Lube plate

[Racine96]

Question: when using a lube plate, doesn't it prevent the pin from come down further in the hitch? Does it affect how well the pin can be wrapped by the hitch mechanism?

[mbrower]

C-Bears wrote:
So some of the FW dealers/manufacturers are providing them to customers, not hitch manufacturers. I still think that are a "comfort" item and not a required item.

My new curt 24K hitch came with a plastic king pin and a lube plate locked into the hitch

[RAS43]

Me Again wrote:

C-Bears wrote:
So some of the FW dealers/manufacturers are providing them to customers, not hitch manufacturers. I still think that are a "comfort" item and not a required item.

Metal against metal without grease or the plate is not a good thing. The grease that semi's use will stand a foot tall without falling over! It is a special VERY thick grease!Chris

While there is a special grease for 5th wheels I never saw it used in the fleet shops I worked in for over 44 years. We just used the same chassis grease used on all the other zerks and components. Maybe some fleets had a special need for this heavy grease.
And I agree about metal to metal wear statement.

[Me_Again]

C-Bears wrote:
So some of the FW dealers/manufacturers are providing them to customers, not hitch manufacturers. I still think that are a "comfort" item and not a required item.

Metal against metal without grease or the plate is not a good thing. The grease that semi's use will stand a foot tall without falling over! It is a special VERY thick grease!

Chris

[NC_Hauler]

C-Bears wrote:
So some of the FW dealers/manufacturers are providing them to customers, not hitch manufacturers. I still think that are a "comfort" item and not a required item.

I have no clue...I purchased my 5er in the fall of 2007', when HR was still in business, it was a brand new 06'...packet had it in it.

I agree with you, and NEVER stated it was required OR needed..you made a statement about if it was needed it would be provided...HR sent one in their kit ...thus the reason I mentioned it...never stated it was required or needed...It came in a packet from the manufacturer..again, I only mentioned due to your statement.

I've never seen one come with a hitch and I've had, (with purchase of the B&W), 3 of them and none came with a lube disc..

NEVER stated, nor did anyone else that they are REQUIRED, or NEEDED....It was stated they were more of an easier/cleaner way to go, and I agree...I towed for years without one and was continually cleaning the grease off top of my hitch to get anything off of it that adhered to it, thus another reason I had purchased a cover to put over the top of my hitch to keep it clean, then I would wipe off the grease and re-apply when we towed again...You're right, it's easier, less messier and works just as good as, if not better than the grease or dry lube one puts on top of their hitch...at least that's my take as well as quite a few others who use the lube disc....I've had mine now since 07'..

[C-Bears]

So some of the FW dealers/manufacturers are providing them to customers, not hitch manufacturers. I still think that are a "comfort" item and not a required item.

[NC_Hauler]

My lube disc DIDN'T come from the dealer, It came with the 5er's information packet (manuals, notebook, etc AND the lube disc all sealed neatly in a BIG vinyl packet).

I have hitched up to the new B&W with the lube disc and it's a perfect fit, not hitched hight, just right....

[Dave_H_M]

I often wonder what would be the minus of running without a plate and no lube?

I usually just hit the hitch in the truck with something like WD40 hook and go.

After two winters, I still have some paint on the plate. :h

[Cummins12V98]

MFL wrote:

minnow wrote:

C-Bears wrote:
Here is the way I look at lube plates. They were invented because folks didn't want to grease the tops of their hitch plates. The grease makes the tops of the plates dirty.

If my hitch manufacturer designed mine for use with a lube plate then it would have been included in my paperwork and I would have been instructed to use it instead of grease.

With that line of thinking, how do you empty your black & grey tanks, hook up your cable TV or change a spare tire as the manufacturer didn't provide a sewer hose, coax cable or lug nut wrench.

Yep, when I got my new FW, the sales person gave me a boxed starter kit, full of cheap goodies. Sewer hose, water hose, 15amp adapter plug, toilet paper, and a few other little items.

I asked if I needed to get the hitch plate disc off from my trade-in. He said no, we provide a new one of those as well.

I must have paid too much!:E

Jerry

When we bought our MobileSuites they gave us a starter kit. I like at it and said to give it to someone else!

[MFL]

minnow wrote:

C-Bears wrote:
Here is the way I look at lube plates. They were invented because folks didn't want to grease the tops of their hitch plates. The grease makes the tops of the plates dirty.

If my hitch manufacturer designed mine for use with a lube plate then it would have been included in my paperwork and I would have been instructed to use it instead of grease.

With that line of thinking, how do you empty your black & grey tanks, hook up your cable TV or change a spare tire as the manufacturer didn't provide a sewer hose, coax cable or lug nut wrench.

Yep, when I got my new FW, the sales person gave me a boxed starter kit, full of cheap goodies. Sewer hose, water hose, 15amp adapter plug, toilet paper, and a few other little items.

I asked if I needed to get the hitch plate disc off from my trade-in. He said no, we provide a new one of those as well.

I must have paid too much!:E

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

The B&W and Brinkley heads work "BETTER" with a 1/8" lube plate. Hensley sells them, not cheap but they work well.

[NC_Hauler]

minnow wrote:

C-Bears wrote:
Here is the way I look at lube plates. They were invented because folks didn't want to grease the tops of their hitch plates. The grease makes the tops of the plates dirty.

If my hitch manufacturer designed mine for use with a lube plate then it would have been included in my paperwork and I would have been instructed to use it instead of grease.

With that line of thinking, how do you empty your black & grey tanks, hook up your cable TV or change a spare tire as the manufacturer didn't provide a sewer hose, coax cable or lug nut wrench.

:B...funny, but you are correct.....the place I purchased my 5er kicked in a sewage hose, but, no lug wrench or coax cable....never thought of that....pretty good....

[minnow]

C-Bears wrote:
Here is the way I look at lube plates. They were invented because folks didn't want to grease the tops of their hitch plates. The grease makes the tops of the plates dirty.

If my hitch manufacturer designed mine for use with a lube plate then it would have been included in my paperwork and I would have been instructed to use it instead of grease.

With that line of thinking, how do you empty your black & grey tanks, hook up your cable TV or change a spare tire as the manufacturer didn't provide a sewer hose, coax cable or lug nut wrench.

[NC_Hauler]

C-Bears wrote:
Here is the way I look at lube plates. They were invented because folks didn't want to grease the tops of their hitch plates. The grease makes the tops of the plates dirty.

If my hitch manufacturer designed mine for use with a lube plate then it would have been included in my paperwork and I would have been instructed to use it instead of grease.

Actually when I purchased my 5er back in 07', there was a lube plate included in the "owners manual/accessories package), straight from Monaco/HR.(still sealed in plastic along with manual's, etc).

The teflon/delron/nylon, (depends), that the 5er rides on between king pin and 5er hitch is as smooth for movement as the grease...just not as messy and won't pick up dust, dirt, etc.

There are various thickness lube plates that one can purchase, and they last...Been using the one that came with my 5er since 07'....I have a brand new "spare", but have yet to use it.

[C-Bears]

Here is the way I look at lube plates. They were invented because folks didn't want to grease the tops of their hitch plates. The grease makes the tops of the plates dirty.

If my hitch manufacturer designed mine for use with a lube plate then it would have been included in my paperwork and I would have been instructed to use it instead of grease.