Trailer Ball/ grease?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 343
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From: maine
Trailer Ball/ grease?
An ol' timer asked me yesterday why I don't grease my trailer ball, it is a pivot point and should be greased. I've been towing my construction trailer for over 7 years and have never greased the ball. What are everybody's thoughts on this?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Grease the ball and have a cover on all my ball/drop combos. The grease not only provides lubrication to prevent wear and friction it also keeps the ball from rusting. Make sure to wipe out the old grease and put a thin layer of grease on the inside of the coupler also. The coupler likes to collect dirt.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
Mine is grease-free and rusted to heck currently. It's mostly on there to prevent idiots from completely bashing the back end should I get rear ended, plus it gives people a heads up when driving through the parking lot.
I would say put grease on it though, there's been more times when I've had to jump up and down on the bumper when trying to release the trailer off mine, grease would've helped.
I would say put grease on it though, there's been more times when I've had to jump up and down on the bumper when trying to release the trailer off mine, grease would've helped.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,624
Likes: 6
From: OR and UT
Same here. I've never greased mine, but I don't see where it would hurt.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: maine
Thanks for all of the input, I guess I won't bother, basically because I haul my trailer 5-6 days a week for the most part, I'm a handyman and my trailer has almost as many miles as my truck. If it's unhooked I'm usually plowing snow or hauling debris to the dump, lol At 116,000 miles, I have noticed (I think) that my brakes on the truck have been saved as I've never replaced the rotors the pads just once, but the dual axle trailer I'm on my 3rd set. Knock on wood!?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 2
From: CA Bay Area
I grease towing commercially, but never did towing my own trailers. Even without grease the ball/hitch will outlive the trailer in average use, while occasionally I wear expensive pants going boating.
One option for good looking ball is stainless steel, what also has lower friction than regular steel
Than ball greased on last trip and recoupled with all the sand attracted to it will not help at all.
One option for good looking ball is stainless steel, what also has lower friction than regular steel
Than ball greased on last trip and recoupled with all the sand attracted to it will not help at all.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I never greased the ball when I was pulling my utility trailer, U-Hauls, etc. Light weight stuff.
Then I got a travel trailer with a WD hitch. On these, it is hard to get the nut on the ball really tight. In fact, you have to put a pipe wrench on the ball to tighten it. A wrench won't fit the nut underneath.
Didn't grease it either. Until after an 1,100 mile trip I found my ball had begun to loosen itself. From then on I have greased every ball, and kept a cover on them when not in use.
Grease the pin on my fiver now. Bottom line is, when metal rubs on metal, it should be lubed.
Then I got a travel trailer with a WD hitch. On these, it is hard to get the nut on the ball really tight. In fact, you have to put a pipe wrench on the ball to tighten it. A wrench won't fit the nut underneath.
Didn't grease it either. Until after an 1,100 mile trip I found my ball had begun to loosen itself. From then on I have greased every ball, and kept a cover on them when not in use.
Grease the pin on my fiver now. Bottom line is, when metal rubs on metal, it should be lubed.
