I just upgraded to a 5th wheel this weekend. Traded our TT we've had for 9 years for a 2014 Springdale 320FWFBGL, not this one but same. I was told to get a plastic disk to put around the pin to avoid having to grease the hitch plate. Do I need to keep the pin greased?I was also advised to get a blue ox bed saver. Any input is greatly appreciated. I'm sure I will have other questions later.

Lube disk are great, I place a small amount of grease, white lithium where the jaws grip the pin.Blue Ox, depends on how you feel about your hitch, and hitching procedure. I trust my procedure and hitch, so I don't have one, many state cheap insurance.

Yes, on the pin. I use a small amount of Teflon grease, made for hitch balls.It depends what hitch you have, I have never used a bed saver in 20 years of FW towing.Jerry

Get ready for about 10 pages of different opinions! I am old fashion from my younger days with tractor/trailers, so I grease my hitch plate. I have looked at the plastic plate inserts but would rather use grease.To me the bed saver, Blue ox, or however you want to refer to them is a waste of money. I know folks have dropped their FW's onto their truck bed rails but weather they want to admit it or not 99 out of 100 times it was their own fault, and not some type of equipment failure.

I use a lube plate just to keep things on top of the hitch head clean(er).I do lube the jaws where they contact the pin itself.Personally I don not have any sort of bed saver on my hitch.

jamnw wrote:I just upgraded to a 5th wheel this weekend. Traded our TT we've had for 9 years for a 2014 Springdale 320FWFBGL, not this one but same. I was told to get a plastic disk to put around the pin to avoid having to grease the hitch plate. Do I need to keep the pin greased?I was also advised to get a blue ox bed saver. Any input is greatly appreciated. I'm sure I will have other questions later.I use the lube plate and some grease on the pin itself. When you hitch up, normal practice is to leave the FW pin slightly below the hitch plate and let it ride up, pressing down the truck, as it slides into place. If you get too low, however, you can catch the front of the lube plate and snap a piece of it off. I do speak from experience on this. Not sure what hitch you have, but this is good practice to avoid what's called a "high-hitch", where the pin is resting above the locking bar or jaws. This is the exact situation where the Bed Saver =will= do its job. Hitches, such as the B&W Companion, simply can't be latched closed if the pin isn't in the right place. If you totally =miss= the hitch on the Companion, you'll have nearly a 2" gap between the pin box and the hitch plate, so you'd =deserve= to drop your FW at that point. :-)Lyle

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wkswenson
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
Lube Plate = Yes (well really just a matter of opinion - could use grease and it works too)

Looking at connection = Yes - Check your jaws/bars to make sure they are closed around the pin. Here is a picture of our Curt hitch closed (you can see the lube plate - white in the picture)

Pull-Test and Stay focus when hook-up = Yes

Bed Saver = Really up to you... We have one but I am very careful about connecting the rig up so hopefully will just never need it.
C_Schomer
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Yes on the first two ?s. Mine isn't a slider but I have the same hitch head as yours. Make sure the 5er is the right height to slide onto the hitch plate and no higher. Keep the jaws closed (handle in) for hitching but NOT locked. You might be able to see the handle slide out and then snap in when the pin is home or you will at least hear it. Then get out and slap the handle lock down and look at the hitch jaws when you connect the plug and you won't have a need for a bed saver. Craig
AZ_T_T
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Lube plate and I use a dry graphite spray on the jaws and pin.

No Bed Saver.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Halmfamily wrote:
Lube plate yes, bed saver no. Love my B&W Companion.

Exactly the same:)...lube plate, highly recommend, no where near as messy....You hitch correctly, you don't need a bed saver, never used one.....B&W companion..just added to my truck and eager to tow with it:)
jamnw
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Thank you all for the input. Great advice on hooking up.

By the way, I have a Reese 15k slider.
Cv67cheng
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Jamnw, yes to both. Lube plate is great for keeping front end clean, bed saver easily pays for itself first time you need it. Unlike others, I sometimes get distracted in the middle of a task, regardless how perfect your hitch is, if you make a mistake or forget a step, then the cost of repairs are many, many times the cost of a bed saver. I have towed a fiver for over 10 years, never needed the bed saver, but glad it's there when I eventually jack something up. Don't let pride get in the way of a logical decision. Just my .02
Thanks.
kennethwooster
Explorer
Mar 17, 2015
Yes get a teflon plate. I've started using slip plate on the hitch pin and on the jaws of the hitch. This keeps grease from getting all over. Far as the bed saver learn to do a pull test and learn how to hitch so you don't high hitch. Then you won't need the blue ox.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2015
Lube plate...yes. Bed saver....no. I live dangerously. I do the brake test on the way to the CG gate. Part of the hookup routine does involve a visual on the hitch jaws.
Reng8d
Explorer
Mar 16, 2015
Jamnw, congrats on the new 5er, hope you and the family enjoy it. Lube plate for me, I too never had a bed saver, I do the pull test that was mentioned to ensure the king pin is latched correctly....
Karenys
Explorer
Mar 16, 2015
Our first 5th wheel trip we were gifted a lube plate by the man next to us. Gave us lots of tips. We keep a spare plate in the RV "just in case".

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