pullrite 12k Superglide hitch

[Crusader]

This is my first fifth wheel, a 270RET Crusader. My truck is a F150 crew cab 5.5 bed. I have a Pullrite 12K Superglide hitch.
When taking off from a stop, it feels like there is "free play" between the king pin and lock jaw assembly. Pullrite tells me that this is common and that the feel play is needed. Does anyone else have this free play? Does a regular fifthwheel hitch have free play? Or, is it just that I am use to pulling a travel trailer? Not even sure I needed a slide hitch with this fifthwheel nose configuration........

P.S. new to this posting/forum stuff...hope I did this right???

[windrider]

Welcome to the Forum. You did all right, but I did move your question the towing, hitches, and toads forum, since it more about the hitch. Hoping you get more exposure here. I don't have a 5th wheel, but maybe someone will chime in soon.

[crocus]

Our hitch has a slide lock behind the pin, rather than jaws, and has zero 'free play'. As far as I am concerned, I see no reason for yours to have any more play than is necessary to allow for the rotation of the pin.

I assume you are saying that you hear/feel a 'bump' when taking off? Do you hear/feel the same 'bump' when stopping? Are you sure it is coming from the pin and not he whole hitch moving?

[Ovair]

I used to have a 5er. There was a little slap but very little. I wouldn't call it "free play" at all. More like "wiggle room". Just enough to keep from binding the king pin. Perhaps you can locate a person who is local to you who has experience with a 5th wheel and see what they think.

[EdJunior]

Yeah, I have a little in mine also. Drives me crazy, but I've gotten used to it. And with a 5.5' bed, yeah, you did right with the slider. I can't imagine you not needing it in that little bed. Got any pictures...curiosity factor???

[wneise]

Are you sure it is between the pin and the hitch? I have the same hitch. Check the stop at the front of the hitch. When the hitch is straight or at a few degrees of turn, the stop should eliminate play. The track that the pin below the glide track follows does allow play in turns, but that stop should keep it against the rear of that track while the 5er is close to straight or straight to limit the jarring during starts and stops. If you notice that there is play, tighten the nut at the front of the hitch base until that pin just slips through the front of the track below the two glide tracks. If you need pics, I can grab a few once the sun comes up.

[Crusader]

wneise, pics would be a big help. I would appreciate it !! The dealer was a wast of time. I knew more about the hitch than they did, just by reading the manual. The dealer used white grease on the tracks. The manual said to use a light oil coating. So I cleaned all the grease off and lightly oiled the track.

[DAISY BOYKIN]

From time to time I get a little slack in my Pullrite hitch and it is not the king pin. You have to adjust the "spacer" shim on the very front of the hitch. Just make sure the hitch is at the dead center when you adjust it.

Also you should use "Slip Plate", which is a dry film lube with a graphite base for the #3100 Pullrite hitch. Does not attract dirt or grit.
It can be purchased at you local Grainger supply company for around $7.68 for a 16 oz spray can. The web site is www.grainger.com .

You can go to PullRite's web site and download the owners manual which shows how to adjust the spacer.

Love my Pullrite hitch which is also mounted in a F-150 with a 5'6" bed.

Good luck

[wneise]

Below is the spacer that keeps the hitch from wandering back and forth in the track.

ForumRunner_20120101_114928.jpg

Rotate the hitch until the guide pin is out of the center track. Tighten the nut pictured below until the hitch can no longer move into the straight position. Start backing off that nut until the stopper backs off just enough for the hitch guide pin to easily rotate through the track.

ForumRunner_20120101_115127.jpg

The guide pin which is directly below the nut pictured below
should look like it is rolling on the rear of the track through the center of the hitch rotation. Hopefully this should work for you.


ForumRunner_20120101_120027.jpg

BTW, the hitch comes from the factory with the stopper all the way in so the hitch cannot rotate during shipping. I hope the installer didn't think that it was a packaging piece and completely removed it.

[Crusader]

Thanks Wneise, I'LL check it out and let you know...again thanks for the pics.........