Kingpin worry?

[butkus51_]

My 5er kingpin looks like it is bent backwards approximately 1/8". A bubble balance seems to confirm this. I have a Super Glide hitch in the Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. No problems with hitching at all. By looking from behind my truck, I can see the jaws (clamp) close completely around the kingpin as I back into the 5er. Should I worry at all?

[RollandB]

I'd snap some photos and email the manufacture to see what they say.. This might be a good time to consider upgrading your pin box. This past summer I replaced ny old hitch with a Super Glide and at the same time installed a Morryde Pinbox. A nice change overall.

[mountainsam]

Finding someone to inspect and give a thumbs up will be hard to do as they may be transferring a huge liability onto their shoulders should it fail later. I would say you have a perfectly fine pin, or it has a faulty weld. I see no way you bent it. Good Luck

[valhalla360]

Did you hit it hard or are you aware of someone else hitting it hard?

Also, how did you level it? Is it out of level with the ground (which may bear no relation to the level of the hitch) or level to the pin box?

It wouldn't hurt to have it checked out but unless someone hit it, odds are it came from the factory that way.

[Me_Again]

butkus51! wrote:
My 5er kingpin looks like it is bent backwards approximately 1/8". A bubble balance seems to confirm this. I have a Super Glide hitch in the Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. No problems with hitching at all. By looking from behind my truck, I can see the jaws (clamp) close completely around the kingpin as I back into the 5er. Should I worry at all?

If the trailer is new contact the manufacturer/dealer, they might just send you a new one pinbox. If used find a good welding shop to look at it. Chris

[Class_A_DP_1]

Call the manufacturer and describe to them. They are the only ones interested if the metal fails it's intended use.

[dezl_dr]

Your not going to bend the pin, maybe the pin box where that's its welded to. As for problems you need to make sure it's not moving around and coming loose.
Like others have said it was most likely welded in wrong. I've welded in new ones on a semi and those things are tough. If the jaws are locking the worst you'll have is some uneven wear from the jaws holding it at a small angle.

if it's loose/cracked in the box you'd need a good welder to repair it or a new pin box.

[rtz549]

I know of a place that works on / repairs semi truck trailers. Look up a trailer repair place and have them take a look at it.

https://plus.google.com/100510020129664269966/about

I just wonder if when the pin was originally welded on if the heat warped it and it was made that way?

Take a pic of it with your phone and go to this site to get it uploaded:

http://postimage.org/

[Coach-man]

I used the term "expert" and in quotes as I am at a loss to recomend a person or place to get the pin/pin box inspected. Could be the OP's dealer, but I have never been to his dealer and I do not know what the OP's confidence level in his dealer is, but depending on the circumstance it could be a place to go to. It could be a place tha.t sells and installs hitches, but again I do not know of a particular place to recomend to the OP. To me usually a place of business that acepts money for services rendered, which has been in business for a while with a good reputation would be considered an "expert"!

[laknox]

butkus51! wrote:
My 5er kingpin looks like it is bent backwards approximately 1/8". A bubble balance seems to confirm this. I have a Super Glide hitch in the Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. No problems with hitching at all. By looking from behind my truck, I can see the jaws (clamp) close completely around the kingpin as I back into the 5er. Should I worry at all?

If the lower side of the pin box, where the pin extends through isn't bent or "wrinkled", I might suspect that it might have been built this way and you just now noticed.

Lyle

[mdamerell]

1st: I'd have the trailer inspected for frame damage. To bend a king pin takes a lot of force. I've only seen 1 bent king pin in 19 years on a semi trailer and it was from abuse. Had a recall once for improperly heat treated king pins that had to be inspected for cracks. Point is, it's the same standard pin and a 5er is such a light load. I would suspect (guess) that to bend a pin, you broke something and hence an inspection is warranted. Maybe they did not get it "true" before they welded everything up, but you still need to get it checked out.

2nd I'd check with my local dealer and see if they had a new pin box (which fits my trailer) that they removed from someone's 5er when they upgraded pin boxes. Probably get a pretty good deal on it and then you won't have to worry about the bent one.

[PRodacy]

Some of the responses bring a question to mind. In this and other threads, people often say, "consult an expert". How do you know if a person is truly an expert? Seems like everyone at most dealers and repair shops consider themselves to be an "expert". You can have an ASE certification, but how about other areas, like the pin in this post? Just curious. Thanks

[kennethwooster]

I would get it to an expert. Hopefully not a problem, but I've heard of it being a problem. Maybe just a little welding, and some braces. Good luck.

[DennisVR]

In my opinion there is no way you could have bent the king pin it self. I have seen many semi trucks hook up and hit the pin pretty damn hard and not bend the pin.
I agree with the advise to have a qualified professional look at the box itself to see if anything is damaged.
You could use a carpenters square and put against the plate and move it around the pin to see if the pin is square to the plate.

[tvman44]

I would carefully inspect all welds on the pin box, if something did hit and bend the king pin there may be some cracked welds somewhere.