Upper Coupler Inspection

Fontaine Fifth Wheel

Bottom plate

Throat contact area

2.875" diameter

Jaw contact area

2" diameter

Kingpin head

1 Visual inspection.
First, attempt to move the kingpin by hand. A trailer with a kingpin that can
3 Check the kingpin height and squareness
to bottom plate.
1. Place the notched end of gauge onto the kingpin as shown above.
be moved by hand in any direction must be taken out of service. Any nick or
2. Check kingpin for correct height and squareness to bolster plate.
gouge greater than 0.12 inches deep in the throat contact area or the jaws
contact area requires that the kingpin be replaced. Also, any burr in those two 3. If kingpin does not fit into gauge it is bent or incorrect height.
areas that extends beyond the surface of the kingpin is not acceptable. Nicks, 4. Make sure to rotate gauge 360 degrees to check all sides of
burrs or gouges should not exceed 0.25 inch in length, measured at the kingpin for squareness to bolster plate.
maximum length. There should be no more than ten nicks, burrs or gouges of
0.06 inch in length in the jaw contact area. Be certain that the kingpin has no 5. Replace any damaged or incorrect kingpins.
cracks. If the kingpin has a crack, the trailer should be placed out of service.
Never attempt to repair weld a kingpin. Never grind a kingpin.

Throat contact area

measurement (2.875")

Jaw contact area

measurement (2")

1.328
2.875 ± .005
1.250
2.782
2.704 3.354

2
Check the kingpin for wear. A new two-inch kingpin is 2.875 3.256
inches in diameter at the throat contact area and 2 inches in 2.000 ± .005
diameter at the jaw contact area.
The Fontaine Kingpin Gauge is designed to aid in inspection of the SAE 2.812 ± .015
J700 (2” diameter) kingpin. Take extra precautions to ensure the trailer is
properly supported on level ground.
1. Slip gauge over kingpin.
2. Position the gauge onto portion of kingpin to be measured (throat contact
area or jaw contact area). Be sure to rotate the gauge 360 degrees around
the kingpin to measure diameter in all directions.
3. This gauge is designed as a no-go gauge. It indicates 1/8" (0.125") of wear.
If the kingpin enters the area marked out of spec, check the kingpin with a
1/8" max 1/4" max
more accurate gauge (i.e. caliper/micrometer) before replacing the kingpin.
10"
4. Wear of 0.125 inches or more in these areas at any point around the 19"
circumference requires that the trailer be placed out of service.
www.fifthwheel.com •90°±1°
800-874-9780
Fontaine Fifth Wheel • 7574 Commerce Circle • Trussville, AL 35173
©2015 Fontaine Fifth Wheel • LT-209 • December 2015
 2.875 ± .005
1.250
1.328 2.782
2.875 ± .005
Upper Coupler Inspection (continued) 2.000 ± .005
1.250 2.704 3.354
2.782 3.256

Fontaine Fifth Wheel

2.704 3.354
3.256
2.000 ± .005
2.812 ± .015

2.812 ± .015

1/8" max 1/4" max

10"max
1/8" 1/4"
19" max
10" 90°±1°
19"
90°±1°
Figure A

4 Make sure that the bottom plate is flat and that the kingpin
is perpendicular to the bottom plate.
1. Place the notched end of gauge over the kingpin as shown above.
1/16" max in 38"

2. Inspect bottom plate flatness. SAE J700 allows the amount of downward
1/16" max in 38"
bow in the bottom plate to be no more than 0.125 inches within a 10-inch
radius from the kingpin, or 0.25 inches within a 19-inch radius from the Figure B
kingpin center (Figure A). The maximum amount of upward bow allowed is
0.06 inch in the 38-inch diameter around the kingpin (Figure B).
3. Inspect to make sure the kingpin is perpendicular to the bottom plate. The
kingpin should be within one degree of perpendicular with the bottom plate
at any point around the kingpin. Any trailer with a bent kingpin must be taken Caution: Use of excessively worn or bent kingpins can
out of service until the kingpin is replaced. affect fifth wheel performance. Kingpins of improper height
4. Make sure to rotate gauge 360 degrees to check the entire bottom plate may also affect proper performance. Use of kingpins
surface for flatness and the kingpin for perpendicularity to the bottom plate.. that are not within SAE J700 standards may also cause
5. Replace any damaged or incorrect kingpins. hazardous conditions.

The two holes in the tool

mark the 10" radius. The outer
19" radius
edges mark the 19" radius

10" radius

www.fifthwheel.com • 800-874-9780
Fontaine Fifth Wheel • 7574 Commerce Circle • Trussville, AL 35173
©2015 Fontaine Fifth Wheel • LT-209 • December 2015