Fiver Pin Separated From Hitch on Interstate
We're both OK, but we were really shaken when our fiver separated from the hitch at 65mph on I-64 near Williamsburg VA Thursday morning. We have more than enough to be thankful and grateful for this y...
Forum Discussion
Semis use both; bar that slides across the kingpin and jaws that wrap around the pin. I've always been a fan of the bar, however one of our mechanics told me that w/ the bar, you never really know if it's fully "seated" into other side of plate (tho release handle may be fully in) VS the jaws, if they are pinched tightly, it's locked".
As for the poster who gave up doing "tug/pull" tests to make sure your hooked, one thing I was taught in semi school is to ALWAYS do a tug test each time you hook up. So, I've done it that way for past 30+ years driving a semi and past 13 years w/ a RV. If you saw my earlier post, I mentioned a semi trailer dropped in the yard, company blamed me for it----HOWEVER I was told too by others, that other drivers had issues w/ very same tractor doing same thing and that the company re-built the 5th wheel a week later. Guess it wasn't my fault afterall, but I was still blamed for the dropped trailer. Likewise, if you ever stop overnight in a Wal-Mart, rest stop, truck stop etc, it's ALWAYS a good idea to back into pin/do a tug test before leaving just in case some prick pulled the release handle w/o your knowledge.
As for the poster who gave up doing "tug/pull" tests to make sure your hooked, one thing I was taught in semi school is to ALWAYS do a tug test each time you hook up. So, I've done it that way for past 30+ years driving a semi and past 13 years w/ a RV. If you saw my earlier post, I mentioned a semi trailer dropped in the yard, company blamed me for it----HOWEVER I was told too by others, that other drivers had issues w/ very same tractor doing same thing and that the company re-built the 5th wheel a week later. Guess it wasn't my fault afterall, but I was still blamed for the dropped trailer. Likewise, if you ever stop overnight in a Wal-Mart, rest stop, truck stop etc, it's ALWAYS a good idea to back into pin/do a tug test before leaving just in case some prick pulled the release handle w/o your knowledge.
