And now for something completely different...

Fifth wheel king pin lock jaw....


If you pull a trailer there are several ways to attach it to the vehicle that is towing it.

You have the traditional trailer hitch for small trailers, light boats, etc. Depending on size you can pull up to 17,000 pounds.

Then you have the gooseneck hitch which allows up to 30,000  pounds. 

Then you have the fifth wheel hitch. Here the trailer loads can go into the nearly unlimited catagory.

This fifth wheel hitch is designed to pull a 60,000 pound trailer. 

The lock jaws do just that. They lock on to the king pin on the trailer, and a very small portion of the trailer rest on the fifth wheel. Thats the only thing holding the two together. 

(These figures are based in the U.S.A., with the appropriate vehicle towing the appropriate trailer)