this relates specifically to the 5th wheels with the L shaped bar that drops down when the jaws close. apparently its a bit of a grey area which obviously means the guy i reported a missing dog clip to doesnt actually know but he gave me a clip anyway. does anyone actually know for definate as in they have asked VOSA for a straight YES/NO answer?
A dog clip is not mandatory.
Not a grey area at all. It’s not mandatory, however if one is fitted to the type of mechanism you describe then it should be used but it isn’t a defect if one isn’t fitted.
rha.uk.net/ContentFiles/Tech … o%2010.pdf
hse.gov.uk/workplacetranspor … upling.htm
Well the RHA and HSE refer to a dog clip OR other safety device
As far as I understand it, which is probably wrong 
, as long as a locking device is present and in use it is OK. 
i would certainly class that bar as a safety device but im not VOSA and i am not out to fine anyone
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.
Its just a luxury item that aint needed.
pavaroti:
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.Its just a luxury item that aint needed.
We’ve got the L shape clips so in theory I don’t need the dog clip but like I said a few seconds to clip it in no big deal is it.
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.
Me too; and why are there holes in it, and why does it come with a dog-clip fitted from new 
gardun:
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.Me too; and why are there holes in it, and why does it come with a dog-clip fitted from new :?:
For people who want the belt and braces approach. 
They don’t always.
Like I said, on this type of 5th wheel a dog clip doesn’t have to be fitted but if it is it should be used. Ours have both so the clip gets used.
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.
You’re right, its a no brainer. If its there, fit it. The question is though, are they mandatory. They aint.
I remember a good mate of mine dropping a trailer on its knees on a mini roundabout not far from his yard, fully loaded and snapping the lines. Police turned up with a ministry man to examine the truck and I recall if it wasn’t for the fact the dog-clip was in place, he would’ve been prosecuted for it. God knows what charge they would’ve used. They examined the fifth wheel etc and found nothing wrong. I asked my mate how sure he was that the pin was IN the jaws and not ON them. Red face and a smile… still couldn’t work out how it happened, or were the jaws locked after with a wheelbrace? The mystery deepens… Lucky bugger… 
brookie:
or were the jaws locked after with a wheelbrace? The mystery deepens…
lol
Mike-C:
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.You’re right, its a no brainer. If its there, fit it. The question is though, are they mandatory. They aint.
its from a “should it be there if it isnt?” perspective but yes, same thing
scanny77:
Mike-C:
bald bloke:
Even if its not mandatory it takes approximate 5 seconds if that to clip it into It’s little hole and then I feel safer so as far as I’m concerned its a no brainer.You’re right, its a no brainer. If its there, fit it. The question is though, are they mandatory. They aint.
its from a “should it be there if it isnt?” perspective but yes, same thing
no
i used to carry one in my work jacket anyway , just for peice of mind , nothing worse than spending the whole driving shift preoccupied with how safe your 5th wheel coupling is/isnt for the sake of a clip , wether it’s needed or not
At the very least using the dog clip ensures that the L shaped bracket has dropped fully. Many years ago I dropped a heavy trailer in the yard even after doing the usual attempted shunt forward test but not visually checking the L bracket.
brookie:
I remember a good mate of mine dropping a trailer on its knees on a mini roundabout not far from his yard, fully loaded and snapping the lines. Police turned up with a ministry man to examine the truck and I recall if it wasn’t for the fact the dog-clip was in place, he would’ve been prosecuted for it. God knows what charge they would’ve used. They examined the fifth wheel etc and found nothing wrong. I asked my mate how sure he was that the pin was IN the jaws and not ON them. Red face and a smile… still couldn’t work out how it happened, or were the jaws locked after with a wheelbrace? The mystery deepens…
Easy probably picked up horse under a trailer that someone had semi hooked, if trailer is too high it can snap the bar shut but only be on the bottom of pin, your mate drives off, ist proper bend or camber in road and off she comes
JLS Driver SOS:
brookie:
I remember a good mate of mine dropping a trailer on its knees on a mini roundabout not far from his yard, fully loaded and snapping the lines. Police turned up with a ministry man to examine the truck and I recall if it wasn’t for the fact the dog-clip was in place, he would’ve been prosecuted for it. God knows what charge they would’ve used. They examined the fifth wheel etc and found nothing wrong. I asked my mate how sure he was that the pin was IN the jaws and not ON them. Red face and a smile… still couldn’t work out how it happened, or were the jaws locked after with a wheelbrace? The mystery deepens…Easy probably picked up horse under a trailer that someone had semi hooked, if trailer is too high it can snap the bar shut but only be on the bottom of pin, your mate drives off, ist proper bend or camber in road and off she comes
Yep, thats probably right, but I’ll always wonder how he managed to get fifth-wheel grease all over his wheelbrace handle
Moving on another step, our wagon n drag combis have pneumatic pins, the lever that controls them is in a box with a lid, that lid can be held shut with a dog clip… would VOSA be that pedantic…I put the clip on every time. 