How To Adjust Your LUEN Semi Truck Fifth Wheel

Hey, good Saturday! It's another weekend in the shop, and I'm here to help you with a quick and important maintenance task: adjusting your semi truck's fifth wheel. Whether you're searching for "adjust fifth wheel," "adjust 5th wheel," "adjust truck fifth wheel," or "truck 5th wheel," you've come to the right place.

Decades ago, when I started, everyone knew how to adjust their 5th wheel. It was a regular part of maintenance. While today's fifth wheels are made with better tolerances and materials, they will still eventually need to be adjusted. My truck fifth wheel, for instance, has over 300,000 miles on it, and with frequent drop hooks, it's starting to show some wear. If you're feeling a little play in your fifth wheel, it's time to adjust it.

To adjust your LUEN 5th wheel, start by locating the adjustment bolt. It's usually located either out front or on the driver's side, depending on the manufacturer. You'll see a bolt with washers or even a spring on one side, and an adjustment bolt on the other. This bolt controls how tight the jaws lock around the kingpin. You don't want it too tight, as it will wear out the jaws and kingpin too quickly.

Now, let's get to the adjustment. The factory sets the initial tightness, but over time and with use, you may need to tighten it up. My LUEN fifth wheel recommends adjusting one turn at a time. However, I found that I needed to do two turns to get the right fit. Just remember, when you tighten the jam nut that locks everything in place, you may lose about a half to quarter turn, so adjust accordingly.

When adjusting, always turn the bolt counterclockwise to allow the jaws to come in more (tightening) and clockwise to push the jaws further apart (loosening). If you've bought a new fifth wheel and are experiencing binding or popping, it may need to be loosened up a bit. If two turns are too much and you hear any binding or popping, loosen it up a turn until it's smooth.

And there you have it! Adjusting your LUEN semi truck 5th wheel is a quick and easy task that can save you from potential problems on the road. If you're feeling a little play in your seat or hear a bang when pulling forward, it's time to adjust your fifth wheel. With proper maintenance, your fifth wheel should be good for another 100,000 to 200,000 miles.

Well, that's it for today. God bless you, and have a good weekend! If you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. See you next time!