How do 5th wheel rails work?

In the semi-trailer system, the 5th wheel of the tractor plays a vital role. It is the core hub between the tractor and the trailer.

If you want to understand how fifith wheel works, you need to have a deep understanding of the core components of the tractor's 5th wheel.

The first thing to mention is the key component from the trailer - the kingpin, a metal component extending from the rear of the trailer.

The fifth wheel is a flat, non-rotating horseshoe-shaped coupling device installed on the semi-trailer tractor.

When the trailer's kingpin is installed on the fifth wheel of the drawbar trailer, the entire semi-trailer rotates leisurely around the upward-directed 5th wheel with the kingpin as the axis. Once the tractor and the trailer track are closely connected, the fifth wheel hook on the drawbar trailer quickly and firmly engages with the trailer's kingpin, and the unique locking claw in the hook ensures a foolproof lock.

In addition, in order to reduce the friction loss between the fifth wheel and the kingpin and extend the service life of these two key components, LUEN recommends applying lubricating grease in time.