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Problem with kingpin or 5th wheel?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by D389, Apr 29, 2013.

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  1. Apr 29, 2013 #1
    D389

    D389 Light Load Member

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    Mar 24, 2013
    Texas Panhandle
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    I pull an 53' Transcraft Eagle stepdeck and I noticed it started doing this about a month ago...
    [​IMG]

    This picture was taken when it had 500lbs on one side of the top deck, Ive seen it a lot worse.


    Its been to a couple shops and some say its the 5th wheel and some say its the kingpin, but when they inspect the pin they say its good. I pulled a brand new trailer while this one was in the shop for suspension work and the new trailer didn't do this. I'm convinced its in the trailer somewhere if the pin isn't the culprit. What do you think?
     
    D389, Apr 29, 2013
    D389, Apr 29, 2013
    #1
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  3. Apr 29, 2013 #2
    SHC

    SHC Spoiled Rotten Brat O/O

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    Very interesting.... almost looks like a "high-hook" but obviously it's not if you unhook and rehook and it does the same thing. Have they checked the plate the kingpin is welded to? Maybe it is not flat or is warped??
     
    SHC, Apr 29, 2013
    SHC, Apr 29, 2013
    #2
  4. Apr 29, 2013 #3
    dude6710

    dude6710 Road Train Member

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    Get on level ground. The 5th wheel only flexes so far.
     
    dude6710, Apr 29, 2013
    dude6710, Apr 29, 2013
    #3
  5. Apr 29, 2013 #4
    fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    It looks like the plate and maybe some crossmembers are done for. I had a 98 Eagle the shop ended up calling the "rust bucket" after putting a KP, plate, and a lot of structural steel in above it.
     
    fortycalglock, Apr 29, 2013
    fortycalglock, Apr 29, 2013
    #4
  7. Apr 29, 2013 #5
    freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    Mar 4, 2011
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    It sound's like the trailer has a problem. If you can pull another trailer with no gap, and a trailer with a gap, you found the issue. OF course, a straight edge would explain a lot if you put it on the apron of that Transcraft trailer.
     
    freightlinerman, Apr 29, 2013
    freightlinerman, Apr 29, 2013
    #5
  8. Apr 29, 2013 #6
    D389

    D389 Light Load Member

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    Mar 24, 2013
    Texas Panhandle
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    It is, I'm parked on a concrete pad.

    What is the apron? Ill check these thing out in the morning.
     
    D389, Apr 29, 2013
    D389, Apr 29, 2013
    #6
  9. Apr 29, 2013 #7
    boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    The Apron is the flat steel plate that surrounds the area around the Kingpin and what the Kingpin is attached to. It looks to me like the Apron is warped.

    It's definitely not the Fifth Wheel as that is as flat and straight as can be, so it's the trailer.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2013
    boneebone, Apr 29, 2013
    boneebone, Apr 29, 2013
    #7
  10. Apr 30, 2013 #8
    Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Yep, looks like the trailer got warped.
     
    Heavyd, Apr 30, 2013
    Heavyd, Apr 30, 2013
    #8
  11. Apr 30, 2013 #9
    Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

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    Oct 11, 2010
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    something is bent... fifthwheel plate ore trailer frame...
     
    Pablo-UA, Apr 30, 2013
    Pablo-UA, Apr 30, 2013
    #9
  12. Apr 30, 2013 #10
    112racing

    112racing Road Train Member

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    pocono's, pa
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    how old is the trailer? looks like the plate is shot and most likely the cross-members above it are broken / rusted out causing the plate to flex. when i did mine I replaced the 3/16 plate with 3/8 and new kingpin....should be an $800-$1000 dollar repair
     
    112racing, Apr 30, 2013
    112racing, Apr 30, 2013
    #10
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