Hitch ball lubrication

[DelawareSteve]

Continuing my newbie questions-we had the Fastway E-2 weight distribution sway control unit installed and service rep recommended that I lubricate the ball on every use. Which lubricant should I use?

[RichR]

A bit of white lithium grease will work. That also lubes the hitch.

[travelingjw]

I make it easy. I keep a container of wheel bearing grease in my storage area and use it for any "instant" need.

[JFlightRisk]

I use the tube of grease that Equalizer sells, not that it's better, it's just convenient, and it lives in the back of the truck where it's handy. I squeeze some on my finger and smear it on the ball and bar socket pivot surfaces. A tube lasts me 5 years or so.

https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-9.../dp/B007HRGZDK

[Yooper906]

A light coating of grease helps with corrosion and rust also. You may want to get one of those slip on covers to use when you aren't hooked up. Otherwise, it's guaranteed you will brush against the greased ball sooner or later. Usually happens when you have some decent clothes on. LOL

[DelawareSteve]

Originally Posted by Yooper906

A light coating of grease helps with corrosion and rust also. You may want to get one of those slip on covers to use when you aren't hooked up. Otherwise, it's guaranteed you will brush against the greased ball sooner or later. Usually happens when you have some decent clothes on. LOL

That’s a great idea, because that is sure to happen to me!

[Woodworker]

Originally Posted by travelingjw

I make it easy. I keep a container of wheel bearing grease in my storage area and use it for any "instant" need.

[emoji106]

[dxrobertson]

I spray on white grease and use a tennis ball to cover when not in use.

Most any Automotive grease is fine, what ever you have on hand.

[Randel J]

I use whatever automotive grease I have on hand to lubricate the trailer hitch and ball. I also use one of those $0.10 plastic grocery store bags to cover the hitch so I don't get grease all over my shirt when installing on my truck. BTW, I learned the grocery store bag trick through experience

[Jagiven]

I use bear grease periodically, and rear axle lube.

Apply bear grease to the ball, maybe every 1000-1500 miles. When the tt is not in use. I cover the ball with a Solo cup, fits perfectly, stays on even at highway speeds (no tt of course).

The rear axle lube gets applied to the pivot points. I apply this more frequently.

[slabat]

I have never greased a ball in all the years I have been towing. As someone said the chances of brushing up to it is great. The other thing is grease will pick up dirt, not sure that is going to be good for a ball either.

[TaftCoach]

White lithium grease. Hitch ball cover.

[craigav]

I use wheel bearing grease, and I sliced open a tennis ball to cover the hitch ball. ~CA

[travelingjw]

Slabat: You have had better luck than me. My ball showed scars the first year we used it. Since I have been greasing, no additional scars. Must be my driving .

[mrmom]

With the Fastway E2 you will hear a lot of "popping" noise from the bars during tight turns and backing. I have found that spraying the rub surface with WD40 where the bars sit on the trailer brackets works wonders. I do this every time I hook up. Not enough lubrication to diminish sway control but it sure cuts down on the noise and makes for smoother operation.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by mrmom

With the Fastway E2 you will hear a lot of "popping" noise from the bars during tight turns and backing. I have found that spraying the rub surface with WD40 where the bars sit on the trailer brackets works wonders. I do this every time I hook up. Not enough lubrication to diminish sway control but it sure cuts down on the noise and makes for smoother operation.

Our E4 use to pop when turning. Once I started lubing the pivot points in knuckle all that went away, Equalizer says to lube in these spots. As noted earlier, I just apply a little 600 wt rear axle lube on these pivots.

[JDug66]

Originally Posted by travelingjw

Slabat: You have had better luck than me. My ball showed scars the first year we used it. Since I have been greasing, no additional scars. Must be my driving .

Same thing happened to our ball first year. I didn't know grease would stop the grinding and scarring and powder. Now It's a wipe down removal of old and addition of new grease before every hitching.

[16WhiteColly]

I use the Lucas Green Xtra HD Grease on wheel bearings, WD Hitch points, and the ball. I keep the entire hitch head covered with a grocery bag when not in use. Do not have to clean dirt/grit out when hooking up next time. If not, when my yard man blows, it gets all kind of dirt and leaves in the pivot points.

[Finally Able]

I use a bit of lithium grease on the ball as needed -- don't need much. After towing, I always place a sandwich baggie over the ball, pull the hitch from the receiver and stow it in a storage bay to prevent someone cracking a leg on it. I also remove and stow the anti-sway bars to prevent theft and protect them.

[Mad5581]

Here is an old trucker trick... use dish soap. Dawn dish soap works the best. Great lubricant and washes off with no effects to the environment. Put a bit on every time you hook up. I wash off after every use if I can and if it gets on you most if. Not all will come off in the wash and when your done hooking up or unhooking go wash your hands. Yes the dish soap will last for a few hours of use even in the rain. I don't need to cover my ball when not in use. The best part is everything stays clean and looks new after years of use. I carry soap in my storage compartment for washing up after dumping tanks and handling hoses anyway. (Even though I use think rubber gloves I still need to wash my hands for piece of mind.