Did My First 5th Wheel Slide Today

The fifth wheel being locked into place is just the same as checking the the kingpin is locked in place.

Set the trailer brakes, try forward and reverse a couple times, and visually verify it.

The fifth wheel being locked into place is just the same as checking the the kingpin is locked in place.

Set the trailer brakes, try forward and reverse a couple times, and visually verify it.

I know, but still don't like doing it.

Can't argue with that. I've heard enough about sliding 5th wheels not to want to bother with them. I've had to scale almost every load I had my first week. So far, so good.

Set it once and forget it. Centered between the drive axles is usually optimal.

I’m still perplexed on what happened here...

HI Bruce.

Learning is always a process and usually a good thing. The sliding 5th seems a useful feature if ever needed. However, both of my trainers cautioned me about using this feature. Both of them advised me to never touch mine. "Never" being the operative word with added emphasis on their part. LOL. I'll be leaving mine alone for now. I've got enough other things I'm trying to make sure I get right for now.

I'm glad to hear it worked out for you when you used it.

Something doesn’t sound right here.

I agree. I've slid my fifth wheel twice in my career. Both of those times were when I got issued a truck and didn't like the way the previous driver had it set.

Bruce, I'm glad you learned how to do it, but don't consider it a new tool in your bag. I'd try it again and get your steer axle real close to 12,000 or even a little over. Then leave it that way. You shouldn't need to keep adjusting it with different loads.

So I had to slide my 5th wheel back all the way. Here’s the funny part: I called after hour company services for instruction and nobody there knew how to slide a fifth wheel.

Shocking...pathetic, but not that funny.

So I had to slide my 5th wheel back all the way. Here’s the funny part: I called after hour company services for instruction and nobody there knew how to slide a fifth wheel.

Shocking...pathetic, but not that funny.

The funny part was that the solution was to watch a Junior Honduras YouTube video. Although I’ve seen his videos before and they are educational for a rookie like me.

G Town, I believe you are right, I got an erroneous scale reading because I had my trailer breaks applied. Makes perfect sense in this situation. Much ado about nothing.

I had to do mine once. I too didn't like where the previous driver had it. He had it too forward. Seeing as how he had the cab extenders bent and mangled I think it might have had something to do with it. It was 1 hole from the front.

I put it centered between the drive axles. I too went to YouTube after not being able to get a hold of anyone. It was very difficult to get the pins to lock back in, but I did it just as pack rat described.

Something doesn’t sound right here.

I agree. I've slid my fifth wheel twice in my career. Both of those times were when I got issued a truck and didn't like the way the previous driver had it set.

Bruce, I'm glad you learned how to do it, but don't consider it a new tool in your bag. I'd try it again and get your steer axle real close to 12,000 or even a little over. Then leave it that way. You shouldn't need to keep adjusting it with different loads.

Yep, O/S !!

Tom said he doesn't even think he's done it TWICE in HIS career!!!

The last 'slide' Tom did, Bruce K...... is when I tried to teach HIM ! Slide ~ A training video:

Just me, always!

~ Anne ~

ps: Methinks this is the only slide you SHOULD be doing, right guys ?!?!? ;)

Guess I got lucky/unlucky. In my first month, I had to slide mine to get a load to balance. Took me two hours, a bunch of fifth wheel grease and some WD40. I haven't moved it since. But the lucky part was my last trainer had me slide his fifth wheel a couple times, so I knew how. I hope to not need to do it again, ever.

Guess I got lucky/unlucky. In my first month, I had to slide mine to get a load to balance. Took me two hours, a bunch of fifth wheel grease and some WD40. I haven't moved it since. But the lucky part was my last trainer had me slide his fifth wheel a couple times, so I knew how. I hope to not need to do it again, ever.

Many times it helps to take the weight off of the 5th wheel. Put the landing gear down plus a couple cranks and then try.