Play in trailer kingpin, how much is OK?

Or you could just grease the back half of the 5th wheel and then when you slide the trailer up your grease will evenly cover the entire 5th wheel.

More than one way to skin a cat.

 

DOT permissible play is 1/2 in. If additional play is found, the vehicle is placed out-of-service.

Just my two cents, but I do believe the fifth wheel is the most neglected component on most trucks.

I am inclined to believe this out of service will go on the driver's CSA score. A future employer may not be impressed.

Last I knew if you go to court and a charge is dropped, the charge still remains on your CSA. Another instance where due process is just too much trouble for governing bodies.

 

Actually just applying to the back half of the plate is not a good idea. Either the back half gets all the grease or it all gets scraped off and nothing gets sufficient grease. Regardless, as long as the front corner of the trailer first makes contact near the front of the 5th wheel plate, is the most important thing, then lower the trailer or raise the tractor.

The key objective is to get ALL the grease channels completely full of grease. Front to back.