When to say when?

If you keep running it like that and it doesn’t fail you’ll be replacing the top plate and the trailer king pin. Every time the jaws slam into the kingpin when you take off it’s causing wear on both parts. Probably cheaper to replace the 5th wheel top plate now. Replacing the whole thing isn’t much more than trying to rebuild what you have.

 

Top plate is cheap, and at most even if pins are seized few hour job at max. Did my last 1 in under 2 hours by myself. Including clean up time.

 

Replace it now and all your worries go away.
Very simple.

 

Well, don't panic, the shop is just padding their arse, for a 2019 truck, even with a million miles, seems a bit early for a 5th wheel. I know, it seems like a lot of movement there, but it's only maybe 1/2 inch, just feels bad. I drove Macks with 5th wheels so worn, at a stop, I had to pull the Johnny bar, and let the clutch out to take up the slack. I drove that truck like that for a couple years. If you are that concerned, lots of wrecked trucks sitting with perfectly good 5th wheels. 2 side pins, and voila.

 

Get a 2nd opinion. If the 2nd opinion confirms the need for the part replace it that day. Can you imagine sitting in court after a trailer leaves the truck and kills someone. "I thought I could drive a few more days/weeks with that known problem."

 

Takeyour time, whats the worst that could happen, failure going down the road, maybe dropping a trailer, killing a family, yeah, no rush, take your time. Same with your brakes, wait for the sparks and the squeal....

 

Yes. And like I said before any play wears on the other components, like the king pin. Probably not a big deal if you drop and hook, but 5th wheel play with a dedicated trailer will mean eventually replacing the pin too. A new top plate is less than $2k, not much more than a rebuild kit and labor.