels fail and drop trailers.
One was found to have been assembled incorrectly after a rebuild and the other 2 I haven't heard from management.
They were sent back to manufacturer for metallurgy testing.
These were the aluminum plates that used a thin Teflon pad in leui of grease.
We have since moved away from the lo pro style but continue to use Holland aluminum.Attached Files:
gentleroger and tscottme Thank this. -
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Knucklehead, silverspur, Magoo1968 and 2 others Thank this.
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Like most things there are maintenance requirements on 5th wheels for the owner.
The manufacturer would likely be liable after the investigation from both parties was finished.
Scary yes I'm sure.
2 of our failures happened on the road but only 1 at around 30mph and 1 around 10.
Both times the rigs had successfully made a prior trip/delivery so there was no way to predict this.
We leave at 80K every trip.Last edited: Apr 21, 2024
silverspur and hope not dumb twucker Thank this. -
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I use this constantly. Before hooking up every trailer I pull, this is applied;
silverspur and flood Thank this. -
Are you sure the wagon wasn't "high hooked"? In all my years, I only "dropped" a wagon once. Out of the tens of thousands of times I pulled the pin, and rehooked, it never happened. The only time it did was with my old Pete, it was like 0 out, and the jaws were sticky. Due to the design of the 5th wheel, I believe, when hooked, unless a catastrophic failure, it can't come loose. Pressure from being pulled probably kept it hooked. We have to remember, we can't have 0 risk, and the gremlins in the machine surface from time to time. If it's any consolation, since it happened to you, the odds are it will never happen again. Great catch, driver!
4wayflashers, Big Road Skateboard, hope not dumb twucker and 1 other person Thank this. -
I'd be leery about pulling a trailer with a fifth wheel that had a bunch of cracks and rust spots like the one in the picture @Dennixx posted.
@thelinedriver I'd ask the shop to see if the jaws are worn or if the locking mechanism is out of adjustment, in additon to findng the source of the metal fragments that you spotted. -
mjd4277, hope not dumb twucker and 201 Thank this.
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Savor the Flavor and thelinedriver Thank this.
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