A warning to all 5th wheel owners - don't just look at the latch bar pin, really see it

[Wayne]

When you hook up to your 5th wheel, you must see that the latch pin is fully engaged. I get into the back of the truck to hook up the break-away and look directly at the latch bar pin. I did my normal routine, but didn't actually SEE the latch bar pin. It was dark, I was distracted, blah, blah, blah, excuses, excuses.

The result.

 

[Wayne]

The hitch is fixed, but the truck won't be fixed until at least July. Trailersaver sent me new shocks at a reasonable price and included the new pins, which was very nice of them. My friend owns a shop and did the welding, I did most of the grinding.

 

[spasm3]

I don't understand 5th wheel hitches, but that hurts to look at!

 

[Wayne]

This video give a good explanation of the latch. What I didn't do is make sure the latch pin was in the locked position. I looked at the bar and it 'looked' locked.

 

[Wayne]

but that hurts to look at!

Yes it sure does. Stupid mistake, but it can be fixed and I won't do it again.

I personally know three other people who have done the same thing to their 5th wheel RVs. Two of them are professional truck drivers. We all knew better. I talked to a body shop in Texas, they said they fix about one truck/week that this has happened to. The moral of the story is that it is very easy to do, very.

 

[spasm3]

Thanks for posting! Things like this help others! I will remember this should i ever move to a fifth wheel.

 

[Wayne]

Thanks for posting! Things like this help others! I will remember this should i ever move to a fifth wheel.

From now until forever, when I'm connecting the break-away cable, I will look at the latch pin and touch it and say, "Locked".

 

[AutoMechanic]

It happens man. Just glad that you didn’t get injured or anything. Too bad you can’t get the truck fixed till July though. This is exactly like hooking up my dads tractor trailer fifth wheel if you don’t get it just right you will know it really quickly.