This particular trailer was a tanker. The pin could be wobbled about a little by hand. The fixings of it were inside the rubbing plate and not visible at all.
Other 5th wheels fixings I have seen and “played with” do have visible mountings. Many seem to be that the pin has a base that bolts on.
Differently again, when the UK was changing from 32 to 38 and later to 44 tons, we had a couple of trailers with very clever drop/retract pins.
Because the fleet had shorter 4 wheel and longer 6 wheel units we needed to be able to change the pin position on some trailers. The pins could be dropped down or pushed up with just a screwdriver to lever a spring clip.
Another job involved collecting brand new trailers from the factory. They might be specced with a deep pin, but our units might not be able to hitch up correctly, in spite of our sliding 5th wheels, so the factory would change the pin position.
Edit.
When I say deep pin I meant a deep pin position. That will be the norm on most UK 44T trucks today. Outside of heavy haulage all pins are the same size.
And nothing to stop you having a look at your own trailer pin. But maybe park your unit in front of it with handbrake on, door locked and key in your pocket!
I wasn’t given any technical details and I’m no expert, i did ask if it was the trailer pin how come it wasn’t happening regularly with other units. There answer was it depends how much wear and tear was on the unit 5 wheel for that trailer
Just made it more confusing and they never changed the 5 wheel on the unit
Is it possible for a trailer pin to wear down and how far would you get down the road if it was just driver error, not doing it right.
I had travelled a good distance and made 2 turns and did everything right and it happened
Maybe the casting was the same but the internals were renewed?
I can see that a prefect 5th wheel with a worn pin, would not be as apparent as a worn 5th wheel with a worn pin.
There are specs for 5th wheels and pins but that should all be covered in routine maintenance. It shouldn’t be noticeable between services, but any banging about should definitely be reported.
I guess that is a length of a piece of string question?
In my case a couple of hundred metres and one tightish turn. not above 20mph.
Throughout my career I have often marvelled at the amount of stress and strain put entirely through such a little piece of metal but I have never found one to be visibly worn and, as mentioned above, loose.
Again years ago I remember tesco getting these 30 foot trailers and the back axle on the trailer was linked into the pin when turning and the trailer wheels would turn with you, or the pin was linked into the wheels, both i suppose no expert and memory not the best.
The only problem was the pin was movable and would move out of position if not in perfect line going under, you had to be perfect because you could get a false bang thinking you clicked
You need re training by the sounds of it, Get someone that know what he is doing ffs, Because you ■■■■■■ up . lisson and take in what people on here have said?? You could be a driver one day lol