Lube plate
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 193
From: Cambs, England
Lube plate
Do you guys use them? I'm on my second one & that's looking like it's time to change again. I like that there is no grease & it does seem quieter but I've only done maybe 2500 miles towing my trailer. I was expecting a couple of years out of one. The wear occurs around the pin until it just drops off.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
I've never had that happen. Mine usually crack if I'm a little on the low side hitching up. Usually once every 2 to 3 years. Doesn't take much. Never realize it till I unhitch and the piece falls out. I do however always keep a spare or two on board.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 130
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You can hammer the flutes that engage the pin. Doing so will widen them ever so slightly so that they re-engage the base of the kingpin. I've had to do that with the cheap black lube plates from Camping World. I switched back to my original Curt lube plate, and it has served me another 5k miles. My Curt plate is also 1/4 inch, vs the 1/8 inch black one from CW.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,627
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From: Itinerant
I've had the same plate for 7 years now and still looks to be in good condition with 7K miles on it this year so far.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 360
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From: Michigan
I take it off in between trips. Rainwater was getting in between the plate and pinbox creating rust.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 193
From: Cambs, England
Thanks for the replies, I'll put up a photo later, I'm actually wondering if there is a bit of wear on the jaws of the hitch allowing the plate to get pinched around the pin. I'll take a pic when I get home later.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
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From: Upstate NY
Interesting as the only one I had on the last 5er was very nose heavy, being a Titanium went down the road with it when traded after 5 years use - and had no appreciable wear after many thousands of miles. The current one has seen two seasons use and over 12 K miles and again, no real wear either. Both were from my local guy and are about a 1/4" thick. I too have a (used) spare that the dealer 'donated' just in case.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 193
From: Cambs, England
Nothing is bent & both the hitch & the plate are smooth with no corrosion, in fact the original paint is pretty much intact. Here's a couple of pics to show what is worn, first is the side which was facing up.
The wear/damage is more apparent on the underside, just wondering, is there a right way up for this thing? I don't recall seeing any instructions when it came but you know what us guys are like for reading them anyway! Another thought, there are 2 sizes it would seem, 10" & 12", my first one was a 10" which was fine for our first trip out until I broke it backing on to the pin while the trailer was a couple of inches low, it had only done a couple of hundred miles! The one in the pics is a 12", I have a regular Reese 16k hitch BTW.
The wear/damage is more apparent on the underside, just wondering, is there a right way up for this thing? I don't recall seeing any instructions when it came but you know what us guys are like for reading them anyway! Another thought, there are 2 sizes it would seem, 10" & 12", my first one was a 10" which was fine for our first trip out until I broke it backing on to the pin while the trailer was a couple of inches low, it had only done a couple of hundred miles! The one in the pics is a 12", I have a regular Reese 16k hitch BTW.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 193
From: Cambs, England
That makes sense, I've just been & had a look to see if there is anything obvious that would stop it from turning on the hitch but it's all good, so what would normally keep it from turning, I did think about drilling it to take a couple of countersunk screws & fixing it to the pin box plate as the flat faces don't seem to wear much & I can check that each time I hitch up.