PULLRITE SLIDER HITCH MAINTENANCE

[navajochief]

I currently have a Pullrite 18K ISR installed on my rig. My question is what do you guys use that is effective and safe to remove old material from the way tubes? The way tubes on my hitch are pretty gunky after having massive sand storms pass through my area leaving them with dirt, grime and a thick layer of slimy contaminated WD 40. Can I use engine degreaser or simple elbow grease with soap and water?

[Jerry_and_Glori]

I have the same hitch.All do is spray with a heavy coat of WD 40 then wipe it off then spray again if needed.It will look like new

[WeBRVing]

To clean the way tubes I use carb spray on a rag, then toss the rag in the trash. WD40 to lube the tubes and pivot pin per the manual guidelines. Wipe up the bed under the pivot occasionally. Working fine so far.:)

[Y-Guy]

JIMNLIN wrote:
I would check with Pullrite as they have indicated lube types and maintenance depends on year models.

I will add that if you don't follow their recommendations they may not warranty their product too. Been there done that. When I bought mine they recommended using a silicone lubricant (goop) as I recall now, but some where along the way they switched to Slip Plate. Of course there was not official correspondence about that, just in their newsletter. Long story, but follow their recommendation on what to use.

[JIMNLIN]

I would check with Pullrite as they have indicated lube types and maintenance depends on year models.

[time2roll]

I have the old style. When I switched from grease to Slip Plate I removed and disassembled the hitch and spryed it with Gunk engine degreaser down at the self serve car wash. Then of course used the sprayer to clean it up. Followed up with fine sand paper (sanding block) to smooth some rough edges on the way tubes followed with Brake Clean to remove any remaining residue.

I use graphite spray on my old Pullrite but consider using something besides spray WD-40 to avoid overspray and the related mess. Some other light oil should be fine such as 3n1 applied with a rag. Hitch cover between use may also help.

[navajochief]

Thank you ALL for the advice. I have an idea on what to do now. I wanted to make sure the way tubes were same to be scraped by something like a SOS pad or something similar. Thanks again.

M

[TazFord]

We’ve only had ours for a few months, wonderful hitch. We try to keep it covered, wether in or out of truck bed. As far as previous post, we bought a harbor freight 2 ton shop crane that works great for saving backs. Another option would be 1/2 ton truck crane that folds out of the way under the bed rail

[bshgto1]

I had one of these. It was a very good hitch and worked as designed. But the weight taking it out and the mess it left in my bed while using it got to me and went with the Andersen. The only way to really clean it is to disassemble the whole thing and clean it with degreaser. This was very necessary after a week at the beach. I put rags under the way tubes when I oiled them to try and keep the mess to a minimum. If you end up causing galling on the way tubes from the sand you can just flip them over and start over with new.

[Bob_Sue]

Mine is removed every year, comes apart easy. prior to putting it back into the bed in spring, spray with degreaser, clean way tubes with Brillo pad. Wipe everything down with W-D40, and re-install in the truck bed. Spray way tubes after assembly, work head up & down the tubes a few times, re check all bolts, your good to go.

[azrving]

Spray degreaser and stiff bristle parts cleaning brush then power wash everything followed with relube. I have removed the roller and greased it.

Early on I had disassembled everything and made sheet metal shims that go behind the plastic wear blocks to take out some of the slop.