On only our second outing, DW commented that she thought the 5th wheel was "clunking" when stopping or starting. After her comments I noticed also, I did not feel it but I did hear it. Today while cleaning up and putting things away I noticed that the capture plate was a little loose? Not much but I could move it. It is attached using a single set screw, nylon washer, and locking nut, so it can not be taking any weight. I removed it cleaned it and put a little sylicone on the surface and along the sides, then reinstalled it. When finished, it did not move and felt secure, I tHink that is how it is supposed to be installed. (I did not originally install it or pay any attention to it when we picked up at the dealer. They did mention that it should be removed if the 5th wheel would be towed by anything other than a superglide)! Now is this a maintenance item thAt should be checked? Was it originally installed incorrectly, or did I do something unusual that lossened it??? I did practice hitching and unhitching probably 6 to 8 times to get into practice of what to do and not do when hocking up to the rig. Your comments and input are welecomed

You should check your nylon block at the front of the hitch... It is a 15/16" head bolt , that when tight , all the slack is out of the head... When mine is loose , I too get some clunking.....

Agree with Ford Truck Guy, check the white nylon block at the front of the hitch and adjust.

What kind of hitch are you all referencing? I am unfamiliar with this and I've been pulling fifth where's for ten years. Thank you.

I think he's talking about a Pullrite Superglide.

Recently the nylon block on mine cracked. Just old I guess. Had no choice but to tighten bolt without any spacer. Definitely increased the start/stop clunking considerably. Will have to call Pullrite and get order another spacer or possibly make something that will work.

Super Glide Hitch owners | Good Sam Community

dancoppins
Explorer
Oct 23, 2014
The older versions are welded. They did not come with bolts to attach. The ONLY way to attach the older models is to weld them in place.....Not everyone has the newer version of the current capture plate.
Maine-iacs
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
I shimmed the sides of mine to eliminate any wiggle. Since I still felt it was somewhat loose on the box I drilled up thru the play and put in a couple of machine screws flush with the plate surface. Works like a charm.

The "chucking" issue is totally unrelated to the discussion of loose plates. Adjust the bolt and you'll be good to go.
talonhead
Explorer
Oct 21, 2014
tegu69 wrote:
Don't have one, but a friend of mine does. We worked on it, tightened the screw as much as we could. It got loose again and he then had it welded to the pin box. He recently traded trailers and bought virtually the same trailer. Dealer changed out the pin boxes and he's good to go again.

For the hitch snubber:
The bolt should of had a lock nut at the base to keep it tight. The block can be replaced by cutting a new block of the correct size from virgin nylon, drilling a hole for the block mounting screw.
I just broke mine down to overhaul and paint. Found the sticker that says "Use lithium grease or other med grease on ways..." So that takes care of what lube to use. I wasn't sure of the manufacture date as I bought the hitch used.

For the capture plate:
I damn near jack-knifed my trailer coming into the toll booth on I 80 due to a jack hole in a compact flying into the lane just in front of me. While driving along the trailer felt "off". At the next toll plaza, I pulled to an open area and parked. The jamm-up had caused the capture plate to bow on the sides and bend the side spacers.
A few large hammers and some welding all good. I only welded new spacers into place on the plate and re welded the side rails at the same time.
As has been pointed out, it's not a good thing to weld the capture plate to the pinbox.
jevanb
Explorer
Oct 19, 2014
Coach-man wrote:
I am thinking of drilling and tapping two holes one on each side of the center screw to give it more support!?? Thanks for the input!
just shim the sides and it will never move around, before I shimmed mine you could see the movement when I removed the plate as the paint was worn away from back and forth motion, even when the screw was reefed down. Now it is solid and secure

dancoppins wrote:
Have the capture plate either tac or fully welded. We have had a pull rite hitch since 1994 and never had an issue on two different fifth wheels.
if you weld it and you need a tow from another vehicle how will they hook up if you did not buy the adapter
Coach-man
Explorer
Oct 18, 2014
Ok, my first camp out since posting about the problem. I have done two things, I tightened the center screw, afraid it would go thru the nylon block! Second I ran two beads of silicone down each side of the capture plate. The "clunk" is gone, but when I looked at it when we arrived at our campsite it was apparent that the capture plate had moved around! I am thinking of drilling and tapping two holes one on each side of the center screw to give it more support!?? Thanks for the input!
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Oct 14, 2014
dancoppins wrote:
Have the capture plate either tac or fully welded. We have had a pull rite hitch since 1994 and never had an issue on two different fifth wheels.
No reason to ever weld the capture plate in place. It has nothing to do with any clunking. If you study the design the function of the capture plate is to hold the wedge behind the kingpin in place. The capture plate also encircles the kingpin and cannot slide around. Mine is held in place by a 10/24 bolt that I installed in the center of the wedge after it fell off a couple times when unhitched. I have no clunking because I keep the slack adjusted on the stop bolt at the front of the hitch.

B.O.
dancoppins
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Have the capture plate either tac or fully welded. We have had a pull rite hitch since 1994 and never had an issue on two different fifth wheels.
jevanb
Explorer
Oct 12, 2014
I removed the noise from my capture plate by bolting on both sides 1/4 thick 8 inch long strips of aluminum to the insides of the sides. It removed the rotating back and forth and the wear of the bolts nylon. Plus I also took a piece of 2inch long x 1 inch thick aluminum and shaped it like the nylon and now my bolt clamps up against that instead of that crappy nylon
Toolguy5
Explorer III
Oct 10, 2014
I have the same hitch. I have some minor clucking as well. Never thought it was the capture plate. Now I will go out and check it.
1slomofo
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
I have a PR super glide.. and my plate is slightly loose too... and wouldn't ya know i have some minor chucking.

I have the set screw so tight that the nylon block is bowing and ready to split open.. i cant go any tighter... maybe ill put some tack welds on there....