Greasing Your (trailer) Balls?
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
One thing about greasing your ball... ew...that does sound dirty...anyway...some trailers rely on the contact to complete the grounding for the lights. (4-pin) grease may interfere with that. Just make sure you check your lights. 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 15
From: Lower Mainland B.C.
Why worry about the ground? Here's the diagram:
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/image...ing-4-wire.jpg
and 7-Pin:
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acat...ler_wiring.gif
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/image...uck-wiring.gif
and the search I used:
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en...-8&sa=N&tab=wi
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/image...ing-4-wire.jpg
and 7-Pin:
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acat...ler_wiring.gif
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/image...uck-wiring.gif
and the search I used:
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en...-8&sa=N&tab=wi
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
If you don't lube it at least every now and then the little foot in the hitch will wear out
and then it could slip off!! A bit of white lithium or if you are worried about the greasy
feeling ball, Use some spray graphite or the pb TDL (teflon dry lube) I prefer the dry lube route if it is on a small trailer that might get dropped in the dirt and wet grease
would grab dirt and crap. You should actuelly every so often inspect the hitch internals for wear and rust on the spring and either replace or clean and relube.
and then it could slip off!! A bit of white lithium or if you are worried about the greasy
feeling ball, Use some spray graphite or the pb TDL (teflon dry lube) I prefer the dry lube route if it is on a small trailer that might get dropped in the dirt and wet grease
would grab dirt and crap. You should actuelly every so often inspect the hitch internals for wear and rust on the spring and either replace or clean and relube.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 167
From: Central Texas
I lube mine with petroleum jelly...really I do! Grease stains wash out of your pants easier, and it has a nice fresh sent if you get the scented stuff. Tried it once on our 5'r after listening to the squeeking on the way to the campsite. I only had petroleum jelly (got kids in diapers? you got petroleum jelly) used it and it worked, so that's what I've used from then on.
Not lubing your ***** is stupid!
Not lubing your ***** is stupid!
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
Originally Posted by PROSTOCK
Grease stains wash out of your pants easier, and it has a nice fresh sent if you get the scented stuff.
Seriously tho, stated before by me and Monsta, watch the grounding on smaller older trailers that still ground on the ball.
Nothing like having a bad ground or an electrical short on your *****.
Maybe if you use them more often you won't have to lube them? Man I'm on fire today.
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Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
I keep alot og grease on my ball and I have had no problems except the occasional ball grease on my leg if I bump into it. I ususally leave the hitch out of the reciever unless I am using it. It is too big and bulky to leave in there since it is a weight distributing hitch.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
I've always lubed mine, it just seemed like sensible preventive maintainance
I've run across a few beat up hitches that won't stay latched once they've been lubed but I've always used a padlock for a**hat prevention, so that's never been a problem anyway.
I've run across a few beat up hitches that won't stay latched once they've been lubed but I've always used a padlock for a**hat prevention, so that's never been a problem anyway.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster County PA
I never used to grease my *****, but now that i am a little older, I am open to new ideas.
I like Bruker's idea. I'll get the wife to do it for me. She is always complaining that I am stuck in a rut.
I like Bruker's idea. I'll get the wife to do it for me. She is always complaining that I am stuck in a rut.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
If your lights rely on the trailer ball for the ground it is time to re-wire the trailer.
As far as greasing the trailer ball, I do if I am towing a long distance with a heavier trailer (ie, over 3,000lbs).
As far as greasing the trailer ball, I do if I am towing a long distance with a heavier trailer (ie, over 3,000lbs).
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
If grease would cause a trailer hitch to slip off, you better not grease your tie rods! I agree that grounding through the ball is not a good idea. Even without grease, it can lead to erratic light problems.