Can't get truck to uncouple from trailer......

I know it sounds dumb but make sure if its a cascadia that you push that stupid little red lock up before you pull. Saw a guy in our yard the other day bangin and pullin and all he had to do was push the safety lock out of the way and it pulled right out. He was a experienced driver just had a new truck and didnt know it very well yet.

 

Does it have a Holland 5th wheel??

 

If this is an older truck, your locking jaws in the fifth wheel may be shot..... the adjustment totally used up. If so, you may well wind up having to torch the jaws off just to get off the trailer. Of course, this will need the whole wheel replaced.

Believe it or not, I had this experience when I bought an old Western Star. The "dealer" actually had chopped the end of the adjuster bolt off and rethreaded it so it looked to be still in good shape.

 

Make sure you are sitting on flat ground and not in a crater. Put backwards pressure on the cab.

If the fifth wheel is damaged like a bent rod or lever, find you something to give you leverage to pull or pry the handle.

Worst case scenario, let the shop worry about it!

 

In case you don't know how to determine that, just listen for the silly accent!

Mikeeee

 

Set your trailer brakes and release the tractor brakes and back into the trailer just just a bit to release the pressure

 

I went through something like this last spring with USA Truck. I was in a Prostar and trying to do a drop and hook in tenn. I pulled and yanked on that dang handle till I almost pulled my shoulder out of joint. I finally gave up and called breakdown, they sent a mech out who finally got it to release. I could not get the company to replace that 5th wheel, and I had problems with it till I exchanged trucks.

 

Had same issue in a 2011 volvo. Asked Ryder to show me what i might be missing. Mechanic spent better part of a hour trying to release it finally held it out while I pulled foward, and it locked open he inspected it, nothing bent or broke, no reason it didn't lock. So i bought some channel locks when i pulled pin i clamped them on pull rod to unhook.