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01-10-2015, 06:25 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2019 27' International
2014 25' International
2006 23' Safari SE
Boulder City
, Nevada
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,703
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Grease your Ball for wear and tear?
I am a Ball Greaser. Wheel bearing grease works for me.
I had a friend who said it was not necessary. It was dirty. It served no purpose other than watching an adult making a mess of the only Ball on the trailer. This is the same guy that opened his garage door with the remote... forgot to release the door locking mechanism and I helped HIM to cobble it together so they could leave on their camping trip.
His "clean method". He said he uses "wax paper".
I looked over Threads to find if someone knew how to handle a Trailer's Ball and Hitch. None. So I open this for discussion.
What works best? Slapping on a good amount of wheel bearing grease or a wax paper job on your Ball Work? Even if wax paper is the preferred method... I have four or five years of Ball Grease to use up. My wife said it was outside her "inside the trailer work". "You figure out what to do with your ball problem, not me."
You can stick to your cookie wax paper roll and I will put on the rubber glove and slap some grease on the Ball and not have to hear the squeak, squeak, squeak when trying to sneak away early in the morning from the RV Park.
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01-10-2015, 06:31 PM
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#2
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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I had a good tongue-in-cheek response, but my better judgement won out.....
Just one word...... grease.
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
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01-10-2015, 06:38 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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I solved the grease problem for me. I got an Andersen hitch, the ball turns with the trailer. I do realize that not everybody can use the Andersen with their particular set up of tow vehicle and trailer, but it has worked very nicely for me the last two years.
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01-10-2015, 06:46 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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ProPride just gets grease on WD bar sockets zerk fittings. Ball does not move all that much. Wheel bearing grease on the ball at assembly seems to be all it needs so far.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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01-10-2015, 06:56 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
1963 16' Bambi
Stevens Point
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 318
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Hey Ray,
Ran into a fellow camper at Black Canyon last summer. He was dripping melted candle wax on his. Trailer ball that is.
Tim
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01-10-2015, 07:07 PM
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#6
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Regular Guy
1978 31' Sovereign
Hot Springs
, Arkansas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 603
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Turn your head and cough, maybe?
I leave mine lubricant free. It also serves as a path to ground on the TV in addition to the grounding wire. Grease can electrically insulate or impede that function. I have ruined more than on pair of pants on a greasy hitch too.
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01-10-2015, 07:08 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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Ditto on the wheel bearing grease...
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01-10-2015, 07:11 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1969 29' Ambassador
brooksville
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,270
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I grease my balls, and then keep a cover over it when not in use. I usually wipe it down, and apply new grease before each trip. The thought of raw steel on steel just sounds like a bad idea to me, but I know many people who tow trailers all day with out any.
__________________
Not all those who wonder are lost.
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01-10-2015, 07:11 PM
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#9
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Small, light, trailers the wax paper works pretty good, not so good on heavier ones. I use grease. I just turn the can upside down and smear on the ball, attach hitch and rock and roll.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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01-10-2015, 07:12 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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I use engine assembly lube. It is a little easier to use than grease, comes in a bottle with a twist open/close applicator, contains moly, and I also use it on the Reese trunions. It's also a little easier to clean up.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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01-10-2015, 07:18 PM
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#11
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,254
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When I bought my trailer the OP, who was a very experienced Airstreamer with regular trips to Mexico and Alaska between trips to the International every year - so a LOT of miles under his belt, told me to put a square of plastic on it. Thick garden plastic, slightly thicker than a freezer zip lock. So I did that, and we've been happy for ten years. Then we ran out of plastic finally, so I did some research online and found a lot of people saying they never bother to grease at all! Well, what a sucker I've been! So to heck with it, we've joined the greaseless crowd. Our ball is clean, and we check it for looseness at each hookup, I haven't heard it being any creakier than the rest of the hitch. I'm ok with it.
__________________
Stephanie
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01-10-2015, 07:36 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2005 28' Safari S/O
Paradise
, California
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,446
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Have a Hensley so no need to. I do add grease through the zerk fittings though. I do use Reese Teflon Hitch Ball Lube on the ball for my boat trailer. A little dab'll do ya.
__________________
Steve
"THE OLDER I GET, THE BETTER I WAS"
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01-10-2015, 07:40 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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There's a technical reason to use some lube on your ball. If you use no lube at all, it's possible for the hitch to lock onto the ball tightly enough to loosen the nut, resulting in disassembly of the hitch ball from the stinger while underway.
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01-10-2015, 07:56 PM
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#14
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CA Streamer
Have a Hensley so no need to. I do add grease through the zerk fittings though. I do use Reese Teflon Hitch Ball Lube on the ball for my boat trailer. A little dab'll do ya.
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With the HA we grease the ball at assembly. NLGI Grade Two, as per recommendation.
For others, what does Airstream and what does the hitch manufacturer say?
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01-10-2015, 07:59 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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I don't lubricate mine to save the ball, I lubricate to save the coupler.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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01-10-2015, 08:09 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 28' Safari S/O
Paradise
, California
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,446
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slowmover
With the HA we grease the ball at assembly.
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Yep. Was going to say that but figured it was a given.
__________________
Steve
"THE OLDER I GET, THE BETTER I WAS"
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01-10-2015, 08:14 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
1993 34' Excella
York
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,417
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
I don't lubricate mine to save the ball, I lubricate to save the coupler.
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x2.
__________________
John
WBCCI #268 Palmetto State Airstream Club 22
Region 3 Past President....come with us, you will like it.
Go often to the house of a friend, for weeds choke the unused path........Emerson
Are you kind?..... Uncle John's Band
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01-10-2015, 08:15 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Southwestern
, Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,671
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slowmover
For others, what does Airstream and what does the hitch manufacturer say?
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The fact that Reese sells hitch ball grease might tell you something. . .
White Grease Hitch Ball Lube Reese Accessories and Parts 58117
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01-10-2015, 08:19 PM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
2010 20' Flying Cloud
Surry
, Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 45
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My owners manual from Equal-izer said to put a light coat of grease on the ball, so I do.
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01-10-2015, 09:04 PM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
ottawa (greely)
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 390
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I grease the ball with wheel bearing grease ,all it takes is a little dab ,it also stops rust . a simple ball cover on the ball stops the grease from getting on your pants.
Don
__________________
2012 silverado ext cab 4x4 ,5.3 L , 6 speed trans,3:42 final drive,tow package standard box 6 1/2 foot . 2014 honda forza 300 scooter, #2 2015 honda crf 250 L (Dual sport)
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