Superglide Capture Plate

[JDK53]

I have Superglide that has a capture plate which used 12 bolts to attach the plate to the plate on the pin box. I need to remove the capture plate and the bolts will not unscrew. Some appear stripped and the others won't turn at all. Any thoughts on how to remove the bolts? the camper has been sold and the buyer has a regular fifth wheel hitch.

[Duck]

If your pin box is just the standard, not a Morryde etc, you might find a used one laying around a repair shop that was taken off a trailer that the owner upgraded the pin box. Probably could buy and install it cheap. Just another idea.
Don

[Ed9824v]

What I did was to mount the plate with all the screw because that is what it said, BUT later I welded 5/16 square steel around the capture plate with a small space for a gap. then removed all the screws in the plate and put only one larger screw in the space where the plate drops down and now only have to remove one screw to drop the plate. On my 5th wheel flat bed I bought one of their wedges cheaper then a plate no plate now and mounted that to the pin plate on the trailer, works great and has two large bolt to remove to be towed by regular hitch.

[garysol]

The brain trust at the shop that installed my hitch and capture plate welded the plate on to my pinbox. Now THATS going to be a PIA to remove if I even can when the time comes.

[mileshuff]

Sure glad I have one of the newer styles that uses a single bolt that simply pins the plate to the king pin. I take it off every time I take my 5'er to the service center. Otherwise the centers forklifts they use to move trailer use a cup to lift the king pin and that causes damage to the capture plate.

[ksbowman]

Are you sure there is not a nut on the back side? Mine is a different adapter plate but I have to reach back inside to hold the roll on them. It's hard to reach but doable.

[JDK53]

They are countersinked with tapped holes. I can't get a hacksaw or grinder on them. Drilling looks to be the only option. I am going to sell the hitch and I will recommend they use the clamp plate. Thanks for the comments.

[kaydeejay]

JDK53 wrote:
I have Superglide that has a capture plate which used 12 bolts to attach the plate to the plate on the pin box. I need to remove the capture plate and the bolts will not unscrew. Some appear stripped and the others won't turn at all. Any thoughts on how to remove the bolts? the camper has been sold and the buyer has a regular fifth wheel hitch.

They are probably countersunk machine screws with drilled/tapped holes in the pin box head.
You won't get a grinder or hacksaw to them, so drill out the heads and pry the plate off.
With that done you should be able to get a grip with vise grips and unscrew the remains of the screw. Otherwise you will need to cut/grind them flush.
Then you can clean up the pin box and paint it if you like. The holes will still be there.
BTDT! It is a PITA!
If you plan to use the Superglide on another fiver, buy one of the clamp on capture plates to avoid a repeat!

[sch911]

Ed9824v wrote:
drill them and get the plate off and grind surface smooth.

X 2 Drill the heads off, pry the plate loose, grind the surface smooth, hit it with some black paint.

[Ed9824v]

drill them and get the plate off and grind surface smooth.

[n7bsn]

Em... a hand-grinder, an easy-out set, I've even used a hack-saw to cut bolts.