The fifth wheel hitch lube plate of the present invention comprises a
perforated support member having a plurality of perforations and a
lubricious material molded around the perforated support member such that
the lubricious material covers both the top and bottom surfaces of the
perforated support member and extends through the perforations formed in
the perforated support member. Preferably, the support member is a
perforated metal plate and the lubricious material is nylon, graphite, or
an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene material. The problems
associated with utilizing nylon (or similar materials) and bonding it to
a support plate are overcome by forming the plurality of apertures in the
support plate so that a mechanical cohesive bond is formed between the
upper and lower surfaces of the support plate, thereby substantially
increasing the lube plate strength, and shear strength, while decreasing
the likelihood that the lube plate may buckle.