Greasing Your (trailer) Balls?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Tucson
Greasing Your (trailer) *****?
Hahaha! Get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking bout trailer hich *****. I have been towing a small trailer for a while now and resently put a dab of grease up there to lube the locking mechanisim Now seems better to tow? any comments? Should that be done?
Last edited by fordboy_52; Feb 21, 2008 at 11:30 AM. Reason: title needed fixed
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Paris, Arkansas
I have always been told "Do Not Grease Your Ball". Never told to reason why except that it will cause the trailer to come unhooked. Never has casued me a problem though. I always put a little grease either on the ball or up in the hitch and on the mechanism.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Tucson
I have done that Many times, lol I am suprized they still bend!
With all the resent rains I think it got a little rusty, But I remenber somewhere someone telling me that was no good.
With all the resent rains I think it got a little rusty, But I remenber somewhere someone telling me that was no good.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Paris, Arkansas
I would guess that anyone who has had this happen has either used the wrong size ball or had a worn out hitch on the trailer. Or they forgot to secure it. It would think that a little lube would keep it from binding.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lancaster, MA
It won't cause any problems with the hitch coming off. That's just a little silly. I would be more worried about what it does to the trailer that have the lights grounded through the ball. It might screw that up a little. I've never greased any of mine. Still have not had an issue with any.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
I had a ball get a large gouge chewed in it on a cross-country trip, so lube is a good thing. I am sure to keep the hitch on my truck and trailer well lubed now. You can tell when the hitch is dry, the truck will move a lot more in response to the trailer's movement.
And if lubing your hitch can cause it to come loose, then we should see a lot more large trucks loose their trailers, since the fifth wheel has to be greased.
And if lubing your hitch can cause it to come loose, then we should see a lot more large trucks loose their trailers, since the fifth wheel has to be greased.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Southern Louisiana
I dont ever worry about the coupling on the trailer, but when I do tow I always put a dab of grease on the ball. I have only heard from one person on a fishing trip that you werent supposed to do it, and happened to be in Wallys with the same person a day or so later and I pointed out in the automotive section that there is actually grease just for it, and is labeled "Ball Lube", never heard anything else. I started doing it after watching my dad, who is a truck driver, do it when he pulled his boat, he figured it was the same principal as lubing the fifth wheel on his tractor.
