Superglide "clunk"?

[Pirogue]

I was wondering if anybody using a pullrite superglide experiences a clunk when taking off and occasionally when stopping? I have an 18K# superglide, brand new. I get a clunking noise when I pull away from a stop. The owners manual specifically refers to this and gives instructions for adjusting it out which I have done. I am not sure if the the clunk is the pivot plate moving or the pin in the lock is moving. I am not having any problems with pivoting or bouncing or anything. I am just concerned about eventual wear and more looseness. It may be normal but I have never owned a fifth wheel before and am still trying to learn about whats normal and whats not.

[OldCoot]

I would imagine it is all the slack in the legs that are pinned to the slide and the actual clearance built into the slide mechanism that allows it to slide. Anywhere there is a pivot or slide has a certain amount of clearance built into it and it all adds up to produce the clunking when taking off & stopping. We went from a slide to a fixed hitch and I made spacers to remove the clearance under the legs. You can't do that on a slider.

[Herk7769]

There are many advantages to the Superglide platform that list includes easy removal and a clean bed in about 5 minutes if you have 2 folks or one strong one to lift it off the bed.

One of the disadvantages (the only one I can think of off the top of my head) is all the pins (see advantages above) adds a minor degree of "sloppy-ness" in the connection between the king pin and the frame mounts. While properly adjusting the slider stop will snub this somewhat, the very nature of the hitch makes it a bit noisier than fixed units that are bolted directly to the frame.

The new hitches are much quieter than the older hitches that only used lithium grease to move on the rails. The new ones have a plastic wear plates and that running gear is infinitely better and has far less tube wear.

PullRite has a SAFER, STRONGER, BETTER designed hitch for you

[Pirogue]

Herk, when you say the new ones have plastic wear plates, are you talking about the new superglide or sliders in general? My hitch is brand new and I would love to have plastic or teflon coatings on my tubes. I would hate to think that they had a left over old one and I could have gotten a newer one with the coating? I don't really have a problem with spraying some lithium on the tubes before each trip but I really like they idea of a quieter rig.

[southernsky]

The plastic wear plate is what rides on the tubes not a plastic coating. You still have to protect the tubes with light oil for rust.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by southernsky

The plastic wear plate is what rides on the tubes not a plastic coating. You still have to protect the tubes with light oil for rust.

This is correct. Instead of rollers that ride the slider rails there is a plastic block that clamps around the hitch shaft and contacts the rails. Only WD-40 or other light oil is used in the new hitches.

As I understand it, this is an engineering upgrade "in progress." I don't know if all models have been converted yet.

PullRite has a SAFER, STRONGER, BETTER designed hitch for you

PullRite has a SAFER, STRONGER, BETTER designed hitch for you

For the latest information.

[Pirogue]

Ok I think I Understand now. Perhaps there will be a retro kit available.
I will check into that. In the meantime we are prepping for a trip to Percy Quin for Mothers Day weekend.
Thanks all for the help.

Pirogue

[bdn56]

I have an inexpensive Curt stationary 16K hitch. My 1st trip had the same similar clunking sound when stopping or taking off from a stop. I thought the 4 pins holding the hitch to the bedrails were a little sloppy causing the sound. I noticed I didn't have a plastic plate on this rv hitch pin. My last 2 5th wheels had one. I stopped at a small rv parts store and bought the plastic disc plate for $8.95. I am not sure why but the clunking has stopped?
Something to do with the spacing on the hitch plate?