The importance of the tug test!
 

Today I dropped my trailer so I could go into the shop to get a tire patched, although it was closed but that is another story... anyway when I got back to my trailer, I had a hard time getting it to lock in, finally got it locked in, and did a tug test. I got out, raised the gear, hooked up everything. When I got back in, I was going to pull out, but something told me I should do another tug test just to be safe, because I didn't like how it was so hard to get it to lock in. So I went to do a second tug test, and sure enough the tractor started to come out from under the trailer! I am glad I did that second tug test! Always always double check and make sure that your trailer is locked in properly! After the first tug test when I raised the gear I looked and the 5th wheel release was locked in place, but obviously the teeth that lock it in had not locked properly.

Our shop manager, Also one of the owners, told us how he gave a trailer the old tug test. He almost got it across the yard to the shop when it came off. If we get out and look when we back up why not when we hook up?

I don't see how people don't look, you HAVE to get out to raise the landing gear, and hook up the lines. Admittedly I never crawl under to look at the actual teeth that lock the pin in, but I always look at the lock bar and make sure the trailer is resting properly in the 5th wheel.

A flashlight (which most of us carry) and 1 minute is all it takes.

I wish the guy that dropped his gravel trailer today on US74 in Wilmington,NC had done a tug test, cost me to sit in a traffic jam for an hour. Also the DOT was doing a complete inspection right there were he came to a rest in the middle of the road, if you have ever seen the rock haulers in NC you probably know that more than likely didn't turn out well for him.

I don't know how I made it past the weight station on US 58 today. I have a flat drive on the passenger side! Was going to fix it before I left the truck stop I was at but the shop was closed.

i've got 2 Mag Lite LED flashlights, and one mini-Mag LED i carry on my belt. takes me all but 10 seconds tops to look at the locking jaw. Also thinking of carrying a small mirror to hold at my side, when i walk along the trailer, cause part of the pretrip is to inspect the stringers in the floor of the trailer...and how many of us actually squat and walk the whole length of the trailer??? not many i would imagine.

Doing the tug test is no guarantee the jaws are locked across the kingpin. You need to physically go with a flashlight underneath the trailer and confirm that the jaws are locked. It takes only a few more seconds and will save you hours of headache.

If your tug testing hard enough that trailer will come off if the jaws arent closed properly! I don't do little girly tug tests, I tug it until the trailer starts dragging.

that trailer will come off if the jaws arent closed properly!
sooner or later