Simple question from a new driver - 5th wheel grease and winter

Lucas is good but if you keep it in the side box during winter it gets pretty thick also.Years ago I used tire snot.It might be hard to get now if you don't fix your own tires.

 

i use the lucas.

i also use the little baggies sold at most TA AND PETROS. throw a couple on. slide under. and lift the suspension.

$2 a bag isn't going to make or break me. and it's better then a dry 5th wheel.

 

Hi scottied, um, I agree on having a grease gun with you, however, if you are using grease to tighten up worn steering parts, you really should find what's worn and have it replaced.

 

I am also in wisconsin and yes grease freezes. I use a VERY Minimal amount. The major cause up here for dropped trailers is grease freezing in the jaw mechanism, not fully locking around the kingpin and drivers in a rush not doing a VISUAL. You Must do a Visual inspection besides a Tug test. Every now and then when fueling up, when your done let the fuel nozzle drip onto the locking mechanism.

 

I must admit that I was one of those drivers that lifted the trailers using the 5th wheel and scraping the grease off. I started paying due dillegence after skating my steer tires on ice while trying to turn into the fuel pumps at the Billings Mt. Flying J. I am glad that I was rolling very slow or I would have taken out a pump. I was embarrassed, and my legs were shaking like hell for a couple minutes afterwards. I went right inside after and bought one of those Lucas 5th wheel red grease packets. I started doing it the right way after that, and kept a little grease in my tool compartment.

 

Hi neal 121, welcome to the starting point of The wonderful world of mechanical mysteries on the open road. I know you received a lot of great answers in this thread and I felt compelled to reply with my first post as a new member. (long time silent troller). Frozen grease {or really hard} unless its the cheapest non refined type would be more likely a combination of ac ouple things. Water and dirt. Since grease has a very good anti emulsification density we can rule out water and grease, but the dirt you are scraping off when you receive your load, now that can and does hold water, snow, road grime. Trucking in Alaska, I have often used a scraper of any sort and cleaned the Receiver off and started fresh, Almost all synthetics thermal duty use far out does working temperatures. (most are at least -32-40f). and even pump through the gun at these extremes. (lithium especially) and conventional black/grey isnt much less quality for operating environments in our northern exposure. Take care and concern when emergency repairs are made in shops. clean your locking mechanism and lube the spring assembly when/if you have that chance. Finally most real truck drivers can always be found to have a grease gun near them whether in hand already or near a point of heat when truck is running.
[OFF subject] Also Wintertip for your air system if not equipped already carry line deicer and start running it directly in your system before the problem, that is of course if your air dryer system is the electric not refillable reservoir style, also clean out that dryer, its full of compressor blow by, oil,condensation and rust scale, dirt. stay out of snow with hot brakes or dont set the service until they below freezing again, always try a reverse nudge when taking off if its safe and you have room as the shoes are seated from a forward rolling pattern and will stick more often when you take off in forward gears seating them even harder. Well good luck bud. Safe Travels. Alaska FBX temp right now -40 (wind) and yes this is unbearable. http://www.weather.com/weather/today/l/Fairbanks+AK+USAK0083:1:US

 

What is this cranking up & down of landing gear that you speak of. Lol
I pop my pin, hoses, pigtail & lower my bags & pull forward.

 

Once again, I come hear to learn what my 35 year old school outaw trucker boss didn't teach me. I learned that grease does in fact freeze. I could not drop my trailer. I coupled to it just fine but the brakes were frozen something fierce. I tried to drop it again to run down the street to get some brake line antifreeze. NO WAY. I could not get the fifth wheel to let go the trailer.

I did once drop a trailer. I did the tug test, pulled up and stopped TWICE in the yard, then when I pulled out onto the street, it came uncoupled and the kingpin hooked on the frame. I pulled it off to the shoulder and recoupled it.

Now, tell me if I am wrong. I thought that if the fifth wheel release handle was all the way back in again, that it was locked.

 

Not always, no. That's why we get underneath the trailer and make sure that the locking mechanism is all the way across the kingpin.