Hitch Ball Lube

cmac

Does anyone lube their hitch ball before hooking up the trailer?  I smear a very light coat of Mobil 1 chassis grease (the red stuff) on the ball when towing then wipe it off with a paper towel after unhooking at the day's destination, also wipe the inside of the ALKO hitch.  What do you do?

Cyclonic

I just spray on a bit of WD-40 White Lithium grease before hitching up.  Quick and easy.

cmac

Cyclonic:

Good idea!  Will try it, would be easier than carrying a small tube of lube.
Thanks.

TabberJohn

I got some silicone lube for the BAL and use that on the ball too.
If we're staying for more than a day I remove the ball mount and stow it with a paper towel rubber banded over the ball. Otherwise it gets wiped clean.

JandJ92010

White Lithium grease, spray on.

Photomom

Yes, we do.

Geo

I purchased a grease less ball (tough nylon) and use a little spray silicone on it.

Also use the spray silicone on the corner steady's threaded rods as grease tends to attract dirt.  

WD-40 is not a lubricant, it was designed for removing water/moisture.  WD stands for water displacement. 

ericnliz

Geo, water displacement #40 to be exact. Took 'em 40 times to get it to shed water!  Just curious though, how does that tough nylon ball hold up with all the turning, and up and down movement it gets. Seems it would wear out after a while. Is it just the cover part that is nylon, or solid nylon?

Geo

The top half is a hard composite nylon.  I cannot seem to find a 2" one googling, but I may have purchased from JC Whitney.  I have used the ball for at least 3 years now, maybe 4, and have no noticeable wear.  Always clean and dry (the silicone dries),  have been very pleased with the performance.

40 attempts to get the formula right indeed,  not many products are that honest about the research and development. 

rfuss928

I use a wax based lubricant like those typically used for bicycle and motorcycle chains.  These are designed to flake of as they age and wear taking dirt with them.  I find they are much less messy than wet petroleum greases.  A block of beeswax rubbed on the top half of the ball before hitching up works equally well.  A split tennis ball or similar rubber cover slipped over the ball keeps the grime covered when the trailer unhitched.  I generally pull the draw-bar out of the receiver once the trailer is set to avoid those terrible shin bruises usually accompanied by a black smudge while using the TV without the trailer.

ScottG

cmac said:

Does anyone lube their hitch ball before hooking up the trailer?  I smear a very light coat of Mobil 1 chassis grease (the red stuff) on the ball when towing then wipe it off with a paper towel after unhooking at the day's destination, also wipe the inside of the ALKO hitch.  What do you do?

I used to grease religiously on my utility trailer, but quit cold turkey when I bought the T@B. If in fifty years my ball and/or hitch need to be replaced for lack of lubrication, the cost will be well worth sparing myself the time, hassle, and mess! YMMV.

wizard1880

Ditto--never greased it before, but I also don't tow full time, maybe a hundred miles or so every month between our camper and the utility trailer.  Does it decrease the noise, and wear?  Should I be?

Geo

Eric,
Here you go . . .
http://www.andersenhitches.com/Products/3662--2-greaseless-hardball.aspx

IMHO steel on steel with all the movement in towing is not a good idea. The wear is to the inside of the coupler on the trailer if not greased.

ChanW

Grease-less ball - works great. I think the plastic cover is replaceable.

No more mess! Love it.

Ratkity

Just watch out for that lithium grease when you brush your leg against the ball - it gets everywhere!! LOL

ScottG

Geo said:

...
IMHO steel on steel with all the movement in towing is not a good idea. The wear is to the inside of the coupler on the trailer if not greased.

And, on the other hand, many argue that residual grease attracts abrasive dirt that increases wear on the coupler.

There seems to be good arguments either way, and no real consensus on what is best or necessary. Given that, I opt for the approach that involves the least hassle and mess.

Geo

ScottG,
I agree that the grease will attract dirt that is abrasive, and you are correct that their is no real consensus on what is best.
Each of us must decide what we think is a reasonable path to follow.
I chose the grease-less ball approach and still use a lubricant to make it slippery.

ericnliz

Geo, Thanks for the info, sounds like it works well, I'll have to check it out as I have two tow vehicles. Does it help with the hitch being so hard to get off at times, or is this an experience with the age T@B you have that you never experi

Cyclonic

Geo said:

I purchased a grease less ball (tough nylon) and use a little spray silicone on it.

Also use the spray silicone on the corner steady's threaded rods as grease tends to attract dirt.  

WD-40 is not a lubricant, it was designed for removing water/moisture.  WD stands for water displacement. 

Geo, that is true but I am speaking of the White Lithium product that they also make.

cmac

Cyclonic:
I'm going to use the same stuff except the CRC brand from WalMart in a red/white can.

As far as accumulating grit, that is why I wipe the ball and hitch periodically, but really don't seem to observe much in the way of dirt/filth.  So I'll continue with the spray lube rather than the chassis grease for now.

Geo

Eric,
The issue with a hard to uncouple trailer is usually because the TV and trailer are at different angles.  I have an '04 DM with the Alco frame and very rarely have an issue with not being able to uncouple.

Nathan,
Yes, that is a different product and will work very well as Lithium is much better than axle grease.

TabberJohn

This stuff looks interesting too:  http://wd40specialist.com/products/spray-gel

lapowers57

One of my warranty repairs was to have the hitch replaced on my T@B.  After 3,000 miles I found it was still impossible to unhitch the trailer without using some type of pry bar on the hitch latch.  Tried this at all different heights etc without luck.  So while some lube may help, a truly difficult to use hitch may be an actual problem with the hitch.

ericnliz

Geo, I would tend to agree with you except that I have two tow vehicles, different heights, and had the same problem. As it has been used more & more, the easier it gets to hitch and unhitch on both vehicles, so I would be more inclined to believe a REALLY tight fit hitch to ball since both are 2" balls, and same difficulty/ease on either one.

Homebodyatheart

Geo, the hitch web site says that this item has been discontinued. :-(

Geo

Eric,
I have heard a rumor that PV had a bad batch of couplers, they were not quite an actual 2" coupler !  Do not know the details, but PV has replaced some.

Homebodyatheart,
I cannot seem to find a 2" one googleizing, the smaller 1 7/8" is available - but that does us no good ! ! !    Sorry if I started something that is no longer available.

ericnliz

Geo, Mine was SOOOOOO hard to get on & off that it virtually took a pry bar to get off. Took it back to the dealer & they lubed it, adjusted it & if I wasn't happy with the results of the fix, they offered to replace it under warranty for me. It's still a little stubborn at times, but just a good smack with a small dead blow hammer, and it comes right off.

Michigan_Mike

I put a little pressure on it with the tongue jack during removal and the hitch hood normally comes up and pulls back easily.   I do remember the first episode with the hitch after I purchased my trailer and had driven back from Ohio and it was dark by the time I got home.  It was one of them panic stricken (Oh noooo!!!) moments and I was thinking I'd have to pull the trailer around behind my Equinox for a while or until I could figure the hitch out.  It eventually does break in and with each use, becomes easier to take off and my claw has remained with my tools and resting.