5th wheel handle on the passenger side?

I've had some safety director's tell me that's the reason they do it.

 

that is interesting when in regards to flatbeds.. because ive always thrown straps toward the passanger side for this very reason... so if 1 gets cut and i have to replace on the side of the road, then im working away from traffic... this isnt always possible if you have a load that easily shifts by not tightening from both sides.... i notice alot of guys run with most of their winches on the driver side, every one of them has told me they do it because its easier and less time consuming... i asked them what would they do if you cut a strap and had to replace it on the side of the road? you are going to be working road side for most of the time, that doesnt scare you?... always a blank stare or the comment of "well, i just dont plan on cutting a strap".. yeah neither do i until it happens.

 

like i said its not possible if you have a load that can shift easily by not alternating.. but palletized stuff like shingles or mulch or any crap like that, where its only getting one strap and they are independent of eachother. alternating does nothing...

it may just save your life one day.

 

Crude Oil and water tankers in the oilfield have them on the left or both sides.

In fact, every one I operated out there had the load valves on the left or rear as well. This would be both vac and gear pumps, crude and water, semi- and straight truck with pup (they called them "double bottoms."

 

Product pumps are mounted on the curb side, keeps the driver from having to walkover the hoses to get to the ladder to check how much remains while he is pumping off a load.

Un-intentionally the ladder is strategically placed to clip that deer you just missed.....

 

Maybe the left or right side has more to do with left and right side drivers wheel and not so much about who’s running you over?

Plus. I think if I was ran over while cranking on the trailer or releasing the pin it’s sorta on me

 

I once heard someone say their company orders trailers with the landing gear handle on the passenger side so their drivers will at least be on that side of the trailer every so often. I don't think I've heard or seen a 5th wheel handle on the "wrong" side. I blame George Bush.

 

I might have remembered YOUR story when I wrote my comment below.