Sorry if this is an obvious question but have always wondered what the smaller handle on the fifth wheel is for? Do I ever need to touch it when coupling/uncoupling?
That looks like the handle for a sliding fifth wheel, on most lorries its more or less corroded into place and seldom should you need to touch it.
If you do ever need to move it, its worth asking someone with nous where you work to show you the easy way, moving the things can be easy as pie or hard blinking work.
If you have a regular tractor unit and you think it’s likely that you might need to move it at some point, suggest you oil and free up that dog clip, cos they corrode solid.
Oh and pull the handle out and knock it back in again a few times, they don’t need to be activated by coupling up to go back ‘home’ again after you pull the handle out, it will automatically spring back in unless you pull it fully out and slide it slightly over to catch on its cut out, but as they rust up over the winter that might be a job best left till you have an hour or so to kill in the yard, as due to rust it might need a bit of oil spraying about and working in and out a few times to free things up.
Far better to do that oiling greasing and working at your convenience, or it’ll be a bugger if you have to move it at some point, cos you just know it will be dark in the pouring rain at some Godforsaken hell hole and not a bloody soul about to ask for advice.
I or anyone else who’s shifted them can talk you through the job if you want, its not complicated just need to use your noddle a bit, just as you would if split coupling.