|
|
10-18-2015, 11:12 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Sharpsburg
Posts: 24
|
Greasing Hitch balls
Yesterday I saw someone putting grease on their hitch ball before hooking up. I have never heard of this in the five years pulling a TT. Opinions please.
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 11:24 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
|
Metal on metal creates wear an can create squeal. That's why many prefer greasing. Also you can use a plastic sandwich bag in between the ball and coupler
__________________
2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.92 Rear and Air Lift 1000
2005 Jayco Jay Feather LGT - 29Y GVWR-7000 lbs.
Dexter Axle Lift 4-9/16" - installed with sub-frame.
Pro Series 1200 lbs. WDH with Double Sway Bar.
Champion 3100/2800 watt Inverter/Generator-Onboard Solar Power
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 11:35 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PNW
Posts: 5,195
|
I grease all three of my balls- main hitch and the two that the anti-sway bar attach to. Prevents squeaks, wear and corrosion. A little messy, but worth it IMHO.
__________________
Bill
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI Quad Cab
2011 Jay Flight 26BH
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 11:49 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 1,795
|
A piece of wax paper is cleaner. Metal on metal contact isn't good for either metal. Grease or wax paper creates a release rather than letting it scrape and gouge
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 12:31 PM
|
#5
|
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Santa Clarita
Posts: 54
|
I grease the ball practically every trip - you must clean it occasionally too.
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 12:37 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
|
I keep mine clean and greased.
I have seen many couplers that are a bucket of rust. Watching their owners fight and cuss because it is stuck and won't release or the pawl won't move back allowing the coupler drop down onto the ball.
A little care and maintenance can save a lot of aggravation.
__________________
Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 07:26 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,071
|
I grease the balls on my vehicle and sway control before each trip. I cover the ball with a plastic sandwich bag at the campground and remove the hitch from the receiver and store it. Nothing worse than a banged shin except one that also gets your leg or pants greasy because it also hurts and you get your hands greasy as well.
__________________
2011 Skylark 21FKV
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 07:26 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wheatfield
Posts: 1,091
|
This same question came up on a boat forum that I frequent. The answer was overwhemingly against greasing, to the point that you're stoopid if you do. Problems, dirty, whine, whine, whine. I was the only one in favor of grease. I leaned that 45 years ago................from an RVer no less..:-)
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 07:34 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,740
|
Grease, squeak free, easy un/couple.
I clean and replace the grease about every 1500 miles.
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 07:55 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
|
Yep, grease. Clean off old, put new about every other trip. Too easy not to do. Actually clean and grease the trailer coupler as well.
__________________
John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 08:02 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Central California
Posts: 2,283
|
I grease too.
As a kid I was taught steel either needed to painted or greased. I pretty much live by that still today.
__________________
2020 Ram 1500 5.7L
2007 Chevy Duramax LMM/Allison (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 29QBH (Sold)
2012 Jay Flight 26BH (Sold)
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 08:07 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Southeast TN
Posts: 260
|
Guess I'll be the odd man out here lol, been in and around the construction business for 15 years. Never have I greased a ball or hitch or seen anyone else doing it that I can remember. Have hitches,balls, and trailer couplers 15+ years (and 100k+ miles) old that still work fine thats never had grease.
...but, if it works for you thats all that matters. .
I do use a teflon plate on my fiver.
I wouldn't really be against greasing any hitch,ball, or coupler, but I can do without the mess of it. Its worked fine for me thus far so I see no need to change now.
__________________
2013 Ram 3500 Laramie Cummins
2014 Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS
|
|
|
10-18-2015, 08:39 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Los Lunas, New Mexico
Posts: 3,766
|
Gotta clean it and grease it for every trip for what they said.
Happy RVing,
Jeff
__________________
2018 Eagle HT 26.5 RLDS. SOLD
2009 F150 Supercab UNICORN, 5.4L ,3.73, HD and Max Tow Packages, Timbrens, Bilstein shocks.
Wet bolt kit. Andersen Ultimate 20K hitch. TST 507RV TPMS. Hydro Life HL-200. 16" Goodyear Endurance. Progressive EMS. SteadyFast Stabilizers. Furion backup camera.
Best friend wife, Di, and dog Cooper. RETIRED
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 05:42 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 525
|
I clean the ball & hitch with a rag and use some spraycan lube I got at an auto parts store. It says its made just for the ball & hitch. I only do it once a season.
__________________
Mike
'13 Ford F 150, FX4 Off Road, Ecoboost
'15 Jayco Jay Feather X213 BH
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 08:22 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,207
|
+1 for grease. No real good reason not to, plenty of reasons to. I use general purpose marine grease because I have a bunch of it laying around. Clean and reapply about 2-3x per season.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 08:35 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Taft
Posts: 137
|
I never have,but I'm new to this.In the 6 trips I've made with my trailer my hitch ball is starting to look hammered.Im going to grease it before next trip.
__________________
2015 Jay Flight 26BH Elite
2015 Chevy Silverado 2500,LT,4x4,6.0L
Honda EU2000I and Honda EU2000I Companion Generators.
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 09:55 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Surprise
Posts: 2,623
|
I spray mine with lithium grease, easy and never had an issue. Wipe off with rag and spray a new coating as needed. I've seen and heard more balls and WD hitches squealing, simple spritz and it's gone. No rust never had a problem getting ball of the hitch either. I agree you never want to leave raw steel raw, either paint or grease just makes sense to me.
__________________
2011 Toyota Tundra double cab
2015 27RLS
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 10:10 AM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Dixon
Posts: 293
|
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 12:49 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lower Alabama (LA)
Posts: 2,010
|
A couple of months ago I purchased a new utility trailer. Try as I might I couldn't get the two coupled together. A quick shot of white spray on grease (purchased many years earlier) did the trick.
__________________
former 2008 Jayco Eagle 29.5 RLS
former 2014 F250 6.7 4X4, CC LB
|
|
|
10-19-2015, 01:09 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 170
|
I use the Reese lube on my ball and Equalizer lube points.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|