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HOW DOES SUPERGLIDE WORK?
The SuperGlide is an automatically sliding fifth wheel hitch based on a mechanical, cam action. Other sliding hitches
on the market today require you to get in and out of the vehicle multiple times before and after a turn, throwing levers to
allow it to move back and forth. The cam action of the SuperGlide hitch is truly automatic. When installed in your short
bed truck and used in conjunction with our Capture Plate, the SuperGlide “glides” along the Way Tubes with ease, making
turns automatically, without you having to ever get out of your vehicle. Here’s how it works:
Equipping your trailer’s king pin box with one of our Capture Plates (required for the hitch to function properly and sold
separately), restricts the king pin on your trailer from turning in the fifth wheel plate on the SuperGlide. Once the truck
begins to make a turn, the “captured” fifth wheel plate forces the large roller of the turntable cam arm assembly to rotate
and roll along the path of the cam slot to begin the turn. This action pulls the plate and turntable assembly, with trailer in
tow, away from the cab of your truck. The more you turn, the more it moves back.
It is important to note that the width of the trailer and
the location of the king pin in relation to the “nose”, or
leading edge of the trailer, is critical in determining if
your truck and trailer are compatible to be used with a
SuperGlide. Short bed trucks have only so much room
from cab-to-axle; if your king pin is located too far under
the nose of the trailer, the cam action of the SuperGlide
may not move the trailer back fast enough to allow the
necessary clearance.
Another important point in the use and maintenance
of your SuperGlide is the need to lubricate the moving
parts. SuperGlide hitches manufactured after November
2009 are equipped with Low Friction Polymer Wear
Plates and require a light oil application to enhance the
movement of the Turntable Cam Arm Assembly on the
Way Tubes.
The #4500 SuperGlide is equipped with Low Friction Polymer Wear Plates on the Turntable/Cam Arm Assembly to
eliminate the need for constant lubrication between the metals of the Turntable and the Way Tubes. It is important to
protect the Wear Plates from possible damage by keeping the Way Tubes free from rust and corrosion by applying a
coating of light oil on the Tubes and the Turntable Shaft.
BEFORE OPERATING YOUR SUPERGLIDE HITCH,
YOU MUST READ THE “LUBRICATION” SECTION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING
LUBRICATION OR HOW THE SUPERGLIDE
FUNCTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER
SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 443-2307 BEFORE
USING YOUR SUPERGLIDE.
FIFTH WHEEL PLATE
CUTAWAY VIEW
WAY TUBE
ROLLER
CAM ARM
TURNTABLE
WEDGE
CAPTURE PLATE
