Forum Discussion

E_mc2's avatar
E_mc2
Explorer
May 01, 2013

B & W Companion Lube Plate use question

Hello all,

I am still new to fifth wheel towing and I had a question regarding the use of a lube plate and a Companion. I currently run the Companion with the standard 1/4 inch Lube plate, My question is should I be running the 1/8 inch lube plate instead. The reason I ask is the jaws on the hitch are pretty much the same size as my pin. Sometimes it doesn't want to unhitch real easy and I was wondering if that is the cause. If you have a Companion do you use a lube plate? Standard thickness or the thin one? Ever have trouble unhitching sometimes?

Thanks
  • FlatBroke's avatar
    FlatBroke
    Explorer II
    May 01, 2013
    I had a Hensley 1/8 disc on my old trailers Lippert pin box and it worked pretty well but it broke when I took it off. Our new acquisition has a TraiAir pin box and with a 1/4" lube plate you can not see a gap when you use the Companion. Hensley wants $20 and $15 freight for a new one. What a rip off compared to the standard disc. I am about to slather on the grease or see if I can make one out of an old plastic bucket.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    May 01, 2013
    fj12ryder wrote:
    bogart661 wrote:
    Make sure that the last motion with the truck is in reverse, if you have pulled forward it will put pressure on the jaws making it hard to unhitch.
    Exactly so.


    Or neutral, if you're on fairly level ground. I can occasionally have some tightness when unhitching on unlevel ground. On time, when we were at our usual boondock site, I'd run over a partially-buried rock that was causing the FW to pull to one side and I had to back off it to get the jaws to unlatch easily. I probably could have forced the issue, but it was just easier to raise the legs and back up a foot.

    FWIW, I use the 1/4" plate with my Companion, with few problems.

    Lyle
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    May 01, 2013
    bogart661 wrote:
    Make sure that the last motion with the truck is in reverse, if you have pulled forward it will put pressure on the jaws making it hard to unhitch.
    Exactly so.
  • bogart661's avatar
    bogart661
    Explorer
    May 01, 2013
    Make sure that the last motion with the truck is in reverse, if you have pulled forward it will put pressure on the jaws making it hard to unhitch.
  • E_mc2's avatar
    E_mc2
    Explorer
    May 01, 2013
    fj12ryder wrote:
    I use the standard lube plate with no issues. If there is any pressure on the pin it can be touchy to get the hitch to disengage the jaws. I have had to move the truck to release some pressure from the hitch before I could get the hitch to release.

    Do you have an aftermarket pin? Like a Mor-Ryde or one of the air pins?


    No aftermarket pin, just the lippert that came with the hauler. I probably just need to get used to it and find the sweet spot for it to let go.

    Thank you!
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    May 01, 2013
    I use the standard lube plate with no issues. If there is any pressure on the pin it can be touchy to get the hitch to disengage the jaws. I have had to move the truck to release some pressure from the hitch before I could get the hitch to release.

    Do you have an aftermarket pin? Like a Mor-Ryde or one of the air pins?

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