Tips on How to Maintain your 5th Wheel Hitch of your RV

Tips on How to Maintain your 5th Wheel Hitch of your RV

Camping is an essential activity for the soul. It nourishes one’s inner self and replenishes one’s lost energy. To have a fruitful and enjoyable camping experience, having a fifth wheel is an advantage. The fifth wheel is one of the most cost-efficient recreational vehicles compared to motorhomes. With this, the need for a fifth-wheel hitch is necessary. 

What is a Fifth Wheel Hitch?

Fifth-wheel is your mobile home attached at the back of a truck. Usually, it could be connected to a semi-truck or pickup truck. Your mobile home’s attachment to another vehicle is facilitated by and relies heavily on your fifth wheel hitch. rvcamping.com provides a well-written review of various fifth wheel hitch that you may utilize if you decide to purchase a fifth wheel and engage in camping. The review contains every fifth wheel hitch’s pros and cons; it also includes every brand’s critical specification. 

Ways on Taking Care of Your Fifth Wheel Hitch

Your fifth wheel hitch is as necessary as your other pieces of equipment. As such, it is pivotal to know the ways of maintaining and taking care of it. These ways could help you lessen the stress and untoward problems you might encounter along the road and at the campsite. 

Lubrication and Frequency of Use

It is vital to find out your hitch’s zerks; these are the points to inject the grease using a grease gun. 

Lubrication is vital to your fifth wheel hitch. The equipment is composed of steel parts that need to work together. As such, proper and careful lubrication is a must. The frequency of lubricant’s application is based on how many times you use your fifth wheel hitch. If you are an avid user of the fifth wheel hitch, you may consider lubricating your equipment every 30 days. Should you be an occasional user, lubricating your equipment twice annually might suffice.

Cleaning with Polyurethane-friendly Liquids 

If your hitch has polyurethane bushings, it is needed to sanitize the bushings before lubricating them. 

Cleaning your polyurethane bushings will require a solvent that is polyurethane-friendly to prevent the bushings from breaking off. Afterward, you may lubricate your bushings with a White Lithium Grease. 

Applying Grease to the Jaws or Locking Bars

It is mandatory to clean your hitch’s jaws or bars before greasing them. You may sanitize these metal points with tissues or wet wipes. 

After cleaning the jaws or bars, these metal points must be lubricated with a grease gun. You may opt to utilize an Automotive Chassis Grease.

Using a Plastic Hitch Disc

The skid plate’s lubrication attracts dirt and dust, which might be harmful to the equipment itself. As such, it is prudent to own a plastic hitch disc. 

The plastic hitch disc is available in varying sizes depending on the kingpin box of the trailer. The hitch disc must function as the lubricating surface between the skid plate and the fifth wheel. 

To ensure that the lubrication has penetrated the hitch’s deep interiors, open and close the fifth wheel mechanisms repeatedly. 

Why Go to Camping? 

While you may find the fifth wheel hitch’s maintenance procedures as complicated, it should not hinder you from going camping. As such, you must find out what type of camper you are and establish your needs and demands to find the right campsite, camping equipment, and camping methods you must utilize.

Going camping might demand an enormous time of preparation. There will be a lot of things you have to consider and get familiarized with. It will help if you inspect your RV, your fifth wheel hitch, and other necessary equipment. Your tanks, lights, batteries, seams, and the likes should also be checked. It is also essential to prepare your stuff such as food supplies, fresh water bottles, medicines, and clothing. It might sound demanding, but at the same time, it is rewarding.  

Camping is an adventurous endeavor. Numerous positive effects on yourself and your soul can be gained through camping. Camping adventures can help alleviate stress levels. It also allows you to meditate and bond with nature. Furthermore, camping will enable you to zone out from your usual routine and have an intimate time with your loved ones. 

To fully maximize the fun you’ll get to experience in camping, be sure to acquaint yourself with the basics of RV maintenance. It is prudent on your part to get familiar with the maintenance techniques of your RV devices so you would be able to utilize your equipment for a more extended period.