Lubing the Fifth Wheel

[Campinfan]

I am new to the fiver world and my dealer told me not to grease my hitch or hitch plate because it attracts dirt and that combination is bad. they told me to use a silicone spray. I am hearing mixed thoughts on this and want to know what others do.

If I do use grease, are there any good recommendations? Also, would you wipe it off when not in use in order to keep the dirt from accumulating?

The dealer said the Teflon plate does not work with my Hitchhiker as they could not get the hitch to close properly on another one they recently installed.
Advice? Ideas? etc?

[Campinfan]

It is a Hijacker...told ya I was new to the fiver world.....oops.

I appreciate all the advice.

[Old-Biscuit]

I think the OP is talking about his 5th wheel hitch.
NOT about a Hitchhiker 5th wheel.

Don't know of a 'Hitchhiker' Brand of hitches.....could be Hijacker ?

Anyway.....OP
Check with your hitch mfg and/or manual. See if you are NOT to use a Teflon Lube Plate due to possible 'high hitching' concerns.
If not problem...use the Teflon Plate. Then you just need to grease pivot points, moving parts etc. occasionally and not have to grease the hitch head plate.

IF it's a concern....
Use Slip Plate spray on hitch plate

[Pipeman]

I also recommend Slip Plate. It's a dry, spray on graphite. You rough up the hitch with sand paper as well as the king pin box plate. Use it on the kin pin also.No muss and you don't have to clean grease off and reapply

[mileshuff]

The newer Pullrite SuperGlides use a light oil such as WD40. The concern with grease is dirt and heavier oils and grease wipe away as the hitch moves causing wear on the hitch rails. But the SuperGlide is quite a bit different than any other conventional hitch so requirements are different.

[ventrman]

I would also recommend that you lube the King Pin and the Hitch Jaws with spray-on White Lithium Grease.

[Dave_H_M]

If you find the slip plate that CB mentioned in a spray bomb (for ease of application) that stuff works wonders on making surfaces slippery.

What the heck, I have even run mine dry a lot.

So now you still have a lot of options to choose from. :W

[Gemstone]

There are standard thick teflon plates available, as well as thin (1/8"), like used on Trailer Saver hitches....not a whole lot of difference, but enough to matter....you might try one.

Regards
Gemstone

[restlesswind]

I use a teflon disk with our Hitchhhiker.The hitchpin is a Demco and the hitch is a Huskey 16K.
Any problem getting the hitch to lock would be with the hitch,not the fifth wheel brand.

[C_B_]

If you end up not going with a teflon plate, I would recommend using Slip Plate. That's what I use on all the moving parts on my 16K Super Glide hitch.

C.B.

[padredw]

Don't know what HitchHiker you have, but we have towed our HitchHiker II UKTG 32.5 for over 50,000 miles and have used nothing but the teflon disk.

In fact on previous fifth-wheels for a total of over 140,000 miles we have used the teflon plate. Have never had the problem of "high hitch."

This report only relates to our specific experience, but it is a true one.

[Vulcaneer]

I would not grease. Use the Teflon plate. Much cleaner, and does a good job. Does not attract dirt, like grease does. There are a few hitches that might not be able to use the Teflon disk. But most can use it with no problems.

[TennesseeBob]

rhagfo wrote:
The telflon plate should have no issues on your Hitchhiker, then a light coat of grease on the recessed part
Of the pin should work fine. Even those with the B&W thick jaw hitch UES them without issue

My Reese hitch instructions says not to use the Teflon plate/ I tried to use one and it would high hitch and would not close properly

[rhagfo]

The telflon plate should have no issues on your Hitchhiker, then a light coat of grease on the recessed part
Of the pin should work fine. Even those with the B&W thick jaw hitch UES them without issue