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Open Roads Forum  >  Fifth-Wheels

 > lube plate makes unhooking more difficult ?

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BB_TX

McKinney, Texas

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Posted: 05/05/12 12:32pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

korbe wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

I never raise my pin box plate off the hitch plate. For unhooking, I position it the same level as I do for hooking up, just below the hitch plate level. When I unhook and drive out, the pin box will slide down the hitch plate about an inch or so. Same hooking up, the pin box will ride up the hitch plate about an inch or so.
No problems with the lube plate.

So you don't extend the front legs to the ground? Never seen that before.

Of course I lower the jacks to the ground. But I do not lower them to the point it raises the pin box plate off the hitch plate.
When I hook up, the pin box plate is about an inch below the level of the hitch plate. When I back into the hitch the pin box rides up the hitch plate that 1 inch. That insures a good latch and no danger of high hitching.
When unhooking, I lower the jacks (i.e. raise the trailer) until it is about the same level as when I hooked up. That way the pin box slides back down the hitch plate the same 1 inch. No upward pressure from the pin on the latch mechanism.
No reason to raise the pin box completely off the hitch plate.

korbe

Northern California

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Posted: 05/05/12 01:56pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

BB_TX wrote:

korbe wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

I never raise my pin box plate off the hitch plate. For unhooking, I position it the same level as I do for hooking up, just below the hitch plate level. When I unhook and drive out, the pin box will slide down the hitch plate about an inch or so. Same hooking up, the pin box will ride up the hitch plate about an inch or so.
No problems with the lube plate.

So you don't extend the front legs to the ground? Never seen that before.

Of course I lower the jacks to the ground. But I do not lower them to the point it raises the pin box plate off the hitch plate.
When I hook up, the pin box plate is about an inch below the level of the hitch plate. When I back into the hitch the pin box rides up the hitch plate that 1 inch. That insures a good latch and no danger of high hitching.
When unhooking, I lower the jacks (i.e. raise the trailer) until it is about the same level as when I hooked up. That way the pin box slides back down the hitch plate the same 1 inch. No upward pressure from the pin on the latch mechanism. No reason to raise the pin box completely off the hitch plate.


Sorry for the confusion. I was confused about the rig lowering about an inch while unhooking. Was thinking that the rig could not lower an inch if the Legs were down.


2004 F250 SD PSD
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BB_TX

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Posted: 05/05/12 02:51pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Understandable. Actually the trailer does not lower, the truck rises a little as the weight slides off, hence the pin box sliding down the hitch plate a little.

JEBar

Willow Springs, NC

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Posted: 05/05/12 05:19pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

standard lube plates are too thick for use with a MorRyde pin box and Hensley Trailer Saver Hitch .... to make the combo work I have to buy thin plated from Hensley which are about half the thickness of a standard plate .... while they don't last as long as a standard plate they do reasonably well

Jim


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'06 SunnyBrook 34BWKS

mr. ed

Madison, SD (but usually elsewhere)

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Posted: 05/05/12 06:30pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Whether hitching or unhitching I raise the pinbox until it just barely clears the plate. Even so, when unhitching I almost always have to back the truck slightly in order to pull the handle. I sometimes have to do this several times, each time raising the fiver slightly to just clear the plate until I can finally pull the handle to release the pin.

BTW, when finally unhitched I measure the length of one of the jacks to ground and make a note of it before leveling. This way I can raise the jacks to the exact height needed to hitch up when it's time to travel on.


Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)

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hallock5

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Posted: 05/05/12 06:54pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

And for us newbies, is there an indicator if we are "high hitched". In other words, will the latch bar not secure or the jaws not latch onto the pin? What is the evidence to indicate this issue?


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WeBeFulltimers

Here & There

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Posted: 05/05/12 07:27pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Last fall I went to my dealer to buy a new lube plate and got into serious trouble. Decided to look around and see what had changed on the Montanas since we bought our 08. You know, get some mod/upgrade ideas. Three days later, 2012 Montana 3585SA was on order. It came with a new lube plate!


2007 DODGE RAM 2500 4x4 QC CTD 5.9 4SPD AUTO TIMBRENS PRODIGY REESE 16K KWIK-SLIDE***PACBRAKE PRXB 2012 MONTANA 3585SA

arizonakid

Stow Mass. USA

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Posted: 05/06/12 05:12am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

hallock5 wrote:

And for us newbies, is there an indicator if we are "high hitched". In other words, will the latch bar not secure or the jaws not latch onto the pin? What is the evidence to indicate this issue?


After hooking up, I always get under the trailer and visually check that the jaws are closed around the pin correctly. I have painted the jaws white, and use a flashlight, to better see this.

remoandiris

Florida

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Posted: 05/06/12 08:45am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

mr. ed wrote:

Whether hitching or unhitching I raise the pinbox until it just barely clears the plate.


+1. Once I see daylight between the top of the hitch and the bottom of the pin box, I pull the truck out, then raise or lower the landing gear to level the 5er as indicated by the bubble level I mounted at the landing gear control.

Works for me.


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Camp I am

Wisconsin

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Posted: 05/06/12 09:11am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I lift the jacks until I can just barely wiggle the hitch plate using the release lever. Then I flip the safety catch on the hitch release and pull the lever.


Sahm I am's Husband

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