SmithCo Mfg., has introduced a patent-pending kingpin housing that provides longer life with fewer maintenance costs than traditional kingpin housings.
The new kingpin housing will be included with all SmithCo over-the-road side dump trailers beginning in 2025.
SmithCo says dump trailers are hard on kingpins, which connect a trailer to a fifth-wheel and allows the trailer to pivot and maneuver behind the vehicle. As side dumps haul dirt, gravel, riprap, and more, they often are filled to max payload. Between the starts, stops, and dump cycles, the trailer’s kingpin sees a lot of stress over the course of months and years of use. For years customers have been forced to choose between removable kingpins that wear out, or weld-in kingpins that are harder to remove, costing owners extended downtime and increased shop costs.
SmithCo’s new solution combines the best of both worlds. The new collet-style kingpin housing offers the security and durability of a weld-in kingpin without needing a plasma cutting torch to replace the kingpin. The company adds the patent-pending design locks the kingpin in solidly for a safe and reliable connection.
“We listened to our customers, and one thing they wanted was a longer-lasting kingpin and housing,” says Dan Dohman, SmithCo’s director of engineering. “Our engineers developed a collect-chuck style kingpin housing that presses together and locks everything in place. This design secures the kingpin and eliminates movement without requiring the kingpin to be welded to the fifth-wheel plate. The results are a stronger, more durable connection that extends the life of the kingpin and reduces maintenance costs.”
