15 Oct What to Do if Your Trailer Comes Unhooked ?

Some things to keep in mind when hooking up to trailers, when backing into a trailer stop and get out and check your trailer height. You want to lift the trailer when you back into it that way there’s no chance of it being too high and getting on top of the jaws (some models) or not locking properly.

Most of the time when you dolley off, crank the legs so they just touch the ground and then stop. If you have air ride dump your suspension and pull ahead just a little to pull the pin from the jaws and then wait for 10 seconds or so and let the truck settle and put weight on the legs, then finish pulling out slowly.

If you have spring ride just pull out slowly, with either suspension your trailer will lift when you rehook again. When hooking with air ride, back until you feel the plate touch, dump your air and wait for 10 seconds or so and then back up slow, you should feel the trailer lift a little, stop before getting to the pin, and charge your suspension, wait 10 seconds and then back into the pin. Give it a tug test to ensure that it is hooked up.

Then get out and look and see if the jaws are around the pin and the release lever is free and all the way in its normal position. If you aren’t hooked properly pull the release and pull ahead a little and try again. If you have trouble pulling the release or getting the fifth wheel to lock get it serviced or replaced right away.

Make sure there is nothing that can move the release lever like a quarter fender and if you stop anywhere along the way look at your lever position and jaws before hitting the road. If a trailer comes off it’s because on certain models you got on top of the jaw, or the release lever was disturbed, or the fifth wheel was pass due for service or replacement.