Fifth Wheel Grease

Ryan I’m not talking about overhauling an engine or replacing a blown air bag. You don’t need to be mechanically inclined to check the oil during your pre trip nor do you need to be to eyeball your fifth wheel, and decide if it could use some grease or not. Sorry if that offends you that I believe it’s common sense.

So, if you don’t need to eyeball your fifth wheel to see if it needs grease, how else is that determined?

Touch test?

So, if you don’t need to eyeball your fifth wheel to see if it needs grease, how else is that determined?

Touch test?

Read it again, Bruce. He never said you don't need to eyeball the fifth wheel. He said you don't need to be mechanically inclined to do so.

This is an example of why I posed this question. Thank you, NaeNae, I never heard about “packs”. What are they and does your company supply them?

Prime supplies them from the parts bay for company drivers. In the truck stop they are a couple bucks for a pair. I keep a cheap plastic pencil box in my tool area full of them so they don't get punctured. I'm not a fan of open grease containers, as it's too easy to have an unintended mess.

Throw two on the plate (I go a smidge further back than the picture says to), drop the airbags, creep until the packs clear the nose edge of the trailer, reinflate the suspension, and hook to trailer as normal.

I forgot that I had a chassis lube done, and didn't drop my suspension, and had a "well 💩, didn't mean to do that" moment with giant red globs of grease dripping off the nose edge of the trailer.

I always carry the packs, and throw a pair on if I see a spot or two looking pretty dry. If it's been 10 trailers dropped and hooked, I'll make sure to throw the packs on next time. I think it's possible to over do it, but the number of drivers I have seen who scrape the entire lube from the shop onto the nose of a trailer, makes it pretty unlikely that the trailer apron has "enough residue" to suffice it.

So, you guys just throw the packs onto the fifth wheel. Lol, I've been doing it wrong. I have been cutting the packs open and squeezing out the grease. You learn something new everyday.

So, if you don’t need to eyeball your fifth wheel to see if it needs grease, how else is that determined?

Touch test?

Read it again, Bruce. He never said you don't need to eyeball the fifth wheel. He said you don't need to be mechanically inclined to do so.

Thank you, I stand corrected.

Are you serious? Please tell me this is snark. Look closely at the two black squares printed on the drawing of the 5th wheel. better yet, pull out one of your own packs and look at it.

Oops?

I always carry the packs, and throw a pair on if I see a spot or two looking pretty dry. If it's been 10 trailers dropped and hooked, I'll make sure to throw the packs on next time. I think it's possible to over do it, but the number of drivers I have seen who scrape the entire lube from the shop onto the nose of a trailer, makes it pretty unlikely that the trailer apron has "enough residue" to suffice it.

So, you guys just throw the packs onto the fifth wheel. Lol, I've been doing it wrong. I have been cutting the packs open and squeezing out the grease. You learn something new everyday.

When I worked for a previous company, I used to keep a 1gal metal paint can with grease in it. Bought the 1 gal can from home depot and cut out a small piece out of the lid and used a small 4" paint roller to apply grease. Just roll it on as needed and the can staying in my right side box where I stored all my tools. Be careful not to over grease as the extra grease can get shoved into the mechanical workings in the jaws cause them to stick or not completely close. I know some even prefer a 5th wheel lube like Lucas 5th wheel lube My new company we have the mounted Teflon pads and just inspect before hooking and after dropping a trailer.

I honestly have never greased mine, but I'm by a terminal every few days to a week and just have them do it.

I do know that if you even look at it, somehow you end up wearing it thought

When I worked for a previous company, I used to keep a 1gal metal paint can with grease in it. Bought the 1 gal can from home depot and cut out a small piece out of the lid and used a small 4" paint roller to apply grease. Just roll it on as needed and the can staying in my right side box where I stored all my tools. Be careful not to over grease as the extra grease can get shoved into the mechanical workings in the jaws cause them to stick or not completely close. I know some even prefer a 5th wheel lube like Lucas 5th wheel lube My new company we have the mounted Teflon pads and just inspect before hooking and after dropping a trailer.

That’s actually a pretty good suggestion to use a small paint roller. Or even a stiff bristle paint brush.

Hard to over-grease with either tool.

Ryan I’m not talking about overhauling an engine or replacing a blown air bag. You don’t need to be mechanically inclined to check the oil during your pre trip nor do you need to be to eyeball your fifth wheel, and decide if it could use some grease or not. Sorry if that offends you that I believe it’s common sense.

My comment was about THE BENEFITS OF GREASING THE 5TH WHEEL, not having at all to do with performing a pre-trip. I can check all the parts of a pre-trip and properly decide that everything is in order while also not understanding what may happen if any single part is not in compliance.