Bad Coupling Pics

Here's some pics of a bad coupling I had to do-over a few days ago. I backed in, heard the "click", did the tug test and everything seemed fine until I saw this. I don't know what would have happened if I went down the road like this but I wouldn't want to find out either.

It was on a dirt lot that was wallowed out under the nose of the trailer where other trucks' wheels had been. They had the trailer jacked up about 4 inches higher than my fifth wheel so I backed in close to the king pin and lowered the trailer until the apron was flat against the fifth wheel and backed up. My wheels sank into the ruts more than I anticipated though and it ended up like this.

Not really a nightmare high hook but hopefully this helps some people know what to look for. The pic of the hook around the kingpin actually doesn't look too bad but I know my truck and could see that it didn't look right.

Pictures of coupling and high hookers... Man, don't you know this is a family friendly site???

Another example of why you always check your tractor/trailer hookups. Good job!

The driver who dropped the trailer previously to you, cranked the gear way too high. The landing gear pads should barely touch the ground when spotting a trailer.

Oh I know that. I was saying a few things that I didn't include here while a was cranking it on low for about 300 turns. Lol

The driver who dropped the trailer previously to you, cranked the gear way too high. The landing gear pads should barely touch the ground when spotting a trailer.

Oh I know that. I was saying a few things that I didn't include here while a was cranking it on low for about 300 turns. Lol

The driver who dropped the trailer previously to you, cranked the gear way too high. The landing gear pads should barely touch the ground when spotting a trailer.

I know you know that...meant for those in the forum who may not know that.

Great job catching it!

The result of something like that can be devastating. had to pay a 1 million dollar claim in January because the driver did not do what you did and the trailer got loose .... so you can imagine what happened to the lady that was behind him,,,,.....may the Lord bless her

Good catch. This is why it's so important to always do a visual check.

I don't know what would have happened if I went down the road like this but I wouldn't want to find out either.

In this particular case it would have been fine. As soon as you raised the landing gear, the gap would have closed and it would have been just fine. I know because I've done this before in both a semi truck and a yard spotter. But it never hurts to be extra careful and rehook.

I thought you were Captain Obvious'ing me lol. Yeah, it's definitely a good thing for people to know and a detail that's so small, it gets overlooked more often than it should. Thanks.

Oh I know that. I was saying a few things that I didn't include here while a was cranking it on low for about 300 turns. Lol

The driver who dropped the trailer previously to you, cranked the gear way too high. The landing gear pads should barely touch the ground when spotting a trailer.

I know you know that...meant for those in the forum who may not know that.

Great job catching it!

Wow, I just can't go down the road worrying about something like that possibly happening. I have to check for my own peace of mind.

The result of something like that can be devastating. had to pay a 1 million dollar claim in January because the driver did not do what you did and the trailer got loose .... so you can imagine what happened to the lady that was behind him,,,,.....may the Lord bless her

In this particular case it would have been fine. As soon as you raised the landing gear, the gap would have closed and it would have been just fine. I know because I've done this before in both a semi truck and a yard spotter. But it never hurts to be extra careful and rehook.

Thanks. I'd been pondering that and I thought that's what would probably happen. I wasn't comfortable with finding out though.