Every other trailer I pull...

[Waterloo]

I was having the same issues with my old Pete, we were drop and hook on both ends. It took a bit to discover that it was the factory installed fifth wheel to chassis ground strap, somehow it was damaged and hanging by a thread. Replaced that, problem solved. I would leave the ground strap in place, I doubt that you are harming anything, and in all likelihood have avoided other more problematic issues.