Further to ‘just’ the clip and as submitted elsewhere on TNUK before, I always confirm that the lock bar is in place across the jaw by leaning under with my left hand supported on the landing gear frame to actually see it. I use the mobile phone or torchlight when it’s otherwise too dark - even if hooking up at the shunter’s request.
I do it in case of potential mechanical failure, ie, by either of the two pivot bolts having failed, which I reason could present the handle appearing locked & pinned due to the spring resistance somehow being otherwise unrestrained. Arguably, the combination shouldn’t pass the ‘tug-test’ but I like to deny giving Sod’s Law even the slimmest of chances.
Sure it takes a bit of bending effort and about four seconds to do, but it definitely gets a big tick of approval during a driving assessment as well as providing personal confidence in the kit - which we must all suspect gets plenty of abuse from others out there, eh! 
merc0447:
Is the 1st picture the one that dosent require a clip
merc0447:
i got a £60 fixed penalty and a delayed pg9 last year for a missing dog clip in this type of fitting on the new fifth wheel that was fitted to my truck. looks like vosa conned me out of some cash the [zb] s.
bjd:
merc0447:
Is the 1st picture the one that dosent require a clip
This type of mechanism does not need a dog clip but if one’s fitted it should be used.
tachograph:
bjd:
merc0447:
Is the 1st picture the one that dosent require a clip
This type of mechanism does not need a dog clip but if one’s fitted it should be used.
So you are saying this is just like seatbelts and the famous TN post. “If it’s not fitted you don’t have to use it.” 
TN post ?
tachograph:
bjd:
merc0447:
Is the 1st picture the one that dosent require a clip
This type of mechanism does not need a dog clip but if one’s fitted it should be used.
Exactly! Have had a GV9 for not having the pin in on a demo unit, although my regular unit didn’t have one fitted.
tachograph:
TN post ?
A famous, and oft quoted, post on here from a few years ago when on a thread discussing seatbelts a certain poster who shall remain nameless, jammymutt, advised that if a truck is not fitted with seatbelts you don’t have to wear them.
Coffeeholic:
tachograph:
TN post ?A famous, and oft quoted, post on here from a few years ago when on a thread discussing seatbelts a certain poster who shall remain nameless, jammymutt,
OK thanks, we’ll let jammymutt remain anonymous then 
Though as far as I can remember that was the case when the seat belt laws were first introduced in this country, but that was a lot of years ago and certainly not the case in recent years
Back to the the dog clip question, it’s my understanding that as the spring loaded mechanism above is self locking a dog clip isn’t required to be fitted to the vehicle but where one is fitted it should be used.
Though personally I prefer to use a clip whether one’s connected to the vehicle or not to be honest 
I’ll wait to be corrected but I believe that’s correct
scotstrucker:
merc0447:
i got a £60 fixed penalty and a delayed pg9 last year for a missing dog clip in this type of fitting on the new fifth wheel that was fitted to my truck. looks like vosa conned me out of some cash the [zb] s.
I went to the TEst centre with a truck with that type of fifth wheel, but no clip and although the guy doing the inspection mentioned it, it was only because he had a supervisor with him and he felt he should to prove he’d seen it, but they both agreed it didn’t need one. This was how the fifth wheel was designed to be used by the manufacturer, mainly to do away with having a clip to forget or lose.
clarkyboy:
at the start of your shift you re doing your walk around and when inspecting the 5th wheel there is no dog clip on it…it has a spring loaded safety thingy where the clip goes in,there is no dog clip on it though,what would you do?
should this not be on the new and wannabe thingy? wtf it’s a “professional drivers forum”
bigtruck:
clarkyboy:
at the start of your shift you re doing your walk around and when inspecting the 5th wheel there is no dog clip on it…it has a spring loaded safety thingy where the clip goes in,there is no dog clip on it though,what would you do?should this not be on the new and wannabe thingy? wtf it’s a “professional drivers forum”
i was waiting to get a few answers as a sort of poll before revealing what i did…i personally would never leave without a dogclip fitted,if its required by law or not
clarkyboy:
now ive had some opinions on the matter i will tell you what actually happend at the start of my shift
arrives into work and the wagon was just coming into the yard,i get my notes and walk round to where the agency driver was parking up,had a chat about his day and when he pulled his card and done a printout i asked him to put mine in.wecarry on chatting and i just happen to look at the 5th wheel and notice there was no dog clip fitteed to one of spring loaded safety thingies where the dog clip would go into…me being new to artics (driving 4 weeks) was told always there has to a dog clip fitted.
i pointed out the fact that there was no dog clip fitted and he said
“oh i didnt know mate it was already hooked up this morning”
and then had a look and said
“oh its one of them safety ones anyway”
now i didnt know that a dog clip didnt have to be connected to one of these so after he had gone i just wlaked round to workshop and asked them for a dog clip as the vehicle i was just first parading hasnt got 1,they gave me a dog clip,i put it on and left the yard happy with the condition of the vehicle.to me it just didnt seem right not to have 1 on and ifelt more comfortable knowing one was on.
do you think i done the right thing■■?
this was my reply further down the page…and i am new to the artic and asked in this forum to gauge the answers from experienced guys…i just hope im never on a bay an need advice an youre the only 1 around…95% of the people on the forum are helpfull,the other 5 % are just awkward
clarkyboy:
clarkyboy:
now ive had some opinions on the matter i will tell you what actually happend at the start of my shift
arrives into work and the wagon was just coming into the yard,i get my notes and walk round to where the agency driver was parking up,had a chat about his day and when he pulled his card and done a printout i asked him to put mine in.wecarry on chatting and i just happen to look at the 5th wheel and notice there was no dog clip fitteed to one of spring loaded safety thingies where the dog clip would go into…me being new to artics (driving 4 weeks) was told always there has to a dog clip fitted.
i pointed out the fact that there was no dog clip fitted and he said
“oh i didnt know mate it was already hooked up this morning”
and then had a look and said
“oh its one of them safety ones anyway”
now i didnt know that a dog clip didnt have to be connected to one of these so after he had gone i just wlaked round to workshop and asked them for a dog clip as the vehicle i was just first parading hasnt got 1,they gave me a dog clip,i put it on and left the yard happy with the condition of the vehicle.to me it just didnt seem right not to have 1 on and ifelt more comfortable knowing one was on.
do you think i done the right thing■■?this was my reply further down the page…and i am new to the artic and asked in this forum to gauge the answers from experienced guys…i just hope im never on a bay an need advice an youre the only 1 around…95% of the people on the forum are helpfull,the other 5 % are just awkward
It comes down to if you were happier with a dog clip in, so you got one, then that’s all that matters on this occasion even though it wasn’t actually required. While you can always be nicked for not having something that is required you are not going to be in bother for having something that isn’t. You were happy and had a better day without worrying about the lack of dog clip and the legalities of it. Sorted.
However, I would question you getting the agency guy to put your card in for you. Are you sure he would do any manual entries correctly or select the begin country and so on, given that he obviously didn’t check the vehicle too closely that morning because it was already coupled up?
Coffeeholic:
clarkyboy:
clarkyboy:
now ive had some opinions on the matter i will tell you what actually happend at the start of my shift
arrives into work and the wagon was just coming into the yard,i get my notes and walk round to where the agency driver was parking up,had a chat about his day and when he pulled his card and done a printout i asked him to put mine in.wecarry on chatting and i just happen to look at the 5th wheel and notice there was no dog clip fitteed to one of spring loaded safety thingies where the dog clip would go into…me being new to artics (driving 4 weeks) was told always there has to a dog clip fitted.
i pointed out the fact that there was no dog clip fitted and he said
“oh i didnt know mate it was already hooked up this morning”
and then had a look and said
“oh its one of them safety ones anyway”
now i didnt know that a dog clip didnt have to be connected to one of these so after he had gone i just wlaked round to workshop and asked them for a dog clip as the vehicle i was just first parading hasnt got 1,they gave me a dog clip,i put it on and left the yard happy with the condition of the vehicle.to me it just didnt seem right not to have 1 on and ifelt more comfortable knowing one was on.
do you think i done the right thing■■?this was my reply further down the page…and i am new to the artic and asked in this forum to gauge the answers from experienced guys…i just hope im never on a bay an need advice an youre the only 1 around…95% of the people on the forum are helpfull,the other 5 % are just awkward
It comes down to if you were happier with a dog clip in, so you got one, then that’s all that matters on this occasion even though it wasn’t actually required. While you can always be nicked for not having something that is required you are not going to be in bother for having something that isn’t. You were happy and had a better day without worrying about the lack of dog clip and the legalities of it. Sorted.
However, I would question you getting the agency guy to put your card in for you. Are you sure he would do any manual entries correctly or select the begin country and so on, given that he obviously didn’t check the vehicle too closely that morning because it was already coupled up?
suppose youre right,but at the time of handing my card to him i hadnt noticed the dog clip issue,no manual entries were required,but i see what you re getting at and i will live and learn…thanks for the advice
A fifth wheel coupling is required to be double locked.
Jost fifth wheels, the ones with the spring loaded L are already double locked. Adding a dog clip is 3rd lock.
Interesting this thread. I ran one on the exact same subject years ago & there was no conclusion!
Moving on, though not intending to deviate the (already done?) thread, why sometimes when you attempt to couple, will it not “get hold.” i.e. The wedge doesn’t want to slide accross to lock the jaws.
Just as a random inclusion in this thread, the new style renault premiums, well not the newest ones, but on 57/58 model, don’t have a dog clip or a swing down locking system, the 4 leggers have a handle you have to pull to disengage the pin, but the 6 leggers have none of the above, strange 
Mine has a L clip on it without a dog clip and has just gone through its MOT like it.
I had a brand new Axor (I know - that’s another story!) a few weeks ago. On taking delivery and hooking up I found it did not have a dog clip fitted. All our other Mercs with the same 5th wheel (Jost with the ‘L’ shaped spring lock) had one fitted. When mentioned to the dealer who happened to be our yard at the time he immediately had one fitted and commented that someone must have taken it off as they are all fitted with one on delivery.
As far as I’m concerned if fitted it must work and be used, and if missing it must be replaced. Probably belt and braces in this case, but for the sake of 5 seconds a shift why not