Grease or not?

[HowieE]

In over 45 years of towing a over a 1/4 million miles on my current trailer I have never greased the ball.
Now that said I am now using an Andersen hitch, for the last 50.000 miles, which has no movement at the ball.
If I were to consider putting anythiny on the ball it would be paraffin wax.

[Mollysdad]

Ever tried to unhook the trailer and had the coupler refuse to let go?
I have. I tried everything from rocking the truck in neutral, raising and lowering, jumping on the sway bars, spraying lube into the latch, cursing, even disconnecting the hitch pin to take any pressure off the receiver.
After that I grease the ball.

[ROBERT CROSS]

On the AS I grease the ball every year at the Spring Hensley install.👍

On the boat I just spray the inside of the tennis ball. 😂

Bob
🇺🇸

[pappy19]

Reese makes a hitch grease and I've used it for years.

[Tony Lee]

Originally Posted by NWRVR

I use a moly-graph high pressure grease for the ball hitch. As previously stated, any lube will do in a pinch, but it will not hold up to the 800+ lbs rotating on the ball.

If you compare the load vs contact area for this application with that of any regular ball or roller bearing, you don't need any fancy grease.

[GM Airstream]

Originally Posted by NWRVR

I use a moly-graph high pressure grease for the ball hitch. As previously stated, any lube will do in a pinch, but it will not hold up to the 800+ lbs rotating on the ball.

Yep I too use the Sta Lube moly-graph HP grease... use the silicone glove.. one finger wipe the ball all around.. as the lip at the ball bottom.. lock... also rubs on the ball. but we also use what is left on glove and apply to the reese hitch parts... to keep them from galling... (it says to use oil but, we found that the moly graphite works better.... no more popping and squeeking when turning tight... but, mainly no more galling too... )

When done with the trip... take a rag soaked with good old Calif oxginated gas.. and wipe all the metal htich parts... to clean off the old stuff... then light coating .. and wrap for storage... leave the ball clean and ready...

When traveling you don't need to really put more on if its already got a light coating.. and one thing nice about the sta-lube moly graphite is that it sinks into the metal pours... as we have found.. so it protects even thought their isn't much on it... Chrome ball stays nice and shinnnnnny...too... we found that this stuff is the best you can get... and use it for the wheel bearings and used it on the BAL jack screws threads-parts/lift jack gearbox.. etc... too... so one can does it all... only time you can get dirt in it is when you seperate /remove things... otherwise the grease forms it own barrier for dirt and dust...

Comes in a can with a plastic lid... but we also put it into a zip lock bag as when it gets hot... it weeps... and to keep things clean... works great...

I have seen some use a little metal acid brush... and keep that in a zip lock inside the big bag with the grease...

anything will work.. like chiefs and soup.. each has their own way...

[kevinmlamb]

I use a garage door lubricant (see photo). It’s in a spray can that puts on a thick coat quickly. Can sprays upside down and right side up so it easily reaches all the nether regions. I spray the hitch ball and anti-sway bar connection points. It has virtually silenced the towing apparatus.

[JMynes]

Get out of the way, Sir.
Just grease it and hitch up. Clean it off when you’re done.

[75Bob]

I to grease my ball and shaft. The most important thing, is to slice a tennis ball so that it fits onto your well greased ball when your camper is disconnected. Otherwise, when you go into the back of the truck you will get grease on your pants, and it don't wipe off!

[TG Twinkie]

Yogart containers work for covering the ball. Surefresh brand of yogart cup works well.

[JandLSafari]

Originally Posted by blumob

Should the ball hitch be greased?

I make up a number of small zip lock bags, the small square snack size, I put a small amount of grease in the bag coating the inside of the bag and zip lock it, I have 6-10 bags all the time. I keep a clean bag on the hitch at all times, and it keeps the grease off your clothes. When I hook-up our 25rt Safari I leave the bag in place, the poly bag also adds as a lubricant along with the grease. When I un-hook the trailer I discard the dirty bag and replace with a new bag, keeping the grease off your pants leg and ready to hook up again. This work great.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If you *do* put a cover on the ball, consider the "what happens" if it comes off. The guy behind you really does not have time to figure out what is now coming at him. He's going to make a snap judgement. A zip lock bag is unlikely to put him into avoidance maneuvers. A basketball ... probably will ...

Bob

[rmkrum]

Yeah, and not everyone is capable of making a ‘dodge or take the hit’ decision correctly in mere seconds.

[PKI]

Grease yes!

Now, the hard part ...... the ball when not in use. When you walk through a WBCCI rally parking area, you often see hitch heads stored on, under or around the coach A-frame. When you travel through a shopping center parking lot, you often are threatened by hitch heads hanging out into walkways or driveways. One approach is good practice. The other approach is rude and quite a poor practice.

Save your pants. Wrap your hitch head in a plastic bag and remove it when not in use. Those give away totes work well too. My apology to those who have been threatened by my hitch head. We all cut a corner from time to time. It's not a deadly sin, but it is a practice that will save a lot of pants if you do better. Pat

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by PKI

Grease yes!

Now, the hard part ...... the ball when not in use.

I had a short piece of drilled receiver tube welded to the a-frame. The hitch head is off the ground and out of the way. I cover the greased ball with the top part of a 12 oz coke bottle (which snaps on perfectly.)

When the hitch is stored there it doesn't get in the way of the low pressure LP line or with opening or closing the front window rock guard. With the locking hitch pin in place it can't go walk-about either.

[joanbob27]

We periodically add a film of grease to the ball, when dirt has accumulated and the grease has dried out. It's important to remember to wipe the old grease off before you add another coating. If you use too much grease, it could build up inside the trailer tongue and jam the mechanism. You can go to a store such as Walmart, and purchase pack of brightly colored baby bibs, that have a plastic backing, to cover the ball. Just snip off the shoulder straps, and fasten it with a heavy duty rubber band. Also, check your equalizer hitch owners manual to see if you need to lubricate other hitch parts.