HELP!! King pin stuck in hitch

[TTimmons]

HELP! Somehow my kingpin is stuck in my fifth wheel hitch. It is kinda twisted sideways, and not all the way seated in the hitch. Now it is bound up, and i cannot get it loose. Any suggestions on how to get this fixed? Camper is stuck in front of my house.

 

[RonD]

Try lowering the front trailer leg's, unbolt the hitch from the bed, raise the trailer, and drive away leaving the hitch connected to the pin box, then deal with the problem

 

[TTimmons]

Thanks Ron!! Good thinking!

 

[surfbeetle]

Had the same problem, only mine was that the release lever on the hitch had come loose and the jaws on the hitch would not open. I used a wedge piece of wood to open the jaws and release the trailer. Of course make sure the landing gear is down.

 

[GAmes]

I'm a lttle late here, but I'll add 2cents worth. With the trailer wheels chocked, release the parking brake and put the truck in nuetral. When going up and down the pin moves in an arc and will bind the hitch jaws if the legs are unable to slide.

 

[wjpatton]

Yep, good thinking! Only had this problem once, quite a ways back. Did exactly as you suggested, and it worked like a champ!

 

[HBarlow]

Gary's suggestion or something similar to it has released my trailer kingpin many times. If the truck was pulling or pushing slightly when stopped the hitch collar remains under tension. Once in awhile I have to back slightly against the kingpin to release it.

 

[Bob4x4]

It's easier in a big rig since you can lock the trailer brakes,and rock the tractor to unload the hitch,chocking the trailer wheels and rocking the truck may have a similiar effect

 

[S.Morris]

Sometimes people take too much weight off (all of it) the hitch. If truck and trailer are not on the same plane... . ie trailer and truck are not level side to side to each other it will bind the pin enough to not unlatch. Putting a little more weight on the truck usually does the trick, in addition to as already stated, backing slightly,or allowing truck free movement to find its spot. When its giving grief, it helps to have someone pull some tension on the release while you try a couple of these remedies.

 

[TTimmons]

Finally got it off. It took a crowbar prying in between the pinbox and fifth wheel hitch to get it to loosen. Everything is good, no damage.

 

[EricBu12]

My heavy 36' 5th wheel always needs to have the tension released. . When I park, I use the Roto-Chock from Genos and with the legs down, I put the truck into reverse and give a slight nudge. then lock the truck brake. . This always releases the tension so I can easily pull the handle... I also take most of the weight off the truck but not all the way off. .