Do you grease your hitch ball

[DrRod]

Just wondering, my hitch ball is sort of rusty which I think is ok. But do you recommend putting a bit of grease on it to reduce wear and tear?

 

[Beltzington]

Just wondering, my hitch ball is sort of rusty which I think is ok. But do you recommend putting a bit of grease on it to reduce wear and tear?

Your choice until your significant other ruins a $200 piece of clothing walking past it

Personally I have tried it and it doesn't seem to make any difference just a bigger mess. When pulling the trailer the rust wears off quickly, but I am only pulling loads of <6000LBs.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Nope. That will collect dirt like a magnet. Then you will have a greasy, dirty mess to clean off. You don't want the extra dirt/grit getting between your hitch coupler and hitch ball. Just no need for that kind of aggravation.

 

[newbury]

Yup, Curt even puts out a video on the subject

 

[Diggin It]

Not the ball, but I do shoot chain lube up into the coupling socket to keep the works freed up.

 

[boomer1025]

Just wondering, my hitch ball is sort of rusty which I think is ok. But do you recommend putting a bit of grease on it to reduce wear and tear?

Yes put grease on the hitch ball and buy a cover to keep on the ball. Always make sure the ball has been greased before towing with it.

 

[newbury]

Yes put grease on the hitch ball and buy a cover to keep on the ball. Always make sure the ball has been greased before towing with it.

Or use a tennis ball.

 

[farmeratheart]

Yes put grease on the hitch ball and buy a cover to keep on the ball. Always make sure the ball has been greased before towing with it.

I agree. Lube the ball for less wear and ease of coupling. Cover when not in use. I don’t have a cover for my 2 5/16” ball so I just pull the drop out of the receiver and store in the truck cab.

Frank

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I find that greasing the hitch is more important than greasing the ball. I make sure to use a piece of treated lumber to keep the hitch off the ground on trailers with no jack. The aerosol white grease works great. A shot of rattle can on the ball will keep it from rusting.

 

[LD48750]

Have you ever seen a trailerball worn to the point of being unsafe?
I have trailer balls older then most of the people here and they are still servicable.
If anything wears out, it's the threads or the nut.

 

[fried1765]

Have you ever seen a trailerball worn to the point of being unsafe?
I have trailer balls older then most of the people here and they are still servicable.
If anything wears out, it's the threads or the nut.

Nope....I have never seen a worn out trailer ball, but I have seen one that is somewhat worn.

A more important issue is the trailer coupler.
When/if that gets worn down (you cannot see under it easily), your coupler will fail, and the ball condition will not matter a bit.
Absolutely! You SHOULD grease your trailer ball....to protect the coupler!

And....what about the safety chains?
A VERY high percentage that I see are NOT crossed.
There is a very good reason for crossing them, but apparently MANY do not know!

 

[Alan W.]

Your choice until your significant other ruins a $200 piece of clothing walking past it

Personally I have tried it and it doesn't seem to make any difference just a bigger mess. When pulling the trailer the rust wears off quickly, but I am only pulling loads of <6000LBs.

Now Im sure we are po folks. I dont think my wife has a complete outfit that cost that much.
And ifn she did I know she wouldnt be anywhere near my old truck

 

[4570Man]

Maybe if you wanted to clean it off when you’re done. Otherwise it’s a big mess that collects dirt.

 

[bcp]

Quote Originally Posted by fried1765
And....what about the safety chains?
A VERY high percentage that I see are NOT crossed.
There is a very good reason for crossing them, but apparently MANY do not know!

Should I grease my chains where they cross, to prevent wear?



Bruce

 

[bcp]

And....what about the safety chains?
A VERY high percentage that I see are NOT crossed.
There is a very good reason for crossing them, but apparently MANY do not know!

Most of the chains I see are crossed, but almost dragging the road. No way they could catch a fallen tongue.

Bruce

 

[CMV]

Of course they will if crossed. If the trailer separates that will take that slack out.

Oh...and I do both....grease the ball and inside the coupler. Gojo hand cleaner as a laundry pretreat does great getting the grease stripe off the knee of your pants

 

[4570Man]

I had a boat trailer with cable “chains” and a big sticker that said do not cross safety chains.

 

[hslogger]

A friend and work associate of mine pulls a commercial chipper with an Isuzu arborist truck. We hitched and unhitched and pulled the chipper around constantly day in and day out. One day the chipper jumped the ball. Why? After many years of extended use the ball had shrunk and needed to be replaced. True story. After that, the precaution was to keep that ball and socket lubed up. It never happened again.

 

[fried1765]

Should I grease my chains where they cross, to prevent wear?



Bruce

Nope Bruce!
You COULD grease your brake linings though.
They would last longer.

 

[fried1765]

Most of the chains I see are crossed, but almost dragging the road. No way they could catch a fallen tongue.

Bruce

Having the chains dragging is yet another often observed unstatisfactory trailer towing condition!