Didn’t see that one, this one was up on rosper Road, at the west gate of the docks, happened early Tuesday, when I drove past, recovery was there getting ready to lift it.
If it happens more than once is it classed as ‘multi drop’. 
I always lift the trailer first - taught the Peter Smythe way. 
I did once back underneath a Skelly too far and managed to get the king pin stuck the wrong side of the fifth wheel, I had to sprag the fifth wheel down with some timber and drive forwards to get out from underneath the trailer - is this common?
MickyB666:
If it happens more than once is it classed as ‘multi drop’.I always lift the trailer first - taught the Peter Smythe way.
I did once back underneath a Skelly too far and managed to get the king pin stuck the wrong side of the fifth wheel, I had to sprag the fifth wheel down with some timber and drive forwards to get out from underneath the trailer - is this common?
Seen it done a couple of times, one of our client’s yard is tarmac, except for where the trailers are dropped, the legs are on the dirt, and when coupling up the drive axle drops off in to a conveniently worn groove. Dropping the 5th off the bed plate, and causing the pin to go over it…
Evil8Beezle:
I’ve clearly a lot to learn, as I’d never back on to a trailer without dropping the suspension first. Followed by ensuring I’d lifted the trailer up before completing the pin locking. I wasn’t aware that rough or uneven ground could also be a factor, but that’s not really an issue in our yard…I’ve been told that the pin depth can vary on some trailers, and this coupled with the ability to move the 5th wheel, makes me always get out and check how much further I’ve got to go before I remodel the back of the truck!
I was also a bit surprised that when Ash spent a day with me, that he wasn’t shown/told to lift the trailer when backing in during his trainer. As it turns out, the suspension was knackered on his training vehicle, so the only way he could hitch up during his training was to run the trailer up the running bars (if that’s the right name for them). And talking about running bars, I’ve seen at least one unit without these, which just seems crazy considering the consequences of not having them!
None on any of ours. I was told that it was because we do a lot of dropping and swapping on sloped bays.
I was never taught to lift the suspension or even touch it on my training evil so what do you mean by lifting the trailer first cheers for any help tho pal
samledger1212:
I was never taught to lift the suspension or even touch it on my training evil so what do you mean by lifting the trailer first cheers for any help tho pal
Basically you drop the suspension as you approach the trailer, and to be diligent, you then get out and check you will clear it as you reverse under. If you think you won’t, then maybe you should consider sticking the trailer legs in low gear and lifting it up until you will. (I was told this, as if you’re in a “show unit”, the normal driver might go ape if you mark his/her running bars). You then reverse under the trailer until the 5th will is fully under the trailer but short of the pin. You then raise the suspension and lift the trailer legs off the deck. (at the same time checking the pin depth, and being happy it won’t collide with the cab! 
) You then complete the reverse to lock in the pin, do a double tug test and turn off the motor. This is followed by locking/inserting the dog clip, attaching the airlines, winding up the legs, releasing the trailer brake, inserting the number plate. I personally then start her up, normalising the suspension, and then check the lights etc…
I’m surprised you were not taught to do this, as trying to wind up the legs with them on the floor is/can be a ■■■■■! 
Done everything else apart from lifting the trailer on mine it was reverse upto the mud grads get out have a look that the pin was in line with the 5th wheel then get back in the truck reverse under till the double click then the 2 tug test then turn off the truck and so on but never lifted the legs off the floor or ever touched the suspension
samledger1212:
Done everything else apart from lifting the trailer on mine it was reverse upto the mud grads get out have a look that the pin was in line with the 5th wheel then get back in the truck reverse under till the double click then the 2 tug test then turn off the truck and so on but never lifted the legs off the floor or ever touched the suspension
As Cavey says above, if you run the trailer up the running bars and along the 5th wheel, you’ll scrape the grease off the 5th wheel and leave it on the front edge of the trailer near the catwalk. That alone is good enough reason not to do it, as who wants to be risking covering the suzzies in that crap? 
Ye good point at least now for the future cheers pal wunt of known any dif if I haven’t have read this post
How did we used to manage on steel springs■■?
Steevo:
How did we used to manage on steel springs■■?
Exactly .
And how did we manage before 5th wheels had springs in them , and you had to manually open AND close the bar handle ■■
Or when we had 3 airlines ?
Or manual hanbrakes ?
Or landing legs had no handles ?
How did we manage when the only training came via school of hard knocks …
When there was no one to hold our hands and wipe our bums .
And isnt it funny how the most know all members on this forum know jack shiiite about anything eh evil
boredwivdrivin:
Steevo:
How did we used to manage on steel springs■■?Exactly .
And how did we manage before 5th wheels had springs in them , and you had to manually open AND close the bar handle ■■
Or when we had 3 airlines ?
Or manual hanbrakes ?
Or landing legs had no handles ?
How did we manage when the only training came via school of hard knocks …
When there was no one to hold our hands and wipe our bums .And isnt it funny how the most know all members on this forum know jack shiiite about anything eh evil
He only passed last month…
Steevo:
How did we used to manage on steel springs■■?
Very simple.Most/all units had ramps and no one gave a zb about a bit of grease getting wiped off the fifth wheel onto the lines or cat walk.In which case the procedure was we knew how high the trailer was v the ramps because we could see it in the mirrors and unlike today we’d have been coupled up and on our way back.While these days they would at best still be zb ing about with their air suspension and at worst sometimes losing trailers as a result,all to stop a bit of grease getting on the unit.
Radar19:
He only passed last month…
He should hand it back …
And try for a refund !!
Carryfast:
Steevo:
How did we used to manage on steel springs■■?Very simple.Most/all units had ramps and no one gave a zb about a bit of grease getting wiped off the fifth wheel onto the lines or cat walk.In which case the procedure was we knew how high the trailer was v the ramps because we could see it in the mirrors and unlike today we’d have been coupled up and on our way back.While these days they would at best still be zb ing about with their air suspension and at worst sometimes losing trailers as a result,all to stop a bit of grease getting on the unit.
+1
I was probably driving for 5 years before i even had a bloody cat walk to drop grease on !!
Anyways
Few nights ago i watched a plonker drop trailer in new scania with his midlift up and suspension jacked up from just being tipped .
Half hour later Mr Gormless rolls up for it in another new scanny with midlift and suspension down .
Being all heart i jump out and try and tell Mr Gormless this . i also notice he is 6 inches off center .
I say ’ oi bum face you need to line the trailer up and level the air suspension or you will miss the pin ’
He smiles and says ’ lprezxy yukkixzc wqtrye evbhg zrexvmt ok please sir ’
Full of winter solstice good vibes i say ’ if you wanna fight you better bring some friends you arse ’ and get back in my cab .
Mr Plonker then proceeds to reverse in , stick the pin ON the 5th wheel and mash the wind deflectors .
A small gaggle of idiots then gather round scratching their chins .
45 up i drive off and leave them to it , trying to catch a few with trailer
boredwivdrivin:
Steevo:
How did we used to manage on steel springs■■?Exactly .
And how did we manage before 5th wheels had springs in them , and you had to manually open AND close the bar handle ■■
Or when we had 3 airlines ?
Or manual hanbrakes ?
Or landing legs had no handles ?
How did we manage when the only training came via school of hard knocks …
When there was no one to hold our hands and wipe our bums .And isnt it funny how the most know all members on this forum know jack shiiite about anything eh evil
You’re a ■■■■■■■ dinosaur. A throwback to a bygone age. The world’s moved on but you’re still stuck in the “good old days” that weren’t really that good. Leave the modern world to us youngsters.
On a not taking the ■■■■ note. I’ve never driven an artic with air suspension. I’ve only ever had steel springs and never took any notice if the trailer was too high or low, just get winding 
Bit of a bugger if it was heavy, but some you win, some you lose. Three airlines, no problem. No spring brake, no problem. No power steering etc, no problem. It was the gear we had at the time. No big deal. My Father before me had things like scammell couplings and vacuum brakes, and drove a steam lorry in his early days.
TheNewBoy:
The name FIFTH wheel comes from there actually being a wheel there before the modern turntables we see todayAs for was it the drivers fault or not??
I have seen it where the pin has actually broken off the trailer ( it’s very rare tho )
That i’ve seen too.
But some Companies tighten the Fifth Wheel when Kingpin shackles in it around. Then is it possible that a Oval Kingpin forces the 5th Wheel open.
But you are right with guess about Driver. See every Night 2 or 3 Artics without Dogclip on 5th Wheel. Muss not open,but you run quick out of excuses
MickyB666:
If it happens more than once is it classed as ‘multi drop’.I always lift the trailer first - taught the Peter Smythe way.
I did once back underneath a Skelly too far and managed to get the king pin stuck the wrong side of the fifth wheel, I had to sprag the fifth wheel down with some timber and drive forwards to get out from underneath the trailer - is this common?
Skelly trailers have the pin quite far forward so it’s easily done. As mentioned when picking up an unfamiliar trailer a quick check where the pin is is good practice. Can be done whilst doing a prehookup walk-around check. Not many do this but I’m special.
I also concur with the torch check up the jaws, some feel it unnecessary but I do it coz I feel like a gynaecologist at the time and it’s good practice to get down and dirty in the ■■■■■■■.
How did we manage on steel springs?
We managed just like anything else, the big difference being if we were dropping an empty we’d leave about 3" of space under the landing legs to allow for spring compression, every tractor had pick up ramps then, you needed them and they were far more sturdy items than they are now.
We had idiots then just like now, those who couldn’t grasp the concept of spring compression when loaded and would, three sheets in the wind, wind the legs right down to the ground…this happened especially with drivers who had sliding fifth wheels, rare then because the average tractor had a short wheelbase, they obviously sat higher anyway but expecting them to take that into consideration as well as dropping gap was too much for them to cope with.
Trailers didn’t always have two speed landing gears, so if some plonker had dropped it high empty and it was loaded where it stood, it was the case of searching for blocks and planks to run the tractor back wheels up to lift the trailer a bit cos you’d never get the legs up in a month of Sundays.
Oh Boredwivlivin, what difference did three airlines make…apart from the fact it made for safer braking cos you had a full secondary braking system, which you aint got now…we only had one electrical suzy then so a total of 4 connections on the average lorry.
The big difference then is that most cabs were smallish, mostly day cabs, and nearly all had windows in the back so you were actually watching the fifth wheel do its thing directly through said window, you could see if was right height and we all had manual clutches so we had more control over how gently or not we had to connect up.
No, grease didn’t matter so much then because you could usually have a picnic between the tractor and trailer they were so far apart, grease didn’t fall on the catwalk it fell behind it (partly cos the pins were usually right at the front of the trailer and the lines didn’t get greasy because they were generally mounted fairly high on the back of the tractor and didn’t drop onto the catwalk either, even in the tightest of jack knife’s, unless you ran foreign spec trailer such as tilts with deep pins, the lines would simply bend round the corner of the front of the trailer and go nowhere near any grease.
Parking brakes, well we more or less ignored them, most were cable and if they weren’t seized up some plonker would most likely have wound them off the spool and they be jammed solid, they only worked for MOT and a month after in most cases, and any driver picking up a trailer he didn’t know would assume the air would have drained out and the brakes released as they did then, so the first thing you did was to back up close to the trailer, ie slide the ramps under but not actually lifting it, then connect the red line and blow some air in to put the brakes on then release it again and listen for the right sounds…remember some units had trailer only brake levers (superb) so you could at this point if you wished connect up the air lines and put the trailer air brakes on fully.
Just as now you used you common sense, those who had no common sense then were just as useless as those who have none now.
Maybe we took more pride then, most lorry drivers kept their lorries clean by use of the yard steam cleaner, none of this truckwash ■■■■■■■■ (must think they’re fatty car drivers, standing round finger up arse whilst someone else cleans it), lorries got cleaned properly by hand not a lick and a prayer from a passing twirly brush.
How did we learn, we asked old hands, not many old hands about now and many of them haven’t got two minutes to live to give a new lad some help and pointers, hence this forum is a great source of info, and some of us who might just have benefitted from having a mentor…an older driver at a place you started at who took you under his wing…well this place gives us the honour of passing that help on.
As for your dig at certain members, some of our new lads are trying their best to do the job right and take a pride in it, they will be the old school in the future and hopefully pass it on to newbies in their own good time, if you can’t see that as a good positive thing for all then all i can do is offer you a Merry Christmas.