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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / November 2006One more
I read it's good to put grease on the ball hitch when you use it. Is this true? I don't have any automotive grease. Is there anything else commonly found in a house or garage that I might could use? Thanks Some people use grease on the ball, but some do not. It is a good idea, but you will not cause damage if you tow without it for a while. You can get a small can of grease at any auto parts store. Nothing else you have at home will really be the right stuff. > I read it's good to put grease on the ball hitch when you use it. Is this > true? I don't have any automotive grease. Is there anything else commonly > found in a house or garage that I might could use? You know, when I had my first popup I greased the ball as I heard that it was the thing to do. I used axle grease as I has a tube of it that was sitting on my shelf in the garage that was not doing anything else. I dabbed a bit on the ball each time. The downside was that I _always_ ended up with grease on my leg or on my pants - every time. I would unhook, start unloading stuff and then look down and be chagrinned. I tried to remember to wipe it off or pull off the drawbar or somesuch, but I never would, the sieve-head that I am. So one day I had the epiphany to stop doing this (insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result...). It took a few trips until the residual grease that was lurking up in the tongue was gone, but after a while my legs stayed clean. Imagine that. Furthermore, I had no difference in performance. No wear on the ball or on the tongue (yep, I looked). Imagine that. It remained this way for a few years until that trailer got rear-ended and totaled. Now on my current popup I have not lubricated it once, and still use the same 2 inch ball. I see no wear and it all swivels just fine. My legs remain clean. My conclusion from my observations is that it is not necessary and becomes a nuisance. Hope this helps, Tomes > I read it's good to put grease on the ball hitch when you use it. Is this > true? I don't have any automotive grease. Is there anything else > commonly found in a house or garage that I might could use? > Thanks >I read it's good to put grease on the ball hitch when you use it. Is this >true? I don't have any automotive grease. Is there anything else commonly >found in a house or garage that I might could use? >Thanks Hi, Some folks do and some don't. If you do use marine grease as it will not be affected by water and stay on longer. You don't need tons of grease either, just a light coating. I do and put a sliced tennis ball over the ball when not in use, when I remember that is :) Helps keep getting grease all over pants and legs. Take Care and Happy Campin...  SignatureRichA "We Get Too Soon Olde and Too Late Smart" >>I read it's good to put grease on the ball hitch when you use it. Is this >>true? I don't have any automotive grease. Is there anything else [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > over the ball when not in use, when I remember that is :) Helps keep > getting grease all over pants and legs. LOL - I have one of those plastic ball cover thingies too and I always forgot to use it until too late..... Tomes >> Helps keep getting grease all over pants and legs. > LOL - I have one of those plastic ball cover thingies too and I always > forgot to use it until too late..... I am beginning to wonder if I'm "the only" one whose hitch ball never sees the light of day - or my pants. It is *ALWAYS* inside the trailer's locked coupler. My first removable hitch was a Class II, the mini version of what is used for large travel trailers. I always removed the drawbar/ball and stored it out of the way. Then I got the travel trailer and the larger hitch. Now, when unhitching, I remove the pin and lower the tongue jack until the drawbar "breaks loose" inside the receiver. I then carefully pull away the tow vehicle. The hitch ball and drawbar REMAIN coupled to the trailer, where they are locked. I view this as improved security for BOTH the trailer and hitch/drawbar assembly and a very convenient place to STORE the drawbar. (I can't stand the sight of a drawbar RUSTED into its receiver.) The next time I camp (next Spring <sigh>), I'll have to walk the campground and watch particularly for anyone else using this practice. In practice, my greasy hitch ball is exposed only for the short trip from its storage place (trailer coupler) to platform receiver on the pickup, immediately prior to hitching. Now, where did I put the KEYS to that damned lock! <BFG> Signature:) JR No project too small All projects too big > Now, when unhitching, I remove the pin and lower the tongue jack until the > drawbar "breaks loose" inside the receiver. I then carefully pull away > the > tow vehicle. But, you have learned to be on level ground when driving away!! :) SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance >> Now, when unhitching, I remove the pin and lower the tongue jack until >> the drawbar "breaks loose" inside the receiver. I then carefully pull >> away the tow vehicle. > But, you have learned to be on level ground when driving away!! :) Aw, picky, picky, picky! You were witness to one of only two times I can think of before I learned THAT particular lesson! <sigh> Heck, with your no-brain job, you probably screw-up like that all the time and no one notices! Karl's Workspace: <http://static.flickr.com/111/305676813_21d8d9315c_o.jpg> <BBBBFG> Happy Saturday morning, one and all. The grandkids haven't gotten up yet, but it's gonna happen any time. Signature:) JR > My first removable hitch was a Class II, the mini version of what is used > for [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > (I > can't stand the sight of a drawbar RUSTED into its receiver.) This has just never occurred to me to do this, Jim. It does seem like an intriguing idea. What is your procedure for reconnecting? Tomes - of the Class II hitch that actually had it rusted together before I was rear-ended, and now take the drawbar out at the end of each trip. It sure beats wrenching off the ball nut when I use the other utility trailer with the 1 7/8 ball; I now have a drawbar for each ball. >> [Except when actually towing, including WHILE CAMPED] >> the hitch ball and drawbar REMAIN coupled to the trailer > What is your procedure for reconnecting? No different than yours, once the drawbar is pinned back in the receiver. I simply remove the drawbar from its storage place (trailer coupler), install it on the pickup and go from there with the normal hitching process. >> (I can't stand the sight of a drawbar RUSTED into its receiver.) > Tomes - of the Class II hitch that actually had it > rusted together before I as rear-ended My shins could never keep from accidentally colliding with the fixed hitch (Class I) on my first station wagon. I guess I'm smarter at other things. <sigh> When I replaced tow vehicles, I got the receiver/drawbar-type hitch. I JUMPED at the chance to give my shins some relief. I simply covered the greasy ball and put the thing under the camper or in the covered compartment (rear footwell) of the 8-passenger wagon. When I got the full-size platform/hitch lashup, the assembly that was attached to the drawbar was so massive, heavy and intimidating that I knew I had to find a good, EASY but secure place to keep it. Why not the locked trailer coupler? I'm not hauling it around and it's mere INCHES away from the receiver when I next hitch-up. <http://static.flickr.com/120/306759379_6c8c476c91.jpg> (I love digital photography! I'm sure the neighbors think I'm nuts: The attached garage door opens, the guy steps out with his camera, snaps a photo of the HITCH of his camping trailer, goes back inside and closes the garage door.) > I now take the drawbar out at the end of each trip. If NOTHING else, removing a hitch between uses dresses-up the back of the tow vehicle. > It sure beats wrenching off the ball nut when I use the other > utility trailer with the 1 7/8 ball Admittedly mine is even MORE exposed to the elements than one that resides on the back end of a GARAGED car, but not to the road chemicals in winter. A drawbar is easily the heaviest-duty component of a lashup and, therefore, tougher than nails. I've been doing this for years. The trailer is showing its age but the drawbar assembly is *NO* worse for wear. > I now have a drawbar for each ball. It makes sense. I keep a 2-inch-balled drawbar in the back of the pickup. I used it for towing a U-Haul trailer and, a few times, my 30-gal tote tank. Signature:) JR 2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 >>> [Except when actually towing, including WHILE CAMPED] >>> the hitch ball and drawbar REMAIN coupled to the trailer [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > install > it on the pickup and go from there with the normal hitching process. I thought so (or at least I was hoping so <grin>). I was fearing that you somehow lined up that square rod into the square hole while backing up. I am _very_ glad not to hear this. >>> (I can't stand the sight of a drawbar RUSTED into its receiver.) > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > (Class I) on my first station wagon. I guess I'm smarter at other things. > <sigh> Yepper, this was the other problem I had - besides getting all greasy, I was all banged up too. Now both drawbars sit on the shelf in the garage until needed. My wife agrees with you (below) in that the Sienna looks a lot better without the hitch too. Tomes > When I replaced tow vehicles, I got the receiver/drawbar-type hitch. I > JUMPED [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > I > used it for towing a U-Haul trailer and, a few times, my 30-gal tote tank. > > My shins could never keep from accidentally colliding with the fixed hitch > > (Class I) on my first station wagon. I guess I'm smarter at other things. > > <sigh> > > Yepper, this was the other problem I had - besides getting all greasy, I was > all banged up too. There is a term for that permanent dent in your shin from either *repeatedly* banging the hitch (or coupler - less common with pop-ups because the bed end keeps you from walking too close), or banging it so hard one time that there is a permanent dent. It's called a "hitch dingle," and I have one on each shin. Austin >> > My shins could never keep from accidentally colliding with the fixed >> > hitch [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > hard one time that there is a permanent dent. It's called a "hitch > dingle," and I have one on each shin. Yep, I definitely had the hitch dingle. Good words - I intend to use them. Tomes >>> Helps keep getting grease all over pants and legs. > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > >Now, where did I put the KEYS to that damned lock! <BFG> Hi, When I had my TT with the Hensley Hitch you had to do that :) With a regular hitch it's to big of a pain hitching back up, for me anyways. If I'm not going to use the hitch bar for a few weeks or months I just pull it out and put it in the garage. Take care and Happy Campin... SignatureRichA "We Get Too Soon Olde and Too Late Smart" > I read it's good to put grease on the ball hitch when you use it. Is this > true? I don't have any automotive grease. Is there anything else commonly > found in a house or garage that I might could use? > Thanks I don't use grease, I use wax paper. Wax paper isn't really coated with wax, it's coated with parafin, a petroleum distillate that happens to be a solid at room temperature. (Grease is typically a petroleum distillate that happens to be a goo at room temperature.) It lubes the hitch ball as well as grease, and leaves no residue. Four layers (a square sheet folded in half and then in quarters) wrapped around the ball will last for at least a day's worth of towing. When you arrive, use the used sheet it to light the campfire. Austin > I don't use grease, I use wax paper. Wax paper isn't really coated > with wax, it's coated with parafin, a petroleum distillate that happens [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Austin What a great idea! Thanks! SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance >Four layers (a >square sheet folded in half and then in quarters) wrapped around the >ball will last for at least a day's worth of towing. > >When you arrive, use the used sheet it to light the campfire. Back in the old days when this group was really active (nee 2000), there was a very popular poster named Linda King. IIRC, she was having a problem with a hitch ball cover and complained to the company. She received a case of them in the mail from them. Mark Filice 2004 Homestead Settler 255RS 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 |
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