Thread: Close Call
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Old 10-03-2007, 08:08 AM   #8
Motor31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,130
Your post is a good reminder that you should travel when rested and stop when you get tired. Pushing to get to a destination is risky not only for you but for those on the road near you.

As to your question, no the pin is not sacrificial. It's one of the strongest points in the rig because it has to handle all of the weight and forces from towing. If the trailer goes somewhere, you are going with it. The simple fact is that you have a 15,000 lb to 20,000 lb trailer acting on a 6000 to 7000 lb truck. If the trailer gets away from you it will take you with it. I've seen a couple 5th wheel RV rollovers and several pictures of others and none of them had the rigs seperate. The light duty truck did get twisted off of it's wheels with the trailer.

This can happen in strong winds as well so be careful when you travel if there will be strong winds and crosswinds. Even fully loaded semi's get pushed over.
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Mike Nancy and the fuzzies
Fulltiming since June 2004
Volvo 660 MH tow vehicle
2005 MS 38RL
2007 Saturn Ion "toad"
2010 Gold Wing "piggyback"
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