Troubleshooting Fifth Wheel Hitch Jaws Locked Around King Pin

Updated 09/19/2018 | Published 09/18/2018

Question:

The jaws on our hitch will not unlock. What can we do to get them to open

asked by: Billy S

Expert Reply:

If your fifth wheel hitch will not release from the king pin then there may be too much tension on your king pin from the truck and trailer not being on a level surface. This is the most common reason why fifth wheel jaws won't unlock; the best thing to do is raise or lower your landing gear just a bit to try and release some of the tension on the hitch but not so much that it can cause binding.

You can also try moving back and forth very slightly to try and see if that releases some of the tension and move whatever may be binding. When you do disconnect, also be sure that you always lubricate all parts of your hitch that need to be as directed by your owner's manual.

expert reply by: Kyle S