lube plate or grease?

[robkathybat]

I use one of those plastic “lube” plates on my hitch. Last year on our last trip of the year under weather duress I failed to verify the hitch jaw was fully engaged with a flashlight. I did look and it appeared to be fully over, and I was able to put the pin in. I performed to pull test and all seemed fine, however when I started froward and started turning left the trailer fell out of the hitch. It appears one of the tabs on the “lube” plate bent down when backing into the hitch, engaging the lever that allows the pin to go in instead of the jaw pushing the lever. When I started turning it pulled out and the trailer fell on the bed. No damage to the trailer and a small dent on the left wheel well. I have since painted the jaw yellow, leaving a black strip so that when I do look at it with a flashlight (no matter what the weather) I can visually verify the jaw is all the way over, and not totally rely on just the pin going in. As the camping season approaches I am considering whether I should even use the “lube” plate. Is grease all that messy? If I decide on the Lube plate is there much difference between the EAZ lift plate and the Reese plate?

[travelin' texans]

Personally I prefer the lube plate! Also have never had that issue with the plate in 20+ years of towing 5th wheels. Not sure what brand any of lube plates I've bought. I've bought them at Camping World, at flea markets & Wal-Marts & couldn't tell any difference in quality of any of them, CWs cost the most but not any better than the others that I noticed.

[robkathybat]

It was murphy's law. it was pouring out, I was sopping wet and miserable. I think I came in a little low and pushed the lube plate back bending one of the little tabs down against the front of the king pin, at least that's what it looked like when put the legs down and pulled the truck out. It probably will never happen again. I'll probably stick with the plate instead of grease.

[xtasee]

Just curious as I am new to using the lube plate, when do you know you need to change it out? I am still on the original one.

[travelin' texans]

Originally Posted by xtasee

Just curious as I am new to using the lube plate, when do you know you need to change it out? I am still on the original one.

In my case it was when it wouldn't stay on the pin once unhooked from the truck or it got chewed up, but we towed 8-10k miles a year.
I also regularly sprayed the hitch head & latching mechanisms with a silicone spray, DO NOT use regular WD40 (it's for rusty bolts) it's a dirt/dust magnet.

[mhs4771]

My Comfort Ride Hitch has a built in Lube plate, so the only other thing I do is apply a little Axle Grease to the Jaws, simply because you still have metal to metal with hitch jaws and king pin.

[XCMARK]

I have a Demco sliding hitch , I used a 1/4" thick the first few times and had a issue with it bending the retaining tab that holds it up on the pin. I replaced it hitched one more time without issue any decided to get a morryde pin box that uses a capture plate . from that point on I out grease on the jaws and slide lock and spray silicone on the plate surface. With the morryde pin box and this demco hitch the pinbox doesn't pivot separately the head turns as the trailer is turned and pushes the head to the rear tailgate as the trailer go past 45* turn angle. By 90* the trailer is pushed to the rear 14"+ to gain more clearance at the back of the cab (this is for 6' 6" bed trucks only). So when I get a dually next year I will replace the hitch with a comfort ride that has a built in wear plate and ditch the capture plate needed for the Demco. Plastic disk work well if you don't truck to hook up to high or to low. Grease holds the dirt and can cause things to wear faster on your hitch. just my opinion but read your hitch owners manual .

[gridiron]

This happened to me. I suffered much more damage to my truck. A couple thousand dollars. I painted my jaw white and put a black linen the jaw next to the closed position. This helps. I am extra cautious now.