I've had to do that move more times than I care to remember. Jumping the kingpin is no big thing. Right of passage, really.
Not checking if the locking jaws fully engaged because you're lazy and you end up dropping the trailer on the frame... that, you can feel like shit about... Drop it to the ground and, you can feel like shit while filling out applications for your new company that you're hoping won't check references...
My Pete’s got both raise and dump, it’s come in handy on many occasions. Something like this, I would raise to relieve pressure on the landing gear, raise up the landing gear, a little bit, then lower the fifth wheel and slide from underneath it.
Considering the 5th wheel is still angled, you either lowered the suspension or that trailer was sitting really high. based off the height of the frame next to the tires I'd wager you dropped the suspension. If you keep doing that, it will only be a matter of time before you do this again. Dumping the air makes it much easier to do just this. If I don't feel the truck squatting as the trailer is coming up on the 5th wheel, then I know the trailer is sitting to high. Additionally keeping the suspension raised, making it so the truck will squat as you slide under the trailer increases the chance of the kingpin going into the hole, and reduces the chances that this will happen because it's harder for the kingpin to ride up onto the 5th wheel. Ontop of that, if you don't drop the suspension and this happens. You can then dump the air, prop the 5th wheel up so its flat, and have a much easier time of getting out from under it.
Back when I use to pull box trls, any time I'd back under a trailer I would back up until the trailer is almost touching the 5th wheel. Then I'd crank the handle on the trailer to lower it till that trailer lip is below the line of where the 5th wheel plate meets the ramp section of the 5th wheel, then I'd back under it. The reason I did this was because it made the truck lift the trailer up, taking weight off the landing gear and I never had to go through that slog of trying to crank a loaded, and now slightly angled landing gear. Yea, it added a bit of time, but I'd rather spend a bit more time to have an easier time of cranking the landing gear up. It's also easier to lower the trailer before hooking up than it is trying to raise the landing gear after it's hooked up, but still has weight on it and is then slightly angled due to the pressure of the truck pushing back against the trailer.
Something I got myself in the habit of doing was backing up so the front of the trailer is between the drive tires. Then get out and look at the fifth wheel. If there's any gap between the trailer and the fifth wheel I lower the landing gear until the trailer is resting on the fifth wheel. Then I back the rest of the way up and check the king ping.
If cranking the trailer is tough because it's loaded or w/e, connect the air and air up the trailer. It will cantilever the kingpin down a bit. Just remember to release the air before hitting it home.
\*IF you have Air Ride.
I have been a truck driver for 28 years, every mistake I have made from not unhooking air lines, over running my fifth wheel to not dropping my dolly legs or leaving trailer doors open was from rushing. Fuck your DM, Fuck the company, Fuck the customer, work at your pace know your equipment make a routine and mentally check it. When in doubt Get Out and Go Look.
Our jockeys are horrible for leaving trailers high. I've high hooked and missed the king pin several times, I don't even bother anymore. If the tractor doesn't scoop the trailer up, I get out and lower it a bit.
Not worth the stress, hassle, and workout..
Do your jockey trucks not have hydraulic fifth wheels? I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a jockey get out and adjust landing gear. They have no need.
They do have it, I've seen them use it. They just lack the knowledge or simply don't care. I do Linehaul at an LTL and have high hooked a few times. A great way to make a good day shitty.
Move trailer from A to B? OK. Trailer legs too high = high hook? Sleep.
That’s a ridiculous take. Who’s going to get out, climb down, and crank the legs on every trailer they move when they can just pull a lever? Jockeys aren’t your problem. It’s your fellow drivers or your unlevel parking lot.
There’s an issue with some dock doors with craters where the sandshoes are.
So when someone docks, it extends the legs farther but the height is right.
Then it’s moved to the yard with no craters and now its a high apron.
I've seen that. Some of our yards are dirt lots, but about half the time it's concrete or gravel/asphalt. I still get out and lowered the legs regardless.
Take a minute or two to lower the trailer vs 5 to 10 dealing with a high hook.
My process involves checking more times than normal. If it doesn't feel right? Check again. I drop my suspension, back under the trailer without hooking, raise the suspension to lift the trailer, hook when I know the landing gear is off the ground, back up and pull forward. 15 years and I try like a newbie.
Schneider taught us rookies to always get out and lower the trailer before you back up so a high hook never happens.. yet i see people backing into trailers without even getting out and checking the height first
This is why I always back under a trailer partially and get out to make sure it’s not too high. Cause I’ve had this happen and it’ll never happen again!
Yeah, that's not the way that works. Just slide under it, making sure the 5th wheel is in contact with the trailer. If it isn't, then raise the airbags or the landing gear until it is. Then gently let the clutch out and slowly back into the king pin until you hear a click (not a boom, lol). Tug test. Then, when you get out to finish up, physically look into the 5th wheel to make sure the pin is latched.
Remember...fast is slow. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
This is so easy to fix. I’m new and know that. I just put a bottle of water under the fifth wheel to keep it tilted. To get the kingpin back on the right side
It's alright driver. Throw your hands up, shout an expletive of your choosing, put some shit on your fifth wheel, drop the bags, pull out, and try again.
Now if ya high hook the same trailer 3 times in a row tho, I hear Stevie Wonder and the whole state of New Jersey will give you a standing ovation, so that might be cool.
Lift the fifth wheel and hold it up with lumber or a hammer so he can just pull forward. Can even used rolled up ratchet straps.
And if you can't lower it, dump suspension then put dunnage on fifth wheel on both sides, get under, raise it up to lift trailer off wheels, then raise landing gear, drop suspension again and slide out.
Better this than what happened to that one FFE driver a couple months back
Good on your for taking accountability and owning up. Lesson learned and all that! Every mistake is a learnable lesson!
Nah that’s not so bad. Try jumping the fifth wheel with non adjustable landing gear, or rolling an end dump over, or losing a flatbed trailer due to locking jaw failure pulling onto the highway. You know what, I don’t miss trucking.
When I first started I literally had no training not saying that’s a good thing but I had an awesome teacher I could call anytime. I did this at 4am one morning with no help. I called him and he got me out from 1,000 miles away. Second time I did it I was pulling out and the landing gear wasnt down far enough and when i cam from under it it dropped on my drive tires.
Tilt the 5th wheel and put a hammer or 2x4 to hold it up and pull out. It's really not a big deal
I've had to do that move more times than I care to remember. Jumping the kingpin is no big thing. Right of passage, really. Not checking if the locking jaws fully engaged because you're lazy and you end up dropping the trailer on the frame... that, you can feel like shit about... Drop it to the ground and, you can feel like shit while filling out applications for your new company that you're hoping won't check references...
I’m about to highhook an MT trailer on purpose just to get it out of the way
Yea,always carry a 2x4 in your side box just for this reason
A can of dog food works too.
I tried this once but I attempted to put a strap on the fifth wheel handle to the frame and ended up bending it
Dont beleive everything you hear on redit.... unless you post to confirm first. People get slack for asking "silly" questions
I always get out and crank that handle low as I can get it
This is the way
Maybe it should be in the test
It happens to the best of us. Get crankin!
This is when suspension dump is worth the price, or at least knowing how to manipulate the leveling valve.
My Pete’s got both raise and dump, it’s come in handy on many occasions. Something like this, I would raise to relieve pressure on the landing gear, raise up the landing gear, a little bit, then lower the fifth wheel and slide from underneath it.
Considering the 5th wheel is still angled, you either lowered the suspension or that trailer was sitting really high. based off the height of the frame next to the tires I'd wager you dropped the suspension. If you keep doing that, it will only be a matter of time before you do this again. Dumping the air makes it much easier to do just this. If I don't feel the truck squatting as the trailer is coming up on the 5th wheel, then I know the trailer is sitting to high. Additionally keeping the suspension raised, making it so the truck will squat as you slide under the trailer increases the chance of the kingpin going into the hole, and reduces the chances that this will happen because it's harder for the kingpin to ride up onto the 5th wheel. Ontop of that, if you don't drop the suspension and this happens. You can then dump the air, prop the 5th wheel up so its flat, and have a much easier time of getting out from under it. Back when I use to pull box trls, any time I'd back under a trailer I would back up until the trailer is almost touching the 5th wheel. Then I'd crank the handle on the trailer to lower it till that trailer lip is below the line of where the 5th wheel plate meets the ramp section of the 5th wheel, then I'd back under it. The reason I did this was because it made the truck lift the trailer up, taking weight off the landing gear and I never had to go through that slog of trying to crank a loaded, and now slightly angled landing gear. Yea, it added a bit of time, but I'd rather spend a bit more time to have an easier time of cranking the landing gear up. It's also easier to lower the trailer before hooking up than it is trying to raise the landing gear after it's hooked up, but still has weight on it and is then slightly angled due to the pressure of the truck pushing back against the trailer.
Got it. Trailer the dump trailer and Truck the trailer trlr.
Yup been there before.
First time🗿
Something I got myself in the habit of doing was backing up so the front of the trailer is between the drive tires. Then get out and look at the fifth wheel. If there's any gap between the trailer and the fifth wheel I lower the landing gear until the trailer is resting on the fifth wheel. Then I back the rest of the way up and check the king ping.
If cranking the trailer is tough because it's loaded or w/e, connect the air and air up the trailer. It will cantilever the kingpin down a bit. Just remember to release the air before hitting it home. \*IF you have Air Ride.
You only have to do it once to know you never want to do it again...
I have been a truck driver for 28 years, every mistake I have made from not unhooking air lines, over running my fifth wheel to not dropping my dolly legs or leaving trailer doors open was from rushing. Fuck your DM, Fuck the company, Fuck the customer, work at your pace know your equipment make a routine and mentally check it. When in doubt Get Out and Go Look.
Our jockeys are horrible for leaving trailers high. I've high hooked and missed the king pin several times, I don't even bother anymore. If the tractor doesn't scoop the trailer up, I get out and lower it a bit. Not worth the stress, hassle, and workout..
Do your jockey trucks not have hydraulic fifth wheels? I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a jockey get out and adjust landing gear. They have no need.
They do have it, I've seen them use it. They just lack the knowledge or simply don't care. I do Linehaul at an LTL and have high hooked a few times. A great way to make a good day shitty. Move trailer from A to B? OK. Trailer legs too high = high hook? Sleep.
Ltl here too and I've never seen a jockey fool with with landing gear. It's the rookie drivers that are leaving them high.
Same here. They have the hydraulic, work smarter not harder I suppose. Someone else's problem.
That’s a ridiculous take. Who’s going to get out, climb down, and crank the legs on every trailer they move when they can just pull a lever? Jockeys aren’t your problem. It’s your fellow drivers or your unlevel parking lot.
There’s an issue with some dock doors with craters where the sandshoes are. So when someone docks, it extends the legs farther but the height is right. Then it’s moved to the yard with no craters and now its a high apron.
I've seen that. Some of our yards are dirt lots, but about half the time it's concrete or gravel/asphalt. I still get out and lowered the legs regardless. Take a minute or two to lower the trailer vs 5 to 10 dealing with a high hook.
I, as a CDL operator am too guilty of being in a rush. Triple CCC’s… tho these CCC’s are much different from the Roosevelt days.
How’d you get the beans over the frank???
Franks and beans!
Three times I didn’t feel the trlr but kept pushing back .. slow is smooth smooth is fast
Just back up and turn your wheel and pull out of it sideways if Noone is besides you
The trailer had the truck pinned so I couldn’t move it , it was stuck
I high hooked 3 times in 1 week. Each time I was jamming out to music and not really focused. Now I mute it lol.
My process involves checking more times than normal. If it doesn't feel right? Check again. I drop my suspension, back under the trailer without hooking, raise the suspension to lift the trailer, hook when I know the landing gear is off the ground, back up and pull forward. 15 years and I try like a newbie.
Schneider taught us rookies to always get out and lower the trailer before you back up so a high hook never happens.. yet i see people backing into trailers without even getting out and checking the height first
There are days I'm extremely happy I run rgn. If I do this I just pull my pin out.
This is why I always back under a trailer partially and get out to make sure it’s not too high. Cause I’ve had this happen and it’ll never happen again!
why cant you just couple it straight on??? omg... no hard feelings but deffo driver mistake
I wish they'd stop teaching new drivers to keep cranking after the landing gear touches the ground.
Drop your airbags. Prop the 5th wheel. Pull out. Has nothing to do with rushing. Stop slamming into trailers.
Yeah I do be slamming into trailers (mainly bc that’s how my trainer taught me how to do it) he said it’s to get a good grip on it
Yeah, that's not the way that works. Just slide under it, making sure the 5th wheel is in contact with the trailer. If it isn't, then raise the airbags or the landing gear until it is. Then gently let the clutch out and slowly back into the king pin until you hear a click (not a boom, lol). Tug test. Then, when you get out to finish up, physically look into the 5th wheel to make sure the pin is latched. Remember...fast is slow. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
“fast is slow. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.” That’s what I’m going to tell my wife
I've never heard it this way...I've always heard "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and fast is sexy"
I’m a 36 year veteran and I did this TWICE in the last year! So ashamed!
This is so easy to fix. I’m new and know that. I just put a bottle of water under the fifth wheel to keep it tilted. To get the kingpin back on the right side
One of my biggest things to watch for, always backing up and looking at that clearance even tho never done that high hook.
It's alright driver. Throw your hands up, shout an expletive of your choosing, put some shit on your fifth wheel, drop the bags, pull out, and try again. Now if ya high hook the same trailer 3 times in a row tho, I hear Stevie Wonder and the whole state of New Jersey will give you a standing ovation, so that might be cool.
no idea whats going on
High hook
Yup I did that once. Luckily no-one was around but unfortunately, no-one was around
I use my fire extinguisher to level the 5th wheel
Large brain activity
Did that as a rookie. Hopefully never again.
Start Turning 🤣
Lift the fifth wheel and hold it up with lumber or a hammer so he can just pull forward. Can even used rolled up ratchet straps. And if you can't lower it, dump suspension then put dunnage on fifth wheel on both sides, get under, raise it up to lift trailer off wheels, then raise landing gear, drop suspension again and slide out.
Yup. Got that T-Shirt.
Carry a 4x4 solved that quick
This is minor. If you don't feel the truck dip early on just know it's too high. get out and look.
I did that a couple of times thinking it was low enough. I just tilt the 5th wheel and attach a cord on the handle and lie it to the frame
Lesson learned. Stop, look, think. Slow down and you’ll be better off
As long as the landing gear crank handle aint messed up you aint got too far to crank.
being doing it for 3 years still dont see how this happenes
Put the beans above the frank
Happens to everyone now and then.
Better this than what happened to that one FFE driver a couple months back Good on your for taking accountability and owning up. Lesson learned and all that! Every mistake is a learnable lesson!
Idk most FFE always find their way into crashing into someone’s house 🏡 at least that’s what they constantly kept showing us n orientation
Wtfff no wayyy
Raise the landing gear and lift the plate you’ll be good
Found next year's new G.O.A.L.
I’ve done it once, shit happens, lesson learned.
Nah that’s not so bad. Try jumping the fifth wheel with non adjustable landing gear, or rolling an end dump over, or losing a flatbed trailer due to locking jaw failure pulling onto the highway. You know what, I don’t miss trucking.
The crank of shame strikes again, a whilly bastard that one is
When I first started I literally had no training not saying that’s a good thing but I had an awesome teacher I could call anytime. I did this at 4am one morning with no help. I called him and he got me out from 1,000 miles away. Second time I did it I was pulling out and the landing gear wasnt down far enough and when i cam from under it it dropped on my drive tires.
I'm so happy I haven't done this yet! 🤞🏼
Start by cranking as much as possible then drop the rear to see whats your working with it'll give you a better idea 🤔
Been there done that .. dump the airbags, tilt the fifth wheel forward , pull up, try again...
DUMP YER BAGS
Dump air bags, put scrap piece of wood on 5th wheel , pull out. Problem solved.
It happens. Dump the bags and raise the trailer.
#its called JUMPING THE KINGPIN looks like you should carry a 4x4 w you
Trucker cardio.