does anybody know why it’s called a 5th wheel? i never thought about it until i heard it was asked of someone who didn’t know the answer. since asking said question i have had lots of different reply’s. thought a post on here would shed some light?
The term ‘fifth wheel’ comes from a similar coupling used on four-wheel horse-drawn carriages and wagons. The device allowed the front axle assembly to pivot in the horizontal plane, to facilitate turning. Basically a wheel was placed on the rear frame section of the truck, which back then only had four wheels, this wheel that was placed on the frame was the “fifth wheel” hence the name. The trailer needed to be raised so that the trailer’s pin would be able to drop into the central hole of the fifth wheel. Today’s fifth wheels allow the trailers to slide into the fifth wheel and lock into it, and are a very reliable unit when maintained and serviced properly. The engagement of the king pin into the fifth wheel locking mechanism is the only means of connection between tractor and trailer, no other device or safety mechanism is used. Couplers and pintle hooks will use safety chains in the event of a trailer separation while going down the road. Trailer to trailer connection can also be made by using fifth wheels.
The invention of the fifth wheel is often credited to U.S. inventor Charles H. Martin of the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Co. who invented the device in 1911. The earliest documented patent of a fifth wheel is in patent number 2,053,812[1] issued to Charles E. Bradshaw of Wellville, VA filed March 18, 1936 and granted September 8, 1936. One third of the patent was assigned to Charles Martin, also of Wellville, VA. With that being said, Alaskan ■■■■ Rubbins’ maintains he invented the device. Engaged in a long time feud with Martin, Rubbins also claims the Martin not only stole his invention, but his wife. Always eccentric, Rubbins passed in 1996 and requested a controversial epitaph in his last will and testament. His tombstone reads: “Here lies ■■■■ Rubbins, Inventor of the fifth wheel and holder of 17 other patents. I requested to buried face down, so that Charles Martin can kiss my royal Irish ■■■.”
because it carrys a 5th of the weight i tinks sir, or something on those lines a few years ago
it’s one of the most asked questions on here and it’s nothing to do with weight.
thanks for the replies, those were some of the answers i got, re c/h, if not weight related then, whats the answer?? many thanks 
blade 68:
thanks for the replies, those were some of the answers i got, re c/h, if not weight related then, whats the answer?? many thanks
See above 
If you think about it the answer is self explanatory, as has already been quoted the name goes back a long way just as terms like Tilt, Lorry, Van etc and these being in use long before the internal combustion engined vehicles appeared. When the ‘vehicle’ only had four wheels another added to aid turning became the fifth. Some references say the term goes back to the American West when large wooden wagons (another old term) steered using the front wheel carriages, the Fifth wheel allowing this. However I’m sure waggons (two ‘G’s’ originally) used in this country and Europe long before America was colonised used similar systems on the waggons used in the huge Gun Trains when European countries were at war with each other.
America could well have first used the phrase Fifth and carried this over to the type of plates we are used to now. I’m sure I recall some older hands calling them Rubbing Plates too, maybe this came from Rubbins as mentioned. Similar to how we call all Vacuum Cleaners, Hoovers. Incidently, the term Son of a Gun comes from the days of the Artillery Trains when single women who followed these huge Armies became pregnant to who knows what Soldier and the resulting child being Illigitimate would be known as a Son of a Gun, a derogatory term in those days. Cheers Franky.
blade 68:
does anybody know why it’s called a 5th wheel? i never thought about it until i heard it was asked of someone who didn’t know the answer. since asking said question i have had lots of different reply’s. thought a post on here would shed some light?
Hahaha Its more Embarrsing when your a noobie and you dont actlly know what the 5th wheel is (as most units have 6-8 wheels on the ground)and your too affraid ppl will think your an idiot for asking. took me I think 6 weeks till I relised it was the coupling wheel they was on about! LOL Noobie times arnt fun!
I can understand what you say Steed but you know what, blokes would admire you more if you just asked, make sure you don’t ask the regular ■■■■ taker though. Once upon a time older hands would too gladly pass on their experience and skills but they would’nt have time for those that thought they knew it and couldn’t be told. If those you work with know your a genuine guy willing to learn they will give the odd tip without you asking or when they notice your doing something wrong. Its not easy for someone without any background in haulage especially these days when so much has changed. Don’t be frightened to ask it costs nowt. Franky.
Steed007:
Hahaha Its more Embarrsing when your a noobie and you dont actlly know what the 5th wheel is (as most units have 6-8 wheels on the ground)and your too affraid ppl will think your an idiot for asking. took me I think 6 weeks till I relised it was the coupling wheel they was on about! LOL Noobie times arnt fun!
If you didn’t know what a fifth wheel was, and was too afraid to ask then I suggest that trucking deffo aint for you. Did you know the wheels that are raised up are actually spare wheels in case you get a puncture.
I still think yer a wind up merchant.
MADBAZ:
Steed007:
Hahaha Its more Embarrsing when your a noobie and you dont actlly know what the 5th wheel is (as most units have 6-8 wheels on the ground)and your too affraid ppl will think your an idiot for asking. took me I think 6 weeks till I relised it was the coupling wheel they was on about! LOL Noobie times arnt fun!I still think yer a wind up merchant.
God help me, I’m loosing the will to live and thinking some 
thoughts about some posters that would def get me censored.
thanks for the replies, the question i asked doesn’t keep me up at night! just thought i would ask, as for strrd, is e avin a pop or wot?? noobie?? i won’t start postin me credentials, i can’t type for that long 
i ope e was jokin, i ain’t into fallin out with folk.
Steed007:
Hahaha Its more Embarrsing when your a noobie and you dont actlly know what the 5th wheel is (as most units have 6-8 wheels on the ground)and your too affraid ppl will think your an idiot for asking. took me I think 6 weeks till I relised it was the coupling wheel they was on about! LOL Noobie times arnt fun!
A Noobie where, planet zog FFS ■■
You supposedly only joined here a few days ago, well in the name Steed007 that is but you certainly were not claiming to be a Noobie then. You went to great lengths to share with us your tales of woe and how you had spent thousands getting your licence. It was when you started paying that money that you were a Noobie and would have done a theory test. Are you really trying to tell is you did that without knowing what a 5th wheel was… Have a word with yourself.
iDriver:
You supposedly only joined here a few days ago, well in the name Steed007 that is but you certainly were not claiming to be a Noobie then. You went to great lengths to share with us your tales of woe and how you had spent thousands getting your licence. It was when you started paying that money that you were a Noobie and would have done a theory test. Are you really trying to tell is you did that without knowing what a 5th wheel was… Have a word with yourself.
yes your correct I did go do the theroy test not knowing what the 5th wheel was I didn’t know about this site back then and i never had any resousrces to look up, thats properly why I had to do the theroy test twice !it was pretty hard to be honest!
I learnt far more since then though about HGV driving Tacho rules & hours ETC once I attended RHA course and was taught by a VOSA Officer that got me a nice shiny RHA certifcate and some much needed knowledge! da course cost me a little over £300 at the time but I was clueless! I’d say it was worth it too as at the time I also didn’t know there were penitys for breaking them rules and it normally will cost you in £££ in fines!
just like I learnt for every clandestine that hides in your truck though UK boarder control will cost you 10k per person!
defo go out N get yaself an RHA Course if your a noob could save you thousands in mistakes later!
and yes I failed the 18 tonn test twice it peed me right off but I never quit and passed it 3rd time when I di the artic test 3 months later passed it first time I dunno why but artics I found easyier to drive than rigids got to say I’m an artic driver not a rigid one.
Steed007:
iDriver:
just like I learnt for every clandestine that hides in your truck though UK boarder control will cost you 10k per person!
defo go out N get yaself an RHA Course if your a noob could save you thousands in mistakes later!
well thats wrong… its up to two grand per person… not 10k
What’s a theroy test… Is that the one where they test why you’re a fat git?
Just a thought Mr steed 007, but is the reason you have gone bankrupt something to do with the fact you are , who likes baseball caps, online poker and yoof speak? Just a thought.
Leave baseball caps out of this please
happysack:
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Not heard that phrase for a looonng time, well done Sir for dragging it back from the brink of extinction
The word has been around for a long time, going back to the days of the hoss and cart, although I do like the story about ■■■■ Rubbins and Charles Martin
