Community Forums

CampEstes · 07-04-2019, 06:10 PM

How many out there use a lube plate. Any pros and cons?

JaRed1986 · 07-04-2019, 06:21 PM

I use a lube plate and grease on the jaws. It's been working great so far for 5 years.

bigchick · 07-04-2019, 07:39 PM

the same. our lube plate is going on 5 years. i do not use grease on it. i do lube the hitch jaws as recommended by the manufacturer (curt) and i do lube the kingpin.

Clomok · 07-04-2019, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigchick

the same. our lube plate is going on 5 years. i do not use grease on it. i do lube the hitch jaws as recommended by the manufacturer (curt) and i do lube the kingpin.

Exact same here

Old-Biscuit · 07-04-2019, 09:19 PM

Lube plate since 2006 with routine lubing of pivot points on hitch internals & around the shaft of King Pin

Gone are the old days of smearing a coat of grease across the head plate of the hitch
Gone are the old days of grease getting on your clothes, hands, sleeves and anything else that happens to come in contact with that greased up head plate
Gone are the days of having to wipe that old grease off and smear a new coat on
Gone are the old days of sticky, messy greased up head plate

UNLESS....your hitch is one of those that can't use a lube plate due to clearances between jaw/King Pin shoulder and interferes with latching/closing of jaws
So sorry......

CampEstes · 07-05-2019, 03:50 AM

Awesome everyone! Thanks. I'll give it a shot for sure.

edatlanta · 07-06-2019, 04:14 AM

I was unhitching after my recent trip to Ft Wilderness 3-4 weeks ago. The trip was made over 3 short days driving and two nights along the way at 2 different campgrounds with pull through sites so I didn't unhook. After backing into my site at the Fort I was pulling away from my 5'er and the lube plate literally flew off of the kingpin and landed on the ground. When I picked it up it had literally dozens of hairline cracks in it and when I pulled away it was a little warped and got stuck and broke. I can't get upset about the failure since it was the original one I bought when I first picked up my 5'er brand new in August 2010. Nine years of full time use. Off to CW in Kissimmee, FL before we left the Fort and a new one is now in place.

dkegel · 07-06-2019, 09:54 AM

What size plate do most of you use? I had been using the 10" but recently switched to a 12" for better coverage.

Dave

edatlanta · 07-07-2019, 05:07 AM

I use the 10". A 12" would seem a bit wide.

TXiceman · 07-07-2019, 06:19 AM

Lube plate and a bit of grease on the jaws of the pin. Grease on the table is way too messy.

Ken

CecilD · 07-07-2019, 10:39 AM

I have to use lube plates to center my hitch jaws in the kingpin groove. As a matter of fact, I have to stack two of them. Otherwise, the upper kingpin shoulder would rest on my hitch jaws and the plates wouldn't touch.

charliez · 07-08-2019, 05:13 AM

Lube plate for sure. If it doesn't stay on the pin when unhitched, simple bang the area that touches the pin with a hammer and flatten it a little and then it will stay.

imjustdave · 07-08-2019, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CecilD

I have to use lube plates to center my hitch jaws in the kingpin groove. As a matter of fact, I have to stack two of them. Otherwise, the upper kingpin shoulder would rest on my hitch jaws and the plates wouldn't touch.

Mine is the same way, short version is the company that made the pin lengthened it to work better with plates. Aka non standard size. Without the plate it hits rides on the jaws

IC2 · 07-09-2019, 06:50 AM

Lube plates since 2009. On my second one with the first as a spare. That first one got bent out of shape on an off camber hookup so I bought a new one, thinking it was beyond repair. Left it on a picnic table and it went about 75% back into shape in the hot sun and 100% reuseabel after a few whangs with a hammer. A 10" works with most hitches and pin boxes.