I recently picked up my Redwood fifth-wheel from dealer service. My dealer was closing and I was trying to beat rush hour traffic and I hooked up and towed about 100 miles home. Upon getting home and unhitching I noticed my lubrication plate was missing from my king pin assembly. I'm guessing someone had swiped it while it was at my dealer and I didn't notice it was missing when I hitched up. I was stupid for not looking closer. Basically I towed 100 miles without any grease between the hitch (B&W Companion) and the baseplate. As far as I can tell there is no damage to either the hitch or the baseplate except for galling of the gray paint on the Companion hitch plate. There is no gouging on the metal of either the hitch plate or base plate. I didn't notice anything unusual when I was towing. I purchased a new lubrication plate. Should I be concerned going forward? Thank you.

 

If you're mean the disc that goes around the pin don't sweat it just get another.

 

Yes the lube plate that you would use in lieu of grease was missing. I essentially pulled a 100 miles with no grease. Painted metal to painted metal. Ouch!

 

I know guys who towed for decades that way without issue. 100 miles definitely won't hurt anything other than the paint...

 

Not an issue at all.

 

that is a non issue. towed with or with out and never an issue.

 

You do know that even with that lube plate you are supposed to grease the jaws on the hitch itself don't you? A lot of people think that using the plastic lube plate they don't need to grease the jaws of the hitch itself......

 

I had a 5th wheel for 8 years and pulled it a lot with no lube or lube plate.never a problem.

 

Don't be too quick to blame someone; they do fall off on their own . . . .

 

The pinion shaft also has a grease zerk that can only be accessed from the bottom. I use wheel bearing grease for the pinion and ceramic brake grease on the jaws.

 

Yes I'm aware the jaws require lubrication and have applied the proper grease. B&W lubrication on the hitch plate too though. I'm glad the consensus is that I didn't damage my hitch plate or hitch.