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07-15-2013, 01:14 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 11
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Cleaning the 5th wheel hitch
Hi there,
I've been adding lubricant to my 5th wheel hitch, and now I'm thinking I should probably do a cleaning before lubing it up again.
Question is, what did/do you use to clean the old lube off your hitch?
Mike
2004 Dodge 2500 with a Super 5th hitch
2005 Montana Mountaineer
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07-15-2013, 01:49 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 8
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I don't use any grease on mine. I use a "Slick Disc".
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07-15-2013, 01:51 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 11
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Thanks malexander,
But what about for the internal mechanisms?
Mike
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07-15-2013, 02:56 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: tomball, tx
Posts: 4
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Some sort of solvent, then a real good power wash. Then re lube. A good spray lube on the general mechanism, and a high pressure grease on the jaws.
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07-16-2013, 06:48 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,180
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I tear mine down about every two years clean re-lube and reassemble checking for worn parts.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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07-16-2013, 07:21 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo
I tear mine down about every two years clean re-lube and reassemble checking for worn parts.
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+2. Going to dirty, sandy, wet areas can cause unseen problems. Keeps the hitch working smooth and its good to know how the hitch really works.
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07-16-2013, 07:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Green Valley, AZ
Posts: 782
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Drove at least a 75,000 miles when full-timing and never gave it a second thought. I would squirt some heavy duty lubrication into the workings to keep is smooth and that's it. There is really nothing in there to worry about. Once it latches it just sits there. Why create worries where none are needed?
__________________
Earl
2007 33.5' Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel used for full-timing for several years--now sold
2011 Hideout 23RKSWE that we now use for poking around local parks
2007 Chevy 3/4 ton diesel with Prodigy Brake Control
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07-17-2013, 01:45 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phermenter
Thanks malexander,
But what about for the internal mechanisms?
Mike
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Never really thought much about it.
I only use the trailer 2 weeks out of the year. The rest of the time, the hitch stays in my hangar out of the elements. But, I would think that a good spray lube of some sort would suffice, after a good power washing.
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07-17-2013, 05:00 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 402
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clean the hitch
I use brake cleaner and a do it Yourself car wash.. Check the springs every year found they will rust I had to replace 2 of them over the years.. I found them at a auto brake shop parts store...Nice to replace if clean then lube up with white grease again also every now and then I use some penetrating oil on the rollers as well and I always use the white slip disk as well Bushman
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07-17-2013, 05:00 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 174
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when in doubt spray some wd40 on it.
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07-17-2013, 08:52 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 11
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Thanks everyone. I think I might take the thing apart, to see just how it works cause now I'm curious. I'll clean it up as I go. White lithium and high temp grease will be reapplied. I also have a slip disk, and just bought a new one, as the old one has damage due to my poor attempts to connect the trailer!
Mike
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07-17-2013, 10:29 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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CLEAN THE HITCH????? That cruddy grease keeps it from rusting and also is a theft deterrent. You get that dirty old grease on your hands and it is like a dye pack that bank tellers use. The thief will have stained hands for a few days and be easier to catch. I use a disk mainly to take up some clearance and still grease out of habit. It can't hurt. And 50 million years from now a dinosaur may grow out of my hitch grease.
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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07-18-2013, 10:18 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 11
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Thanks Hankpage. I too use a disk and grease. I was more concerned with the internal mechanical moving parts.
__________________
Mike
2005 Montana Mountaineer Bunkhouse
2004.5 Dodge Ram 2500 Dually, HO 5.9 Cummins, Edge chipped, Ride Rites, Bilstein 5100's, AFE Intake
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07-18-2013, 03:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mazboy123
when in doubt spray some wd40 on it.
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No problem as long as you remember that WD40 isn't a lubricant. In fact it's great for cleaning grease off things.
__________________
Phil & Rae.....and 2 feline furkids to make travel interesting
2011 Keystone Laredo 316RL
2005 Ford F250 SD, 6L PSD, 4x4
MOR/ryde Wet Bolt Kit, TST 507 TPMS, 1000w PSW Inverter, JT's Strongarm Stabilizers, and the list goes on....
Yamaha EF3000iSE/B Inverter Generator
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