Do you have lubricant for fifth wheels and heavy equipment?

Yes. Graphited greases and oils for fifth wheels, agricultural machinery, rail, and equipment exposed to dust, load, and moisture where a solid film matters.

What is wrong with heavily greasing the fifth wheel?

Grease picks up road grit and forms an abrasive layer on the plate, besides dirtying the chassis and the yard. The wear you wanted to avoid ends up accelerating from that contamination.

On the clean plate, covering the contact surface before coupling. Application is folded into the equipment inspection routine.

Does it withstand the trailer load?

A solid film is not squeezed out of the contact the way a liquid lubricant is under pressure, which suits this position. The practical limit is set by the load and the actual operating conditions.

Truck fifth-wheel plate with dry graphite lubricant

Lubrication applications

Trailer fifth-wheel lubrication

Graphite reduces friction and wear on trailer fifth wheels, improving maneuverability.

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Transport coupling lubrication

Also known as: Graphite lubricant for fifth wheels · Coupling plate lubrication · Anti-friction for truck fifth wheels · Trailer coupling lubricant

Ecological fifth-wheel lubrication with GRAFOPAD™ solid pads: under crush they smear and leave lubricating graphite particles.

[ Technical summary ]

The fifth wheel plate carries a substantial share of the trailer weight and rotates with it on every manoeuvre. The usual practice of applying grease liberally works, but it dirties the chassis, traps road grit, and eventually forms an abrasive layer on the plate. A graphite lubricant leaves a film that carries that load with less accumulated dirt, and its behaviour does not depend on a liquid film that weather can displace.

[ Problem it solves ]

Lubricate a heavily loaded coupling exposed to the weather without building up grease that traps grit and turns abrasive on the plate.

Processes

Tractor-trailer coupling
Fifth-wheel lubrication

Operating conditions

Outdoor operation

When it is suitable

The plate accumulates grease mixed with road grit
The coupling seizes or is hard to manoeuvre
Dirt on the chassis and in the yard needs reducing
Plate wear forces frequent maintenance

When it may not be suitable

The equipment manufacturer specifies a particular lubricant for the plate
The plate is worn or damaged and requires repair
The surface tolerates no black residue and there will be no cleaning stage

Process challenges

Seizing / galling
Platen wear
Excessive grease contamination

Advantages

Durable lubrication
Less mess than heavy greases
Good load behavior

Limitations

Not a hydrodynamic oil lubricant
May stain light-colored surfaces
Performance depends on surface preparation and reapplication

[ Critical selection variables ]

These variables define the grade and the geometry. Actual values are confirmed against the grade datasheet.

Load and its distributionDecisive
Application methodDecisive
Presence of abrasives or solidsRelevant
Humidity and ambient conditionsRelevant
Reapplication frequencyRelevant
Counterface material and finishRelevant

[ Required material properties ]

Properties that guide selection. Numerical values come from each grade's datasheet.

Critical properties

Lubricating film formation
Friction coefficient
Self-lubrication
Compressive strength

Secondary properties

Wear resistance

[ Related ]

[ Frequently asked questions ]

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Technical content reviewed by ESGRAF — Last reviewed: September 8, 2026

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