Do Fifth Wheel Hitches Have Maintenance Schedules
Question:
What kind on care do I need to be doing to insure my hitch stays in good condition
asked by: Mary
Expert Reply:
In the owners manual of fifth wheel hitches there will be a section that covers the maintenance schedule. I am not totally sure what you you have but for the Reese hitch part # RP30928 here's what Reese recommends.
Basically you will need to check the tightness of the bolts every thousand miles and torque to spec. The nuts and bolts that attach the head support to the leg aligning bolts will need to be torqued to 75 ft lbs.
There is also some maintenance that should be done before every trip.
Lubricate skid plate surface of the hitch with automotive type chassis grease or use a plastic lube plate to provide a lubricated surface. Grease the 1-1/2 inch diameter pivot pin with the grease zerk provided. Use engine oil to lubricate pivot points of moving parts within the hitch.
Plastic lube plates can be used to avoid messy grease. The plastic lube plate must not exceed 3/16 of an inch in thickness to ensure hitch will operate properly. Lube plates must be 10 inches in diameter or larger to properly distribute king pin weight.
Before each trip or maneuver, operate the handle and check that the jaws open and close freely.
See that all hitch pull pins are in place and the spring retaining pins are installed.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Single Jaw - 20,000 lbs
- Fifth Wheel Hitch
- Fixed Fifth Wheel
- Above Bed Rails
- 20000 lbs GTW
- Premium - Single-Hook Jaw
- 14 - 18 Inch Tall
- Reese
more information >
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