We’ve all heard stories of trailers detaching from their trucks and running away, which can be incredibly dangerous on highways. It’s essential to regularly inspect and perform maintenance on your fifth wheel hitch to reduce the risk of this happening to you.
First, thoroughly degrease the hitch and wipe off any grease that builds up in the lockjaw, throat, or pivot points. This will help you spot any potential damage more easily.
Inspect the Bracket Liner
You may have heard trailers becoming unhooked from their towing vehicles and running away on the highway, which can be dangerous for everyone involved. Spending a little time inspecting and lubricating your hitch can help prevent this problem and make traveling smoother for you and your family.
First, thoroughly degrease the hitch using compressed air or a cloth to remove dirt and grease. This makes it easier to spot damage or potential problems during your inspection.
You should then re-grease the area where the bracket pin zerks and the bushings (often polyurethane) are located. Finally, you can apply a light coat of white lithium grease to the jaws and the kingpin.
Inspect the Pins
A fifth wheel hitch in good condition will help you keep your trailer in better shape. The key is to inspect it regularly and clean it beforehand to ensure you don’t miss any damage that could lead to problems later on.
It would help if you also lubricated the bracket pin zerks. Use a grease gun to apply enough high-quality grease to fill the friction surfaces above the pins. This will make it easier for the truck and trailer to connect.
Next, lubricate the jaws and the plate on the trailer with water-resistant lithium grease. Re-lubricate the kingpin lock and other moving parts. These steps will safeguard the multiple metal components collaborating to create a safe connection between the RV and the truck.
Inspect the Bushings
A faulty fifth-wheel hitch can spell disaster on the road. Even a tiny crack can cause the trailer to become unhitched and careen into traffic. Regularly inspecting the trap for signs of wear and tear can prevent these issues from arising.
Clean all grease fittings, or grease zerks, on the fifth wheel hitch before adding more grease. Remove old fat and wipe the tap down with a damp cloth to remove dirt and other debris.
Once you’ve degreased the fifth wheel hitch, it becomes easier to see any damage that may have occurred. It’s also crucial to use the correct grease and properly spread it to reduce the risk of fat freezing in cold temperatures.
Inspect the Jaws
A good inspection should include a check of the fifth wheel jaws to ensure they aren’t worn out. That’s a two-person job because you need to back up your truck and have an assistant watch the hitch plate from behind.
During everyday use, the top plate is under intense stress, and daily wear can break down internal components like cushion ring inserts, bushings, release handles, and the lock jaws. To keep the top plate and kingpin jaws operating correctly, apply a light coat of water-resistant grease to all contact surfaces. Ginocchio says that Jost is working to minimize grease waste with a lube plate that automatically delivers a small amount of lubricant to the top plate, yoke tips and cam profile, secondary lock, and kingpin latch.
Inspect the Plate
We’ve all heard stories of trailers becoming detached from their towing vehicles, which can be dangerous on the highway. Maintenance can help reduce the chance of losing your fifth-wheel hitch while driving.
Examine the plate for any damage or signs of excessive wear. Clean the area and wipe away any grease from the lockjaw, throat, and pivot points, which can shorten the life of your fifth wheel’s locking mechanism.
Use a high-quality grease and a reliable grease gun to lubricate the locations marked with “grease zerks” (or grease fittings). Check your manufacturer’s user manual for specific recommendations on the exact type of grease, along with where, how much, and how often to lubricate. Alternatively, consider using an add-on lube plate.
