Almost came a cropper today.
Went to hook up a trailer, went under it but as it was a fridge I decided to split couple as I was in an Actros that needed a lot of leverage to get the red line in. Put the suzzies on then noticed the rear door had blown round and was catching the trailer next to so I went and closed it. I then noticed the one next to me had its offside door open so I closed that then noticed all the trailers were the same. “Wonder why that is?” I thought but carried on and put the legs up, let the trailer brake off, jumped in and moved off. The trailer parking is downhill slightly with a barrier in front so I was angled when I braked slightly and felt the trailer move. “Hmm. That didnt feel right” so I stopped. It took a second to dawn on me what id done.
“■■■■” thinks I. I didnt connect the pin! 
Jumped out and sure enough the kingpin isnt locked. Put the trailer brake on and reversed. I’ve never been relieved to hear the kingpin lock but I sure as ■■■■ was that time!
It was a scary moment and I thank my stars it was downhill.
Its scary how easily it is to be distracted and how close I came to coming a cropper all for wondering why some trailer doors were open
So any newbies reading this, when hooking up a trailer dont be distracted like a cat with a shiny object!
The-Snowman:
Almost came a cropper today.
Went to hook up a trailer, went under it but as it was a fridge I decided to split couple as I was in an Actros that needed a lot of leverage to get the red line in. Put the suzzies on then noticed the rear door had blown round and was catching the trailer next to so I went and closed it. I then noticed the one next to me had its offside door open so I closed that then noticed all the trailers were the same. “Wonder why that is?” I thought but carried on and put the legs up, let the trailer brake off, jumped in and moved off. The trailer parking is downhill slightly with a barrier in front so I was angled when I braked slightly and felt the trailer move. “Hmm. That didnt feel right” so I stopped. It took a second to dawn on me what id done.
“[zb]” thinks I. I didnt connect the pin!
Jumped out and sure enough the kingpin isnt locked. Put the trailer brake on and reversed. I’ve never been relieved to hear the kingpin lock but I sure as [zb] was that time!
It was a scary moment and I thank my stars it was downhill.
Its scary how easily it is to be distracted and how close I came to coming a cropper all for wondering why some trailer doors were open
So any newbies reading this, when hooking up a trailer dont be distracted like a cat with a shiny object!
Easy done Frozen chap I’ve mentioned on here before about my mistake when split coupling at Iceland. Did a similar thing, under the trailer, handbrake on, went to do the lines and the next minute the bloody trailer came towards me whilst I was on the catwalk 
Bloody shunter hadn’t put the trailer brake on and the loaded trailer was on a slightly downward incline 
Best sound I’ve ever heard when the pin engaged in the 5th wheel. Had a face full of Thermo King though 
eagerbeaver:
The-Snowman:
wheel. Had a face full of Thermo King though
Did Thermo thank you afterwards?
emwmarine:
eagerbeaver:
The-Snowman:
wheel. Had a face full of Thermo King thoughDid Thermo thank you afterwards?
No. He was very cold towards me.
sorry wrong thread
eagerbeaver:
Had a face full of Thermo King though
Oh err Missus!
Glad it worked out for you Snowman and kudos for fessing up 
I try never to deviate 
from me set routine either, people probably think i’m being off if they speak and i only say ‘‘hello hang on a sec’’ but carry on till the job is done, then chat, only takes one little mistake, once something or someone has distracted you thats it, especially split coupling which you really do need to concentrate on.
Not had it - or ever want something like this to happen to me…
Sometimes think of getting my next work gear with slogans on the back saying something like… ‘#ZB OFF I’m busy’…?
It is very easy to forget something if you get distracted so that is why i always start my checks from the beginning if i do and i will never speak to any driver until they are finished coupling up or dropping a trailer !
glad you got away with it but i bet yea filled yer kegs !!
Yep - been there, dropped a decker on it’s knees because I was interrupted mid couple.
Golden Rule, If anyone speaks to you, or you get distracted - START AGAIN, even if it’s ■■■■■■■ down with rain (always does at our hub - guaranteed 30 degrees up the M1, 5 miles from base - chucks it down)
anyway - START AGAIN to be on the safe side
I have been making a point of NOT using a set routine when hooking up a trailer for the best part of twenty years. Instead I keep double checking throughout, and most importantly, always have a mental and visual check before I move off.
A set routine gives you a false sense of security. My way keeps me paranoid and alert every time.
And I also regularly get back in the cab to double check that I put the hand brake on…
Happened to me in Honeybourne when doing a trailer swap. Drop the empty and then pull the loaded trailer off using the red line only. Back the empty onto the bay, drop that and then back halfway under the loaded (and v heavy) trailer to connect the lines.
I am on the catwalk when the warehouse guy comes out with paperwork, so while I connect all the lines, he helps by winding up the legs, then I hop off for a chat. Ten minutes later I climb into the cab and drive forward - I guess it just felt wrong because I slammed on the brakes and caught it just before it fell off the ramps. I had to wind the legs down and lower the suspension to get back under… Phew!!!
Cheers lads
I know im not the first and wont be the last but its always nice to know you’re not alone when you make a ■■■■ up!
Ive always made a point of redoing the procedure in my head before getting in the cab but because I was only shifting it to the other end of the yard as a favour my mind was’nt fully on the job.
Lesson learned!
Tooz:
i bet yea filled yer kegs !!
Youre ■■■■■■■ right I did!
eagerbeaver:
The-Snowman:
Almost came a cropper today.
Went to hook up a trailer, went under it but as it was a fridge I decided to split couple as I was in an Actros that needed a lot of leverage to get the red line in. Put the suzzies on then noticed the rear door had blown round and was catching the trailer next to so I went and closed it. I then noticed the one next to me had its offside door open so I closed that then noticed all the trailers were the same. “Wonder why that is?” I thought but carried on and put the legs up, let the trailer brake off, jumped in and moved off. The trailer parking is downhill slightly with a barrier in front so I was angled when I braked slightly and felt the trailer move. “Hmm. That didnt feel right” so I stopped. It took a second to dawn on me what id done.
“[zb]” thinks I. I didnt connect the pin!
Jumped out and sure enough the kingpin isnt locked. Put the trailer brake on and reversed. I’ve never been relieved to hear the kingpin lock but I sure as [zb] was that time!
It was a scary moment and I thank my stars it was downhill.
Its scary how easily it is to be distracted and how close I came to coming a cropper all for wondering why some trailer doors were open
So any newbies reading this, when hooking up a trailer dont be distracted like a cat with a shiny object!Easy done Frozen chap
Best sound I’ve ever heard when the pin engaged in the 5th wheel. Had a face full of Thermo King though
I do hope there was no damage done to those film star looks? 
The-Snowman:
Almost came a cropper today.
Went to hook up a trailer, went under it but as it was a fridge I decided to split couple as I was in an Actros that needed a lot of leverage to get the red line in. Put the suzzies on then noticed the rear door had blown round and was catching the trailer next to so I went and closed it. I then noticed the one next to me had its offside door open so I closed that then noticed all the trailers were the same. “Wonder why that is?” I thought but carried on and put the legs up, let the trailer brake off, jumped in and moved off. The trailer parking is downhill slightly with a barrier in front so I was angled when I braked slightly and felt the trailer move. “Hmm. That didnt feel right” so I stopped. It took a second to dawn on me what id done.
“[zb]” thinks I. I didnt connect the pin!
Jumped out and sure enough the kingpin isnt locked. Put the trailer brake on and reversed. I’ve never been relieved to hear the kingpin lock but I sure as [zb] was that time!
It was a scary moment and I thank my stars it was downhill.
Its scary how easily it is to be distracted and how close I came to coming a cropper all for wondering why some trailer doors were open
So any newbies reading this, when hooking up a trailer dont be distracted like a cat with a shiny object!
Tut tut didn’t follow your BLACK procedure! 
Easy done mate. Thing I usually forget is taking the trailer brake off. Doesn’t help when they are on the off side.
TiredAndEmotional:
eagerbeaver:
The-Snowman:
Almost came a cropper today.
Went to hook up a trailer, went under it but as it was a fridge I decided to split couple as I was in an Actros that needed a lot of leverage to get the red line in. Put the suzzies on then noticed the rear door had blown round and was catching the trailer next to so I went and closed it. I then noticed the one next to me had its offside door open so I closed that then noticed all the trailers were the same. “Wonder why that is?” I thought but carried on and put the legs up, let the trailer brake off, jumped in and moved off. The trailer parking is downhill slightly with a barrier in front so I was angled when I braked slightly and felt the trailer move. “Hmm. That didnt feel right” so I stopped. It took a second to dawn on me what id done.
“[zb]” thinks I. I didnt connect the pin!
Jumped out and sure enough the kingpin isnt locked. Put the trailer brake on and reversed. I’ve never been relieved to hear the kingpin lock but I sure as [zb] was that time!
It was a scary moment and I thank my stars it was downhill.
Its scary how easily it is to be distracted and how close I came to coming a cropper all for wondering why some trailer doors were open
So any newbies reading this, when hooking up a trailer dont be distracted like a cat with a shiny object!Easy done Frozen chap
Best sound I’ve ever heard when the pin engaged in the 5th wheel. Had a face full of Thermo King though
I do hope there was no damage done to those film star looks?
No mate fortunately. I do enjoy being the most handsome man on TNUK.
The-Snowman:
Cheers lads
I know im not the first and wont be the last but its always nice to know you’re not alone when you make a ■■■■ up!
Ive always made a point of redoing the procedure in my head before getting in the cab but because I was only shifting it to the other end of the yard as a favour my mind was’nt fully on the job.
Lesson learned!
The process should be outlawed or at least treated (and regulated) like working on live electric cables.
I know at least once (and possibly more) I’ve been a moment’s hesitation away from a serious mistake when split coupling.
It sounds funny admitting that I forget now exactly what the circumstances have been, I just know I’ve come too close.
Sand Fisher:
The-Snowman:
Almost came a cropper today.
Went to hook up a trailer, went under it but as it was a fridge I decided to split couple as I was in an Actros that needed a lot of leverage to get the red line in. Put the suzzies on then noticed the rear door had blown round and was catching the trailer next to so I went and closed it. I then noticed the one next to me had its offside door open so I closed that then noticed all the trailers were the same. “Wonder why that is?” I thought but carried on and put the legs up, let the trailer brake off, jumped in and moved off. The trailer parking is downhill slightly with a barrier in front so I was angled when I braked slightly and felt the trailer move. “Hmm. That didnt feel right” so I stopped. It took a second to dawn on me what id done.
“[zb]” thinks I. I didnt connect the pin!
Jumped out and sure enough the kingpin isnt locked. Put the trailer brake on and reversed. I’ve never been relieved to hear the kingpin lock but I sure as [zb] was that time!
It was a scary moment and I thank my stars it was downhill.
Its scary how easily it is to be distracted and how close I came to coming a cropper all for wondering why some trailer doors were open
So any newbies reading this, when hooking up a trailer dont be distracted like a cat with a shiny object!Tut tut didn’t follow your BLACK procedure!
Easy done mate. Thing I usually forget is taking the trailer brake off. Doesn’t help when they are on the off side.
I like my B L A N K method, purely because I kept forgetting the numberplate!
Rjan:
The-Snowman:
Cheers lads
I know im not the first and wont be the last but its always nice to know you’re not alone when you make a ■■■■ up!
Ive always made a point of redoing the procedure in my head before getting in the cab but because I was only shifting it to the other end of the yard as a favour my mind was’nt fully on the job.
Lesson learned!The process should be outlawed or at least treated (and regulated) like working on live electric cables.
I know at least once (and possibly more) I’ve been a moment’s hesitation away from a serious mistake when split coupling.
It sounds funny admitting that I forget now exactly what the circumstances have been, I just know I’ve come too close.
You have come close to a serious mistake. But you don’t ’ remember ’ ?
