Nylon Lube Plate vs. typical grease??

[Braselton Nomad]

What are your thoughts/experiences??

Are the plastic discs new school gimmick or are they really better than old school grease?

[RustyJC]

I don't really think of them as "new school" since I've used the Teflon load discs for probably 15 years. They certainly are cleaner than grease and don't trap/hold grit and dirt like grease. Remember, though, that the groove in the kingpin or jaws of the hitch still need to be greased.

Rusty

[Braselton Nomad]

Thanks RustyJC! I guess I don't ever remember Dad using one on his so I figured they were something new(er). Been trolling around Google on it and haven't really found any negatives. Looks like I'll be adding it to my list!!

[TXiceman]

The Teflon disc is great. Not nearly as messy, but as Rusty noted, you still need to have some grease on the pins and jaws.

Ken

[KSCRUDE]

Been using them on pickups for 20 years. Switched all the semi trucks over to them about three years ago. Grease the king pin on the semi trucks, but use very little on the pickups, as they see very limited miles, and light loads. They are the only way to go, so much cleaner and no grease on the plate in your truck.

[hjsdds]

Some of the disks are too thick and prevent jaws from locking properly (high hitch). That problems occurs sometimes on hitches which utilize Binkley heads (Holland product). There is very little clearance vertically between the Binkley jaws and some king pins. King pins have standard dimensions but if the pinbox welder has a bad day and doesn't pay attention where he welds the pin (how high), the disk might prevent the jaws from latching (on a Binkley).
Incidentally, everyone call them Teflon disks, it's a misnomer. The material is probably some version of UHMW (high density polyethylene). Teflon is actually too soft for that application (and too expensive). UHMW is cheaper, tougher and just as slippery as Teflon.

hjs

[wingnut60]

There are (or used to be0 2 thicknesses of the plastic disc available. Had the problem with my Companion hitch trying to pull a friends HitchHiker. But it fit my Suites. Thats when I found there were 2 sizes. Not sure that is true now. My Companion has not seen grease on the face in 6 years of towing. Sure makes for a cleaner area in the truck bed and when accidentally brushing up against the pin box.
Joe

[wandering1]

They work. Grease is messy and gets on everything.

[Roam America]

Believe me, the discs are much cleaner. I recently got towed off of the interstate. Pickup on a flatbed, 5er using a regular semi tractor. Plate was all greased up. As much as I cleaned it up, I am still finding grease that ends up all over me.

[tuffr2]

I have used mine now for two years. I think I paid around $10 for it. Seems to last ok. Well worth $10 - $12.

[Scout1947]

[QUOTE=hjsdds;1772421]Some of the disks are too thick and prevent jaws from locking properly (high hitch).

This happened to me, I took the disc from the Carriage and put it on the Travel Supreme and couldn't understand why the jaws wouldn't lock.
Certainly a lot cleaner.

[Braselton Nomad]

Picked one up at the hitch store for $12...

Thanks for all the feedback!

[RCAircraft]

Originally Posted by hjsdds

Some of the disks are too thick and prevent jaws from locking properly (high hitch). That problems occurs sometimes on hitches which utilize Binkley heads (Holland product). There is very little clearance vertically between the Binkley jaws and some king pins. King pins have standard dimensions but if the pinbox welder has a bad day and doesn't pay attention where he welds the pin (how high), the disk might prevent the jaws from latching (on a Binkley). Incidentally, everyone call them Teflon disks, it's a misnomer. The material is probably some version of UHMW (high density polyethylene). Teflon is actually too soft for that application (and too expensive). UHMW is cheaper, tougher and just as slippery as Teflon. hjs

I agree that the disk is most likely made of UHMW as Teflon is way to "soft". I have replaced stainless steel parts with UHMW plastic as it out wears SS. As stated in the post it is very important to grease the jaws and king pin.

[richardcoxid]

I have used the same "Teflon" plate for 19 years on 2 different 5W's, every time that I hook up I spray the hitch plate with little Silicone.