Keeping lube plate on...

[CADman_KS]

After one season of towing, the "fingers" on our lube plate no longer hold it on.

I bought a Reese TowPower, and it went on there very hard, but the fingers started getting eaten by the hitch, and now it just falls off. When I installed it, it was totally flush with the bottom of the plate on the pinbox, so I know that I got it on there all the way to begin with.

We've had fifth wheels for 20+ years, but we've always had a PullRite Superglide, so we've never used a disk. We no longer have a slider, so we're using a lube plate now. Is there some secret that others use to keep the lube plate on there, and is it normal for those fingers to get eaten by the hitch?

[CADman_KS]

I should have added that I read in other posts, and sites, that people are beating the ends of the fingers when they get loose, thus making the fingers longer, and it stays put again.

That sounds like a great idea, but in our case, the ends of fingers are actually "eaten" by the hitch, and the action of turning. Our inner diameter of our fingers are actually larger now than the diameter of the kingpin, by a good amount. Each finger needs to probably be extended a good 1/16" or so. I suppose that beating on them might work, but it won't work long.

I don't understand why they are being eaten by the hitch...

[jjwhite368]

I replace the lube plate about once a season and I carry a spare with me just in case. Much easier than grease.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by jjwhite368

I replace the lube plate about once a season and I carry a spare with me just in case. Much easier than grease.

Thanks for that reply!

Hummm... So maybe these things aren't as durable as I think. Maybe one season is all they are worth. With that being said, at $15ish, it is still worth it not to have all of that grease and hassle on there...

[1retired06]

Our lube plate has lasted a long time. Don’t remember how old it is, but I moved it from our 2010.

[artfuldodger]

Same as above. We've had ours for 6 or 7 years.

[BB_TX]

Something about your hitch. I had the same one for 14 years. Only beat the fingers one time.

[Jeff n Susan]

I've had mine for 3 campers now, still holding good. I just keep on changing it.
It must be something with your hitch plate that is eating it up

[Vet4jdc]

I too carry a spare but when the "fingers" on mine get loose, I lay it on smooth concrete and take a hammer to it and "flatten" the finger ends to tighten it up. Works for another 6 months or so.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by BB_TX

Something about your hitch. I had the same one for 14 years. Only beat the fingers one time.

This is why I asked. I fully expected it to last more than one season.

There is something wrong with interface between my hitch and the plate, whatever that is.

It is a PullRite non slider type hitch. I'm stumped...

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by Vet4jdc

I too carry a spare but when the "fingers" on mine get loose, I lay it on smooth concrete and take a hammer to it and "flatten" the finger ends to tighten it up. Works for another 6 months or so.

Yeah, my fingers are so short now that there is no amount of beating that's going to correct. They have literally been eaten by my hitch for whatever reason...

[CADman_KS]

One other question to the respondents, do you have a 10" or 12" disc? We have a 12". I wonder if that is part of the issue somehow???

[Vet4jdc]

I use a 10" which sits pretty flush with the pin box.

[77cruiser]

Mine falls off almost every time, seems like it stretches, after about 10 minutes I can put it on & it stays.

[Daryles]

I squeezed the disk fingers with a vice grips and tightened it up. After that I sprayed it with just a little PTFE lube occasionally.

[riflegunbuilder]

I just put mine up in place and put a zip tie under it to hold it up. Usually last several trips.

[Dave W]

I twisted the fingers out of alignment on mine on a way off camber hookup. A hammer and a flat rock will put the fingers back in alignment. I carry that one as a spare now since I just bought a new one somewhere before I tried the hammer tick but it's about as good as new now as far as fit

[DutchmenSport]

I've had mine on for over a couple years now. I replaced the first one I had because it actually bent when miss calculated the hitch height and the fifth wheel hitch caught it low and just messed it all up. I purchased another one from my local RV dealership parts store. I've had no issues with it, although I noticed when I took this photo the front of it is beginning to wear a little thin. I'll probably replace it this next Spring.

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by CADman_KS

This is why I asked. I fully expected it to last more than one season.

There is something wrong with interface between my hitch and the plate, whatever that is.

It is a PullRite non slider type hitch. I'm stumped...

I started out with a PullRite Super 5th non slider on my previous truck for 4 years and then a Reese Elite on my current truck. Used the same lube plate for both. No idea why your Pullrite would do that.


I guess I would try a new lube plate. Maybe just something about that particular one. Unless you already tried that.

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by CADman_KS

After one season of towing, the "fingers" on our lube plate no longer hold it on.

I bought a Reese TowPower, and it went on there very hard, but the fingers started getting eaten by the hitch, and now it just falls off. When I installed it, it was totally flush with the bottom of the plate on the pinbox, so I know that I got it on there all the way to begin with.

We've had fifth wheels for 20+ years, but we've always had a PullRite Superglide, so we've never used a disk. We no longer have a slider, so we're using a lube plate now. Is there some secret that others use to keep the lube plate on there, and is it normal for those fingers to get eaten by the hitch?

I sold my previous fifth wheel with a 12 year old lube plate on it bought new. Never had it fall off or show any real signs of wear . I cured any problem I could of had with a lube plate , with a Andersen hitch.