Grease the hitch ball or no?

[RGrimm]

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

If you don't want to deal with the mess of grease cut a couple of squares of wax paper and put on the ball as you lower the coupler onto it. Or you can use dry teflon grease.

X2 on using Wax Paper.

[GlennW]

I always grease mine. Some old timers thought that the trailer-TV ground connection was via the ball, hence the no grease habit.

In Ontario, in theory you can get a ticket for leaving a removeable hitch in the receiver while not towing because of parking by ear damage to other vehicles. We don't have that law in Quebec but I watched my neighbor try to remove his after a few years. No success after 4 hours, even with an oxy-acetylene torch. Solution? A new hitch receiver.

GlennW

[DouglasReid]

Trailer Ball Cover, keeps the grease off you when not hooked up.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/15428372378...AAAOSwmAxf-VR1

[tfmdgm]

I grease the ball. However, when I disconnect the trailer, I remover the hitch from the tow vehicle and lock the ball back into the trailer coupler and lock the coupler. This keeps dirt off the ball, out of the coupler, and keeps the hitch from walking off.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by gmacklem

I have towed my new trailer twice now and just learned we are supposed to grease the hitch ball to prevent friction and wear. My research on that finds some people saying not to do that but Curt and another hitch mfg on YouTube both say to do it. So my question to you guys is, do you grease the hitch ball or not? Seems it will be quite messy and get all over my pants when I run into it. Also might collect a lot of dust when riding on the back without the trailer and cause more wear than it prevents?

Or do you wipe it down after use and re-grease each time you use it?

I don’t like grease on the ball, I used a piece of wax paper over it, I know you think I’m crazy but try it.

[Nick Danger]

Originally Posted by tfmdgm

I grease the ball. However, when I disconnect the trailer, I remover the hitch from the tow vehicle and lock the ball back into the trailer coupler and lock the coupler. This keeps dirt off the ball, out of the coupler, and keeps the hitch from walking off.

Might give this idea a whirl. Thanks.

[NMWildcat]

We probably have 30 ball hitch trailers on the farm. We buy high quality balls for all the trucks, never grease them. We had more wear when we did grease them, as nobody ever cleaned the ball/receiver where dirt and sand stuck to the grease.
But certainly nothing wrong with greasing if you just have one ball and receiver to keep clean.

[grport]

Sooo, very manufacturer recommendation is just an opinion?
I grease, as coupling and, particularly, goes much better.

[mmartin_tdc]

On my larger trailers, I grease the ball. On my light trailers, I use the multiple layers of wax paper trick. Used that on the trailers I towed with my Gold Wing, kept things clean but still protected the ball and coupler from wear.

[Qwkynuf]

Originally Posted by Bogieboy

yes they do...LOL


https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpowe.../dp/B0008F67JU

That picture on Amazon always cracks me up!

A little perspective goes a long way:

3.4 oz for 10 bucks is just about $3/ounce. For comparison, a 16oz (1lb) can of LubriMatic brand white lithium grease is $12.49 on Amazon - roughly 75 cents per ounce.

[GFD47]

Bought my TT in 2014. Went to the local RV shop and asked what grease was best to use on the ball. Answer from their mechanic: "I've been towing and servicing travel trailers for over 30 years and the first thing I do is to clean all the old grease off the ball so I don't get all greasy...and leave it that way. In all my years I have yet to see either a ball or a coupler wear out whether the customer did or did not use grease."
He could have easily made a couple of bucks selling me a container of his "recommended" grease, but instead gave me that advice. Been towing for seven years without grease and can't see any significant wear either place.

[lewisra]

Originally Posted by tfmdgm

I grease the ball. However, when I disconnect the trailer, I remover the hitch from the tow vehicle and lock the ball back into the trailer coupler and lock the coupler. This keeps dirt off the ball, out of the coupler, and keeps the hitch from walking off.

Whew, I thought I was the only one that did this with one exception, I don’t lock it on. I’m gonna make a statement and take cover. I think that leaving the hitch on your truck is not a very nice thing to do for those that may not look out for them while walking in a parking lot. JMHO.

[RedRoverComeOver]

Nothing like snapping that nitrile glove on, dabbing some grease on two fingers and going up into the spring bar cavities.






A snapshot from the Fastway e2 manual.

[Beachbourbon]

Beating this to death NJKris…yes I grease with basic grease in a can, works great and never had a problem. However, I prefer to be clean, so I put a kitchen garbage bag over the hitch when unhitched or removing from the truck and storing it. Grease stays on the hitch and doesn’t get on me. I hope this tip might help some folks and let wildcat keep dust and grit off his 30 balls…

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

Beating this to death NJKris…yes I grease with basic grease in a can, works great and never had a problem. However, I prefer to be clean, so I put a kitchen garbage bag over the hitch when unhitched or removing from the truck and storing it. Grease stays on the hitch and doesn’t get on me. I hope this tip might help some folks and let wildcat keep dust and grit off his 30 balls…

I use canned grease too. Remove lid, invert, lower over ball to transfer some to it.

Dip round ends of spring bars in can too.

To cover ball a tennis ball works great. A couple of slits at 90 degrees allows me to slip it on when unhitched.

[jrollf]

Originally Posted by lewisra

... I think that leaving the hitch on your truck is not a very nice thing to do for those that may not look out for them while walking in a parking lot. JMHO.

I go back and forth on this. I do park in the boonies so very rarely is anyone parked near. That said I have wacked my shins on it.

What I can say, is leaving the receiver installed has saved me TWICE from bumper/rear end damage due to distracted drivers rear ending me at stop lights (both times likely less than 20 mph). Bent one of their front bumpers into a nice "V", but I didn't get a scratch.

However, I don't leave my big WD hitch installed, just a small standard receiver with a ball.

[Dennis88]

I use white Lithium grease on mine, I do not unhook using the ball, rather I pull the pin on the receiver on the truck. Keeping the ball and coupler together. Hooking up I just back into the square receiver. With back up camera on the truck and a C Clamp on the square bar, it lets you line up and stop exactly on the hole to slide the pin through. Been pulling trailers for 50 + yrs.

[railroaderone]

If its a point that has pressure and movement it gets grease.

[flyflotrtim]

Absolutely grease. Weren't old tennis balls designed to cover the greasy ball?

[Highwayguy]

Originally Posted by lewisra

Whew, I thought I was the only one that did this with one exception, I don’t lock it on. I’m gonna make a statement and take cover. I think that leaving the hitch on your truck is not a very nice thing to do for those that may not look out for them while walking in a parking lot. JMHO.

I install it back on the trailer too.
I lock it not so much for theft but to prevent someone from accidentally releasing the catch mechanism and having the hitch fall and break
someone's foot.
My curt hitch with sway control weights a good 60 lbs.

Also where I live there is a bylaw that requires the hitch to be removed from the truck.