Maintenance Procedures for Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch

Question:

Do you have a video on how to service your Demco autoslide fifth wheel hitch? And should you put grease on the top of it?

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

We don't offer a video, but that's a great idea that I'll suggest to our shop manager.

The maintenance procedures for the Demco # DM8550040 Hijacker Autoslide 5th wheel hitch are outlined in the linked owner's manual, but the keeping the moving parts in the jaw mechanism and the lower guide plates lubricated is crucial. I've provided a diagram showing where to apply grease on the lower guide plates.

Demco states that using a lube plate is acceptable as long as it's not thicker than 3/16 or .1875 of an inch. The Curt # 16721 is 3/16 of an inch thick, so it'll work fine. Keep in mind though, the skid plate of the pin box won't be turning on the top of the hitch head. The capture brackets on the side of the hitch head will cause the pin box and the hitch head to rotate as a single unit, but a lube plate can make hitching and unhitching a little easier.

expert reply by: Mike L