Thanks guys that is what we are thinking it’s when the rear wheels are not straight and the block is twisted it seems like its in but its not. I know it happens but surely it needs looking at by Jost and the trailer manufacturers.
Leicester Driver:
Thanks guys that is what we are thinking it’s when the rear wheels are not straight and the block is twisted it seems like its in but its not. I know it happens but surely it needs looking at by Jost and the trailer manufacturers.
Nothing to do with the manufacturers, park it with the rear steering axle straight and the next guy will have no problem, alternatively, when you see the rear axle parked at an angle, and you can’t hook up at the same angle, hook up as normal, hook up the suzies, leave the legs down, raise the suspension to get the legs off the ground, pull forward to straighten the rear axle out, set the parking brake on the trailer, move the unit backwards to fully seat and lock the kingpin, do another tug test, raise the legs and on you go.
Make sure the jaws of the fifth wheel are clear of any debris, excess dried grease etc, as it will prevent the king pin from seating fully. The steering block may keep the kingpin from going fully forward.
We have a few of them and we have never (yet) dropped one on its knees.
wheelnutt:
Leicester Driver:
Thanks guys that is what we are thinking it’s when the rear wheels are not straight and the block is twisted it seems like its in but its not. I know it happens but surely it needs looking at by Jost and the trailer manufacturers.Nothing to do with the manufacturers, park it with the rear steering axle straight and the next guy will have no problem, alternatively, when you see the rear axle parked at an angle, and you can’t hook up at the same angle, hook up as normal, hook up the suzies, leave the legs down, raise the suspension to get the legs off the ground, pull forward to straighten the rear axle out, set the parking brake on the trailer, move the unit backwards to fully seat and lock the kingpin, do another tug test, raise the legs and on you go.
Make sure the jaws of the fifth wheel are clear of any debris, excess dried grease etc, as it will prevent the king pin from seating fully. The steering block may keep the kingpin from going fully forward.
We have a few of them and we have never (yet) dropped one on its knees.
From my limited experience with these trailers this is the advice to take on board.
How the trailer has been parked is crucial to how you can pick it up.
Leicester Driver:
I would like some feedback from drives who have actually driven them and seen them close up so they know about the block at the front which normal trailers don’t have. We can all judge but unless you have had any actual experience driving them better not to say anything please.
Is driving milk tankers with steering axles or wheels for 9 years enough experience? I’m surprised that your training has not included how to drop and pick up a trailer with a steering axle or rear wheels.
the nodding donkey:
Leicester Driver:
I would like some feedback from drives who have actually driven them and seen them close up so they know about the block at the front which normal trailers don’t have. We can all judge but unless you have had any actual experience driving them better not to say anything please.Is driving milk tankers with steering axles or wheels for 9 years enough experience? I’m surprised that your training has not included how to drop and pick up a trailer with a steering axle or rear wheels.
It has,
We have been told that once we are in the bay, shunt forward a short distance, then reverse straight back to ensure the rear steer is straight.
Thanks again nearly all are parked by the yard shutters we normally pick them up after they have been told to park them straight but don’t always do it.
For those who are not sure what the wedge looks like…
Leicester Driver:
Thanks guys that is what we are thinking it’s when the rear wheels are not straight and the block is twisted it seems like its in but its not. I know it happens but surely it needs looking at by Jost and the trailer manufacturers.
It’s driver error, it’s not the fault of the fifth wheel or trailer manufacturers.
bald bloke:
01For those who are not sure what the wedge looks like…
Hope you had your hard hat on B B 
we called them cheese wedges .
the nodding donkey:
Leicester Driver:
Normally yes but we have never had this problem until we got the 30 pallet trailers about 5 have come off including one for a Kalmar shut unit we have over 300 trailers and only the 30 pallet trailers are doing this we are very highly trained on all aspects of H&S we get assessed every year just seems to many of them to be all driver error.The only reason a trailer falls of the back of the unit is if the kingpin has not been locked in the jaws of the fifth wheel. Or the kingpin breaks off, but that would be obvious…
After hooking up the the trailer, you do the pull test, and fit the dog clip.
If you can fit the dog clip, the kingpin has activated the springloaded locking mechanism, and the trailer is secure. If he kingpin for any reason has not activated the locking mechanism, the trailer is not secure, and you can not fit the dog clip.
If you have done these simple checks, you won’t drive off without the trailer.
Not exactly true, I dropped a full tanker after moving about 50 yards. Got the usual crap about not checking clip etc etc. When CCTV was looked at you could clearly see me do a tug test and put dog clip in. What had happened was that the mechanism inside the fifth wheel had broke and there was a big spring along with broken metal bits on the ground. Turned out that the fifth wheel was an old one that had been retro fitted to the lorry to save money. Not a good idea.
the fub:
the nodding donkey:
Leicester Driver:
Normally yes but we have never had this problem until we got the 30 pallet trailers about 5 have come off including one for a Kalmar shut unit we have over 300 trailers and only the 30 pallet trailers are doing this we are very highly trained on all aspects of H&S we get assessed every year just seems to many of them to be all driver error.The only reason a trailer falls of the back of the unit is if the kingpin has not been locked in the jaws of the fifth wheel. Or the kingpin breaks off, but that would be obvious…
After hooking up the the trailer, you do the pull test, and fit the dog clip.
If you can fit the dog clip, the kingpin has activated the springloaded locking mechanism, and the trailer is secure. If he kingpin for any reason has not activated the locking mechanism, the trailer is not secure, and you can not fit the dog clip.
If you have done these simple checks, you won’t drive off without the trailer.Not exactly true, I dropped a full tanker after moving about 50 yards. Got the usual crap about not checking clip etc etc. When CCTV was looked at you could clearly see me do a tug test and put dog clip in. What had happened was that the mechanism inside the fifth wheel had broke and there was a big spring along with broken metal bits on the ground. Turned out that the fifth wheel was an old one that had been retro fitted to the lorry to save money. Not a good idea.
Ok, I’ll grant you that. Serious mechanical failure. But I guess you don’t have regular occurrences of that, and it was probably pretty obvious what went wrong.
The o.p. is telling us that the trailers have fallen off several times. But has not told us about any obvious malfunctions or failures of the fifth wheel or kingpins. Just tries to blame the trailer design and the manufacturer.