Lube Plate

[atom ant]

I have the tri-glide and a new 20K Reese Hitch. I've wiped out 2 of the nylon lube plates in a month. They shatter out of the center. I think it is because the this hitch requires a low approach and the disk can't take it. I had a lube plate on my last one (different pin box and hitch) that lasted 5 years.

Anyone else have this issue? Am I hitching wrong? Am I stuck with grease

[5th_Time]

Brad, Make sure you use genuine Reese 83001, which are really thick, 12" lubeplates. They are somewhathard to find locally though because lots of copycats.

[atom ant]

Thanks 5th time. I was just using the Camping World Version

[BradPAjax]

Hi,

You may be using too steep an approach angle... the first few times I hooked up I scratch the you know what out of the Reese plate and had to file down the damage to the steel plate because the burrs and bits were tearing up my nylon wear plate.

The sweet spot for our 38BR is aligning the 45 deg section of the Trail Glide with the last half of the sloped section of the Reese hitch.

With a shallower angle of approach I have had no issues with the nylon plate now. I have probably hooked up 25 times since then with no more damage.

[RollsRoyce]

Do you have a slider hitch? I understand you can't and aren't supposed to use these slick plates

[RollsRoyce]

Brad, Check with Reese they may have a Teflon type spray for the way tubes and the 5th platelike Pull=rite offers

[atom ant]

Brad, You may be correct. I probably need some more practice with this new hitch. Seems if I go too high I miss, so I may be overcompensating. I ordered the Reese lube plate suggested above and I'll try it some more.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by RollsRoyce

Do you have a slider hitch? I understand you can't and aren't supposed to use these slick plates

Na, I ditched the slider while I was in the campground with you. Dory and I tried every angle I could think of in a parking lot, and I found no more need for it. Just put it on Craigslist tonight.

I have to say, everything was falling into place with that shortbed, the Triglide gave me some more length, the hitch change gave me another 2" to the rear, and the radius nose on these made for a perfect fit. Now that I have a longbed, it seems like 2/3 of the truck bed is wasted, it all fits in a neat package toward the back. I got enough room for a Harley Davidson in front of the hitch (not actually - but maybe a big toolbox).

[5th_Time]

Brad, now you have room for a niceWeatherGuard tool box like I have. I keep the leveling pads, wheel chocks,hoses, etc. in there -things that tend to get dirty that I don't want in the basement. Also fire extinguisher & road flares/triangles. Since I have a removeable Reese hitch, I redesigned the toolbox mounting so I can remove that too.













Anyone contemplating getting a bed-mount tool boxshould be sure and get the non-saddle mount version as they sit lower and you need to be able to see the hitch mounting out the back window - especially with a crewcab.



Also, I keep a spare lubeplate in there... HaEdited by: 5th_Time

[mhs4771]

Because of the Trailair the King Pin Plate has a slight downward angle. So after destroying one Lube plate, I back part way under the pin, then drop the front of the RW down to just put some weight on the hitch, then continue to back into the pin. It does take that extra step, but haven't destroyed any more lube plates.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by 5th_Time

Brad, now you have room for a niceÂ*WeatherGuard tool box like I have.Â* I keep the leveling pads, wheel chocks,Â*hoses, etc. in there -Â*things that tend to get dirty that I don't want in the basement.Â* Also fire extinguisher & road flares/triangles.Â* Since I have a removeable Reese hitch, I redesigned the toolbox mounting so I can remove that too.
Â*





Anyone contemplating getting a bed-mount tool boxÂ*should be sure and get the non-saddle mount version as they sit lower and you need to be able to see the hitch mounting out the back window - especially with a crewcab.
Â*
Also, I keep a spare lubeplate in there... Ha

A toolbox is probably where this will be headed. I wan't to make sure I can get a retractable cover first, so the toolbox would need to fit underneath. I could have a lube plate dispenser in there kind of like a "pop-a-plate"!

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

Because of the Trailair the King Pin Plate has a slight downward angle. Â*So after destroying one Lube plate, I back part way under the pin, then drop the front of the RW down to just put some weight on the hitch, then continue to back into the pin. Â*It does take that extra step, but haven't destroyed any more lube plates.

Thanks MHS - I will give it a try. Maybe I can get my daughter to operate the keypad on the levelers while I back up. I can't see the hitch anyway because it's so low, she has to be there now to guide me on.

[BradPAjax]

I have the solid folding cover on my F-350... folds in 4 sections. I leave the last section down when towing the trailer.

I put a strip of white electrical tape on the folded sections so I can line up the hitch since it is below my line of sight when I back up too.

Me wife guides me back until the Trail Glide is just at the Reese saddle and then I adjust the trailer height to the right approach angle, hook up the trailer brakes, engage the trailer brake in the cab of the truck and then back up the last 6-8 inches to complete the connection.Edited by: BradPAjax

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Thanks MHS - I will give it a try. Maybe I can get my daughter to operate the keypad on the levelers while I back up. I can't see the hitch anyway because it's so low, she has to be there now to guide me on.

with my F350, I removed the center head rest in the back seat and now I can easily see the hitch while backing up

[piper guy]

I have a folding cover (BakFlip) and leave the last section down when towing. Found one of the iBall wireless cameras on line. When I hook up, the camera sits on the bed cover pointed at the hitch and shows the way into the hitch. Still is easier with someone to help, but I can easily hook up by myself.