Lube Plates
Just bought a TrailerSaver BD3 Hitch for my truck and plan to use a lube plate when pulling my 5th wheel (have not gotten one yet). What would be the best size to get? I see there are 12" and 10" lube...
Forum Discussion
DazedNConfused wrote:lakeside013104 wrote:
Hensley Mfg. sells a lube plate designed for your hitch. The tolerance on their hitches are close so you most likely will NOT be able to hook up if you use a standard 1/4" thick lube plate. Hensley's are 1/8" thick and I think 8" diameter. Just give Aaron a call at Hensley and he will fix you up. These are great people to do business with. Good luck.
Lakeside
Not necessarily. I have the BD3 and purchased the 1/8" lube plate from Hensley. As is obvious, it is half the thickness of the 1/4" standard plate from places like Reese. The problem is that it easily deforms...and once it deforms, it will not stay on the king pin...and the result is frustration as it falls off the pin and into the bed of your truck just as you are pulling up to the pin to hook up.
I quickly noticed that my BD3 jaws were very high up on the king pin -- so it was obvious that a thicker plate would lower the jaws and make them more centered and I had plenty of room for a standard 1/4". I bought the 1/4" plate recently and wish I had done it sooner. Of note, the Hensley plate is 10" diameter...so that's the size Reese plate that I bought. Hope this helps.
Of note, you will LOVE this hitch. It is a very high quality head and it's pretty wild to see the camper in your rear view mirror moving up and down independent of your truck -- knowing the bugger is doing its job. Not sure which truck u have, but I bought Hensley's under bed mount that is a direct replacement for the Ford under bed mount (made by Reese, I believe) -- but the Hensley is beefier. This is a very heavy hitch, btw -- about 250ish lbs if memory serves. I use an engine hoist to get it in and out of my truck. Shoot me a note if I can be of any help.
- DNC
I use my Hensley 1/8" slip plate (expensive) with my B&W hitch. Mine fell off easily also, I laid it on a hard surface and hit the edges of the opening of the plate with a hammer a few times and it decreased the inside diameter slightly of the plate and made it fit tightly. Now all is good.
