Operation of the Air Slide

m2 dm 10.04.002

The slide feature may be operated with an air switch mounted in the dash, that operates an air cylinder that locks and unlocks the slide. See Fig..

Fig. 1, Air-Slide Switch

  1. Set the air-slide switch (see Fig.) to SLIDE.
    Ensure the locking plungers have released. See Fig..
    For Jost fifth wheels, the mechanism activates as shown in Fig..

    1. Locking Wedge

    2. Air Cylinder

    Fig. 2, Air-Operated Sliding Fifth Wheel (Fontaine shown)

    • Unlocked

    • Locked

    Fig. 3, Jost Sliding Fifth Wheel

  2. Lower the trailer landing gear just enough to remove the weight from the tractor.
  3. Pull the red trailer-air-supply knob to set the trailer-parking brakes.
  4. Slowly move the tractor forward or backward until the fifth wheel is in the desired location.

    5. Notice: Ensure the trailer landing gear does not come in contact with the tractor frame or other components, and that the front of the trailer will not come in contact with the rear of the cab or other components if they extend beyond the rear of the cab.

  5. Apply the tractor parking brakes.

    6. Warning: Check that the locking wedges have seated in the slots. Failure to achieve complete lockup may allow disengagement of the tractor from the trailer, possibly resulting in serious personal injury or death.

  6. Set the air-slide switch to LOCK. Visually inspect the locking wedges or plungers to make sure that they are fully inserted in the slide rail slots. Verify that the plungers have engaged by tugging the tractor forward while the trailer brakes are locked and the wheels are chocked.

    Note: The fifth wheel may need to be moved slightly to enable the locking wedges to fully lock.
    Note:
    Parent topic: Fifth Wheel Slide
    Document Number: 0000117716
    Manual Publication Date: 2025-02-11
    Topic Publication Date: 2024-05-09