What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?
With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!! 
Passed this today about 1.30…was going into Huddersfield so wasn’t held up. Didn’t realise what had happened
till I passed him…wonder how he managed to do that ■■? Caused quite a build up of traffic to say the least… 
How does one “lose” a trailer? They aren’t exactly ‘falling down the back of the sofa’ size…
Supatramp:
What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!!
it has been known to be a failure of the 5th wheel so without facts who’s the Muppet ?
What do you mean by failure Nick? What is it that’s happened?
nick2008:
Supatramp:
What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!!
it has been known to be a failure of the 5th wheel so without facts who’s the Muppet ?
Once happend to me when I pulled out of our yard about 7 years ago. Hitched up to the trailer I was taking, did the two shunts forward to check it was locked in, put the pin in and did my checks then off I went.
Only got 10 yard out of the gate and just heard a bang and air blowing everywhere, looked in my mirrors to see my trailer on the floor with its arse stuck up in the air 
Worry takes over as thoughts go through my head “I did everything right” “did I put the pin in right?” Thankfully for me one of our rigid drivers was in the yard and confirmed I had done everything correctly and as he had followed me out of the yard he pulled up behind me with his hazards on.
The lads from the workshop turned up and lifted the trailer up with 2 fork trucks, it was loaded with Flymo lawnmowers bound for B&Q Coventry so was not that heavy. They got the shunted out and hitched it up and dragged it into the yard and straight into the workshop. The unit had only had its 6 week check only 2 week before but whilst checking the 5th wheel they found out it wasn’t locking in fully and it needed replacing.
So don’t jump to conclusions too quick. Yes the driver may not have put the pin in but then again as happend with me there could be a fault with the 5th wheel.
SteveBarnsleytrucker:
nick2008:
Supatramp:
What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!!
it has been known to be a failure of the 5th wheel so without facts who’s the Muppet ?
Once happend to me when I pulled out of our yard about 7 years ago. Hitched up to the trailer I was taking, did the two shunts forward to check it was locked in, put the pin in and did my checks then off I went.
Only got 10 yard out of the gate and just heard a bang and air blowing everywhere, looked in my mirrors to see my trailer on the floor with its arse stuck up in the air
Worry takes over as thoughts go through my head “I did everything right” “did I put the pin in right?” Thankfully for me one of our rigid drivers was in the yard and confirmed I had done everything correctly and as he had followed me out of the yard he pulled up behind me with his hazards on.
The lads from the workshop turned up and lifted the trailer up with 2 fork trucks, it was loaded with Flymo lawnmowers bound for B&Q Coventry so was not that heavy. They got the shunted out and hitched it up and dragged it into the yard and straight into the workshop. The unit had only had its 6 week check only 2 week before but whilst checking the 5th wheel they found out it wasn’t locking in fully and it needed replacing.
So don’t jump to conclusions too quick. Yes the driver may not have put the pin in but then again as happend with me there could be a fault with the 5th wheel.
A fifth wheel coupling cannot fail if the driver has checked everything he should check before setting off. The design of the mechanism is such that once it has engaged the king pin and the secondary locking device (spring loaded latch or dog clip) is in place it simply cannot fail - well - it would take a major catastrophic failure of more than one major mechanical component for it to happen.
Yes they do go out of adjustment and don’t lock properly but the driver would see this if carrying out the correct checks. I spent a few days with JOST engineers going through previous incidents they had investigated, although some were a mechanical problem with the fifth wheel - all of those would have been spotted had the driver checked properly.
Although you say the vehicle had only just had its 6 weekly PMI - they don’t generally check the fifth wheel as the tractor will go into the workshop solo in most cases so it wouldn’t have been checked anyway.
shep532:
SteveBarnsleytrucker:
nick2008:
Supatramp:
What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!!
it has been known to be a failure of the 5th wheel so without facts who’s the Muppet ?
Once happend to me when I pulled out of our yard about 7 years ago. Hitched up to the trailer I was taking, did the two shunts forward to check it was locked in, put the pin in and did my checks then off I went.
Only got 10 yard out of the gate and just heard a bang and air blowing everywhere, looked in my mirrors to see my trailer on the floor with its arse stuck up in the air
Worry takes over as thoughts go through my head “I did everything right” “did I put the pin in right?” Thankfully for me one of our rigid drivers was in the yard and confirmed I had done everything correctly and as he had followed me out of the yard he pulled up behind me with his hazards on.
The lads from the workshop turned up and lifted the trailer up with 2 fork trucks, it was loaded with Flymo lawnmowers bound for B&Q Coventry so was not that heavy. They got the shunted out and hitched it up and dragged it into the yard and straight into the workshop. The unit had only had its 6 week check only 2 week before but whilst checking the 5th wheel they found out it wasn’t locking in fully and it needed replacing.
So don’t jump to conclusions too quick. Yes the driver may not have put the pin in but then again as happend with me there could be a fault with the 5th wheel.A fifth wheel coupling cannot fail if the driver has checked everything he should check before setting off. The design of the mechanism is such that once it has engaged the king pin and the secondary locking device (spring loaded latch or dog clip) is in place it simply cannot fail - well - it would take a major catastrophic failure of more than one major mechanical component for it to happen.
Yes they do go out of adjustment and don’t lock properly but the driver would see this if carrying out the correct checks. I spent a few days with JOST engineers going through previous incidents they had investigated, although some were a mechanical problem with the fifth wheel - all of those would have been spotted had the driver checked properly.
Although you say the vehicle had only just had its 6 weekly PMI - they don’t generally check the fifth wheel as the tractor will go into the workshop solo in most cases so it wouldn’t have been checked anyway.
I worked at Wordsworth holding who manufactured big-d couplings ,sliders ,ramps etc ,before they got robots in they were welded by hand ( by me and others ) ,it was often a case when you fitted them up ,adjuster rods,springs ,handle etc that they would not lock up properly ,you had too grind bits away ,refit tabs etc to get them too lock up correctly ,but as you were on piece work at times you didn’t make quite as good a job as you should of done ( thought being fitter could mend it at a later date ) .
The locking jaws were cast and machined on a cnc miller at Wordsworth holding ,they were machined on a large cube jig ,so multiple components could be machined ,but there were tolerances in the machining process which at time caused problems when fitting them up,welded top place even though welded in a jig can move ,few thou out maching wise etc etc .
All this was a.f.a.i.a sold to jost ( didn’t they have a cast top plate ) whereas big- d was not .
So I understand what you say but after actually working on the component you talk of I’m not convinced that there can’t be failures ( I’m talking more big-d than host ) ,never saw there manufacturing procedure.
It shouldn’t happen but at times piece work I.m.o.h.o can’t impact on the quality of the product being manufactured ,doing away with inspectors I.m.o.h.o was a really bad move in a lot of engineering environments .
My knowledge though is from years ago so I guess things have moved on a lot ,so maybe the latest methods of manufacturing fifth wheels may a failure not possible .
shep532:
SteveBarnsleytrucker:
nick2008:
Supatramp:
What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!!
it has been known to be a failure of the 5th wheel so without facts who’s the Muppet ?
Once happend to me when I pulled out of our yard about 7 years ago. Hitched up to the trailer I was taking, did the two shunts forward to check it was locked in, put the pin in and did my checks then off I went.
Only got 10 yard out of the gate and just heard a bang and air blowing everywhere, looked in my mirrors to see my trailer on the floor with its arse stuck up in the air
Worry takes over as thoughts go through my head “I did everything right” “did I put the pin in right?” Thankfully for me one of our rigid drivers was in the yard and confirmed I had done everything correctly and as he had followed me out of the yard he pulled up behind me with his hazards on.
The lads from the workshop turned up and lifted the trailer up with 2 fork trucks, it was loaded with Flymo lawnmowers bound for B&Q Coventry so was not that heavy. They got the shunted out and hitched it up and dragged it into the yard and straight into the workshop. The unit had only had its 6 week check only 2 week before but whilst checking the 5th wheel they found out it wasn’t locking in fully and it needed replacing.
So don’t jump to conclusions too quick. Yes the driver may not have put the pin in but then again as happend with me there could be a fault with the 5th wheel.A fifth wheel coupling cannot fail if the driver has checked everything he should check before setting off. The design of the mechanism is such that once it has engaged the king pin and the secondary locking device (spring loaded latch or dog clip) is in place it simply cannot fail - well - it would take a major catastrophic failure of more than one major mechanical component for it to happen.
Yes they do go out of adjustment and don’t lock properly but the driver would see this if carrying out the correct checks. I spent a few days with JOST engineers going through previous incidents they had investigated, although some were a mechanical problem with the fifth wheel - all of those would have been spotted had the driver checked properly.
Although you say the vehicle had only just had its 6 weekly PMI - they don’t generally check the fifth wheel as the tractor will go into the workshop solo in most cases so it wouldn’t have been checked anyway.
The 5th wheel looked to be in working order before going under the trailer and once under the trailer the only things you can check for the are the jaws locked and the pin is in which they were. Also I’d have thought I would’ve been up on a disaplinary had they found I was at fault.
What would you say are the correct checks for the 5th wheel then?? I’d say check the clip is attached, make sure no springs are missing, make sure the release leaver works properly, check for any bolts sheared off or loose from its mountings and check the jaws work properly.
You have pretty much covered it with regard to checks but certain situations can occur such as;
The fifth wheel is too low and the king pin does not engage in the locking jaws - it does however trigger the mechanism to close. In this instance the driver will be able to fit the safety clip and all will appear good - unless he looks underneath to see the daylight between the trailer and the fifth wheel and the pin sitting on top of the jaws but within the fifth wheel bed. The trailer may well remain attached for quite a distance - or may pull straight out. After the trailer falls off the fifth wheel will remain fully closed and all will look fine meaning people jump to the conclusion it was a mechanical failure.
You may have carried out all the required checks and there could have been a failure of the fifth wheel but I would say the chances are pretty remote as the components involved are big chunky bits. It would need a linkage pin or link bar to fail/fall out.
If as your mechanics said (and I doubt they are trained 5th wheel technicians) it failed to lock - then you wouldn’t have been able to get the safety clip in. The handle you operate and the locking bar are all physically joined together by pins/bolts and linkages - if one moves the other moves.
Have a look at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atKelxzvoHA and you will see how it works
dozy:
I worked at Wordsworth holding who manufactured big-d couplings ,sliders ,ramps etc ,before they got robots in they were welded by hand ( by me and others ) ,it was often a case when you fitted them up ,adjuster rods,springs ,handle etc that they would not lock up properly ,you had too grind bits away ,refit tabs etc to get them too lock up correctly ,but as you were on piece work at times you didn’t make quite as good a job as you should of done ( thought being fitter could mend it at a later date ) .
The locking jaws were cast and machined on a cnc miller at Wordsworth holding ,they were machined on a large cube jig ,so multiple components could be machined ,but there were tolerances in the machining process which at time caused problems when fitting them up,welded top place even though welded in a jig can move ,few thou out maching wise etc etc .
All this was a.f.a.i.a sold to jost ( didn’t they have a cast top plate ) whereas big- d was not .
So I understand what you say but after actually working on the component you talk of I’m not convinced that there can’t be failures ( I’m talking more big-d than host ) ,never saw there manufacturing procedure.
It shouldn’t happen but at times piece work I.m.o.h.o can’t impact on the quality of the product being manufactured ,doing away with inspectors I.m.o.h.o was a really bad move in a lot of engineering environments .
My knowledge though is from years ago so I guess things have moved on a lot ,so maybe the latest methods of manufacturing fifth wheels may a failure not possible .
If it was something like you have described it wouldn’t go into the lock position and the latch wouldn’t drop or the dog clip wouldn’t go in - the driver would therefore notice. Once the latch is in place or the dog clip in its hole it would take more than a little manufacturing tolerance being out to cause it to come undone.
Also - in my experience the JOST product is far superior to the Double-D
I saw a piccy yesterday of a container lorry 100ft in the air at some port, still attached to the trailer! Now if that didn’t disconnect then I’m pretty sure it’s driver error when they do go ■■■■ up. I.m.o.h.o
SteveBarnsleytrucker:
nick2008:
Supatramp:
What muppet managed to lose his trailer slap bang in the middle of the northbound A644 running up to the M62 J25?With 240 miles ahead of me, and gale force wind and pouring rain, I wasn’t impressed with the chaos he caused!!
it has been known to be a failure of the 5th wheel so without facts who’s the Muppet ?
Once happend to me when I pulled out of our yard about 7 years ago. Hitched up to the trailer I was taking, did the two shunts forward to check it was locked in, put the pin in and did my checks then off I went.
Only got 10 yard out of the gate and just heard a bang and air blowing everywhere, looked in my mirrors to see my trailer on the floor with its arse stuck up in the air
Worry takes over as thoughts go through my head “I did everything right” “did I put the pin in right?” Thankfully for me one of our rigid drivers was in the yard and confirmed I had done everything correctly and as he had followed me out of the yard he pulled up behind me with his hazards on.
The lads from the workshop turned up and lifted the trailer up with 2 fork trucks, it was loaded with Flymo lawnmowers bound for B&Q Coventry so was not that heavy. They got the shunted out and hitched it up and dragged it into the yard and straight into the workshop. The unit had only had its 6 week check only 2 week before but whilst checking the 5th wheel they found out it wasn’t locking in fully and it needed replacing.
So don’t jump to conclusions too quick. Yes the driver may not have put the pin in but then again as happend with me there could be a fault with the 5th wheel.
This is why it’s better to have a plate welded to the 5th wheel with a hole in which Lines up with a hole in the handle for the clip as even though your sure the trailers in correctly with a clip on a chain you wouldn’t know if it was or not .