Prime's 5th Wheel "locked"

Omg hahhahha.

So did they disconnect on the condo too or just LW. I never needed to move mine so now I'm curious and laying in bed too lazy to get out and look

When I drove for Prime, I had two condos and was able to slide the fifth wheel. On my second truck, though, the rear stop plate was mounted a little too close, so I was never able to get it all the way back after some idiot in the shop slid it forward three holes for no apparent reason. (Truck was in for a PM, which doesn't include sliding the fifth wheel as far as I know.) My steers were always at 12,400 after that.

The truck I have now has a fixed fifth wheel. Never have to worry about it, steers are always between 11,900 and 12,200.

I have a lightweight truck (but I don't work for Prime) and I've never had to slide the fifth wheel. The weight on the steers hardly changes, and the only time it was over 12000 I was puzzled until I remembered that I had 60 one gallon jugs of water (refused freight) stacked where the passenger seat goes.

Same here, never a problem. Read what I wrote before Daniels "idiot" reference...

Very true post. Ive had that happen to me before.

When you are talking about what hole the 5th wheel is in, are you referring to the last tooth at the back of the 5th wheel or the first tooth on the front?

On mine, the first tooth nearest the cab is in the 7th hole back, or the last tooth nearest the back of the truck is in the 3rd hole. About a month ago, during training, we had to slide it in order to weigh out, but we were having difficulties getting the teeth to Re engage. We got it where it sits now and since I took this truck after training, I never moved it.

Should i.move it up some to improve ride?

Also, do the teeth on the 5th wheel work like the sliding tandems? Can you disengage them, then slide it, the re engage them and rock the truck in order to have them snap back in place? Or do you have to get the holes lined up perfectly before they will pop back out?

When you are talking about what hole the 5th wheel is in, are you referring to the last tooth at the back of the 5th wheel or the first tooth on the front?

On mine, the first tooth nearest the cab is in the 7th hole back, or the last tooth nearest the back of the truck is in the 3rd hole. About a month ago, during training, we had to slide it in order to weigh out, but we were having difficulties getting the teeth to Re engage. We got it where it sits now and since I took this truck after training, I never moved it.

Should i.move it up some to improve ride?

Also, do the teeth on the 5th wheel work like the sliding tandems? Can you disengage them, then slide it, the re engage them and rock the truck in order to have them snap back in place? Or do you have to get the holes lined up perfectly before they will pop back out?

Search on this: Adjusting The Fifth Wheel. Type those words in the search bar, upper left hand corner. There is an excellent video on the subject in TT's HoghRoad Training. Best answer I can think of.

To put this in perspective, in four years I only recall adjusting the fifth wheel a handful of times. It was because the tractor was new, fifth wheel slid all the way to the rear of the tractor frame. Set it and forget it. Doesn't require constant adjustment likevtgevtandems, almost static.

Sorry meant HighRoad...dang iPhone!

The air system is still intact and works. They took a piece of metal plate and bolted it between the back of the 5th wheel and the stopping pins.

My trainer's truck had the same thing.

I went though the scale on the first load, and dumped my tractor air bags, and that got me to 12,400. (The load where I was full of fuel and at 13,800) the thing is, while DOT may not have pulled me over, I'm still over the weight limit of the tires, thus making it illegal.

Is there potentially a reason WHY the 5th wheel slide release is locked on these tractors? Gotta have the air hoses disconnected for a reason.

We've heard here, or some companies having fixed 5th wheels, or having them bolted in a fixed position, or just having a company policy of "no 5th wheel sliding".

Only reason I can think of, is sliding too far forward and potentially hitting the reefer on the "wings of the back of the tractor while turning sharply (backing, etc.). Closer the trailer is to the tractor, the greater the chance of that occurring.

Either that - or folks were hitting the release button in the cab and sliding the 5th without realizing it, Happens enough times, company disconnects it.

Rick

TransAm also runs fixed fifth wheels. Ours are actually welded in place.

I consistently run over 12k on my steers, sometimes as high as 12600. I've never been stopped at a scale. According to road assist, our steer tires are rated up to 13k so we can go as high as that.

Either that - or folks were hitting the release button in the cab and sliding the 5th without realizing it, Happens enough times, company disconnects it.

Unrelated, but my tractor has a black knob on the dash that says "Pull To Uncouple Trailer". On the dash behind it is what seems like some very wise advice: Do Not Operate While Vehicle Is In Motion. I've never pulled it but I'm guessing it's disconnected. I've often wondered why a tractor would have that. It seems like it would only be useful for a yard tractor, but maybe there's some other use I'm unaware of.

Either that - or folks were hitting the release button in the cab and sliding the 5th without realizing it, Happens enough times, company disconnects it.

Unrelated, but my tractor has a black knob on the dash that says "Pull To Uncouple Trailer". On the dash behind it is what seems like some very wise advice: Do Not Operate While Vehicle Is In Motion. I've never pulled it but I'm guessing it's disconnected. I've often wondered why a tractor would have that. It seems like it would only be useful for a yard tractor, but maybe there's some other use I'm unaware of.

I have something similar. Its basically an in cab 5th wheel release. My is a switch on my dash and it has a safety setting that won't allow it to operate if I am moving when I hit it.