Holland F35 Fifth Wheel Adjustment

[Mike]

Got a little slack in my fifth wheel. I am assuming that all I need to do is tighten the nut at the front to where it is snug against the fifth wheel, correct? Am I underthinking this?

 

[Mike]

hook up to your trailer

I'll be doing it hooked up to my trailer when I get home. There is a small amount of slack (more than there should be). Figured that snug is about all I would want to do when tightening it. Found a Holland video, it says to tighten it til it is snug, then go another complete turn. I think I'm gonna leave that extra turn out of the equation.

Not sure why, but adjusting a fifth wheel makes me a little nervous, LOL.

 

[Mike]

I guess I didn't explain that very well. What I ment to say was. Most people think to adjust those to turn that nut IN and that tightens the adjustment. I can see how people would think that, but what that nut actually does is let the jaw wedge move further inwards and it keeps more tension on the jaws.

Its sorta hard to explain, but that big rubber washer basically just keeps the tension on the wedge which keeps tension on the jaws. So like you said, when you hook up you need to basically turn that adjuster nut to where the rubber washer is snug.

Oh hell....you know what I mean! lol

Basically before you ever hook up, back that nut off several turns from where it is now, then run it back in till snug on that rubber washer once the jaws are hooked up to your king pin.

I think you almost confused me, LOL

 

[Mike]

I guess I didn't explain that very well. What I ment to say was. Most people think to adjust those to turn that nut IN and that tightens the adjustment. I can see how people would think that, but what that nut actually does is let the jaw wedge move further inwards and it keeps more tension on the jaws.

Its sorta hard to explain, but that big rubber washer basically just keeps the tension on the wedge which keeps tension on the jaws. So like you said, when you hook up you need to basically turn that adjuster nut to where the rubber washer is snug.

Oh hell....you know what I mean! lol

Basically before you ever hook up, back that nut off several turns from where it is now, then once you hook up to the trailer, run it back in till that rubber washer is snug. Then go one turn.

hook up trailer, back up good into the trailer, than tighten the nut to remove the slack. That's my thought process. Right now, there is a small gap when I do that. (basically, I see the gap when i am backed up to a dock, then I feel the slack when i take off)

 

[Mike]

@Snowman_w900

I think I just figured out what you were saying. I need to initially back the nut off a few turns before hooking to the trailer. If that is correct, I think I was overlooking that step.

 

[mndriver]

You should not have a gap. That’s bad.

likewise, too tight, you’ll have issues unlocking to unhook or even locking up and dropping the trailer.

 

[Mike]

You should not have a gap. That’s bad.

likewise, too tight, you’ll have issues unlocking to unhook or even locking up and dropping the trailer.

Yeah, upon further review, I’m gonna leave it alone for now. I didn’t realize that was such a thick wedge, and I think my blind ass was thinking it was a gap.

What I thought was fifth wheel slack, might be, or might be something else. Need to verify that is where the movement is happening.

 

[mndriver]

Back up solid against the trailer
Set your trailer parking brake.

draw a chalk mark on the frame where the kingpin is.

keeping the trailer brake locked, pull ahead against the trailer.

set the truck parking brake

mark where the kingpin is on the frame.

measure the distance between the two marks.



Do the same thing with the pivot pin and pivot pin bracket




it’s easier though to just git some fool to move the truck for you as you sit and watch the 5th wheel.

Here is where those screen shots came from.


ftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/MCarrier/Aspen/North%20American%20Standard%20Out-Of-Service%20Criteria.pdf

CVSA out of service criteria

 

[CharlieK]

can't you just feel there is slack in the fifth wheel as you pull to a stop? or is that just steering wheel holder bs

Sometimes it can be challenging to figure out exactly where that slack is coming from...

 

[Hammer166]

can't you just feel there is slack in the fifth wheel as you pull to a stop? or is that just steering wheel holder bs

You can feel it, and it's normally in the 5th wheel, but it can be in the mount or in the slider.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Is this the nut y'ins are talking about?

 

[Humble pie]

Is this the nut y'ins are talking about?

View attachment 68442

Yes

 

[Electric Chicken]

So basically it sticks way out there because it's released and will slam against the washer and bushing when it's locked in. If it doesn't, it needs turned in or out (depending whether its sloppy or has trouble locking) until it touches the bushing without smashing it when the trailer is hooked.

 

[Humble pie]

So basically it sticks way out there because it's released and will slam against the washer and bushing when it's locked in. If it doesn't, it needs turned in or out (depending whether its sloppy or has trouble locking) until it touches the bushing without smashing it when the trailer is hooked.

Simple enough isn’t it

 

[Electric Chicken]

Simple enough isn’t it

Seems kind of awesome. Take a socket and extension and hit it no matter where you are.

 

[Humble pie]

Seems kind of awesome. Take a socket and extension and hit it no matter where you are.

Well you don’t want it too tight. And you need to back it off then hook up and tighten it to do it properly.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Well you don’t want it too tight. And you need to back it off then hook up and tighten it to do it properly.

That's what I mean. But you don't need to wait to get to a shop if you already have the basic tools.

 

[Humble pie]

That’s correct. Definitely not hard to do

That's what I mean. But you don't need to wait to get to a shop if you already have the basic tools.

 

[mndriver]

Considering I have the same 5th wheel and miss my Fontaine....

 

[Uncle Birchy]

Got a little slack in my fifth wheel. I am assuming that all I need to do is tighten the nut at the front to where it is snug against the fifth wheel, correct? Am I underthinking this?

What I do is take some PB BLASTER n let it sit awhile and absord .

Next take a hammer now just good tap all around shake things loose..

Sometimes that pin doesnt lock once ya got desired setting go back out & look

I've had afew wouldn't RE-LOCK just take a hammer and make sure switch set

Now @Mike I'm sure you knows this so disregard...

"Newbies" when sliding a 5th wheel very slightly tap the gas pedal otherwise your sleeper look like when they'd flip open a 1980s cabover..

Also if ya full throttle ya might lock it all the way back .