A dry or dirty 5th wheel plate makes every turn harder on your hitch, your kingpin and your truck. You'll often hear it before you see it: groaning, popping or a shudder when you turn tight with the trailer hooked up. Keeping the plate, jaws and kingpin greased is one of the cheapest pieces of maintenance you can do, and it only takes a few minutes.
Here's how to do it right, without getting grease all over yourself, your tailgate and your truck bed.
What you'll need
- A putty knife or plastic scraper
- Shop rags or paper towels
- Gloves
- A 5th wheel grease, such as Blackhawk No-Mess 5th Wheel & Hitch Grease
Using a plastic lube plate? If your hitch uses a plastic lube disc between the plate and the trailer, follow the disc maker's instructions. Most lube plates are designed to be used instead of grease on the top plate, not with it.
Step 1: Clean off the old grease
Unhook the trailer and scrape the old grease off the top plate. Old grease collects road grit and sand, and that grit acts like sandpaper between the plate and the trailer. Wipe the plate down with a rag when you're done.
While the plate is clean, take a quick look for deep gouges, cracks or uneven wear. If you see damage, have the hitch checked before your next trip.
Step 2: Apply grease across the top plate
Lay down grease in a pattern across the top plate, such as a few lines or a zigzag. You don't need to cover every inch; the weight of the trailer will spread it once you start moving. A thin, even layer works better than a thick glob, which mostly ends up squeezed out the sides and onto your truck.
With a squeeze pouch you can put the grease straight onto the plate. There's no need to load a grease gun or dig it out of a tub with your fingers.
Step 3: Lubricate the jaws and kingpin
Put a light coat of grease on the locking jaws (or locking wedge, depending on your hitch) and on the trailer's kingpin. These parts carry the load when you're pulling and stopping, so they need grease just as much as the plate does.
Step 4: Hook up and go
Couple the trailer as usual. The grease spreads across the plate as the trailer moves, so a short drive with a few turns is all it takes to work it in.
How often should you grease a 5th wheel?
Go by your hitch manufacturer's recommended interval first. Beyond that, re-grease whenever:
- The plate looks dry, or the grease is dark and gritty
- You hear groaning, popping or binding when you turn
- You've driven through heavy rain, snow, salt or dirt roads
- The trailer has been sitting for a while and you're heading out for the season
What about ball hitches?
For a standard ball hitch or gooseneck ball, wipe the ball clean and apply a thin coat of grease before coupling. It cuts down on wear and the squeaks and clunks you get from a dry ball.
Choosing a 5th wheel grease
Look for a grease that stays put on the plate, holds up under heavy load and doesn't wash off in the rain. Our No-Mess 5th Wheel & Hitch Grease is an NLGI #2 lithium complex grease with polymers for adhesion and molybdenum and graphite for extreme pressure. It comes in a 24 oz EZ-Squeeze pouch, enough for up to five applications depending on how much you use, so you can apply it right where you need it.
It works on 5th-wheel hitches, RVs, campers, horse trailers, pickup trucks and ball hitches. Made in the USA.