Definitely listen to what this guy says, getting the kingpin in front of the 5th wheel sucks!!!! Ask me how I know.....I had that happen in cincinatti just a few evenings ago. What a royal pain in the but!!

 

glad millis has auto fifth wheel greaser. no mess no fuss always greased up

 

I must respectfully beg to differ here, and with many of the other replies as well.

Here is why:

First off, it is best to grease the fifth wheel while you are parked at a truck stop. There is a reason for this, so please follow along here.

When you apply the grease to the fifth wheel, lay it on good and thick. You NEED to have some of the grease get scraped off, and land on the ground.

That way, after you pull out of the truck stop, the next guy who pulls in will have something to aim at when he gets out to pi&& in the truck stop parking lot.

PLEASE be considerate of your truckin' brothers; remember, we are all in this together!!

Thank you.

 

Welcome to CAD Morraco!!

I like to grease my fifth by pulling out until my plate clears the trailer. (you are lined up nice...cuz you just unhooked). I'll dump my air and back in about the two foot or so to get most of the plate back under...(and I always get out and look-see).
When you do this a lot...you get a good feel for it. I pick a spot on the ground and back slowly. Then I air up and finish the hook.

A good greased fifth helps you manuver well in moments like backing.

Like someone mentioned...you risk backing the kingpin past the fifth...if you are not careful. I've done that a couple times.
Also...grease less...and grease more often. It gets easy to do...and less messy when you figure it out.

 

I hear this good buddy " dizzy" is an expert fifth wheel greaser, look him up on this board. :lol:

 

Ive learned that it's best to fill the grooves with grease level with the plane of the fifth wheel. Then just touch up the flat areas with a light coat. The main thing is the grooves because thats what the fifth wheel glides on anyways(the grease in the grooves). No grease in the grooves, you will have fun trying to control that thing.

I ALWAYS grease the fifth wheel before hooking; the truck just handles better.

 

To much Grease does make a mess. One company I worked for alwasys put grease on the fith wheel and I hated to hook it up atferwards. Meant I was going to have a greasy shirt. THey had a Bucket of Grease, a Ash Shovel and they would fill the little shovel up 3 to 4 times putting grease on there.

But then again they would adjust my clutch where I could have it pushed to the floor and it would still take off when I started up the Truck... Wonder why I left them....

 

How do company OTR drivers greese their 5th wheel on a regular basis? Do they keep a drum of greese in the sleeper? and who pays for the greese?

thanks.

 

No they do not keep it in the sleeper. If you carry some with you keep in it in the Tool box under the sleeper. Like everything you buy for the Truck and tolls and such Keep the receipt and turn it in to the Company. Most Companies will reemburse you, if not look for another job.

 

When I go by the terminal, I put some grease in a small glass jar and put in the sidebox. I have a stick that Ive been using virtually since I have been driving, that I use to grease the fifth wheel up. :lol: