I Gotta Ask?

[FLYTYER]

OK, my question may bring me some pain, but I gotta ask because my wife asked a question I cannot answer....so humbly....Why is a 5th wheel called a 5th wheel?

[UFO Pilot]

From the net:
In the days of horse-drawn wagons, the fifth wheel was a wheel placed horizontally over the front axle of a large wagon to facilitate turning. Basically, it allowed the front axle to pivot.

Today, the coupler of a tractor-trailer truck is called the fifth wheel, mostly because it's round (somewhat) and is vaguely reminiscent of the wagon's fifth wheel (which much more closely resembled the wagon's other four wheels).

[powerboatr]

there are no dumb/stupid questions except the ones we do not ask



nobody knows everything, but everyone knows a little something

[rjf7g]

Having a Dad who was a truck driver gave me a head start with some of the RV lingo...fifth wheel, dog box, etc.

[FatDog]

Quote:

there are no dumb/stupid questions except the ones we do not ask

i don't know, i've asked a few doozies that i can recall