hitch grease

LeonW · 10-18-2012, 11:05 PM

Shortly after we got our 17b, I noticed that it squeeked & creaked when going around corners. After reading about putting wax paper on the ball, I finally went to a hardware store and got some wheel bearing grease, and put that on the ball. It improved the creaking & squeaking. Then I added grease to the stabilizer bars, and now it is MUCH better, pretty much silent. But it also collects a lot of dirt, and if I am not careful, I get grease on my clothes when hitching and unhitching.

Is there some better grease for this purpose than wheel bearing grease? would a light weight lubricant like triflow work for this?

Interested in hearing your experience, and thanks in advance for any advice.

Leon

Texscapees · 10-19-2012, 12:02 AM

Prior to every hitch up, I wipe off the hitch ball and the inside of the hitch coupler and then apply some white grease to the hitchball. I keep a small tube of it in the trailer and have a spray can of it at home. I've never tried applying grease to the wdh/stabilizer bars - although I might try that sometime.

escape artist · 10-19-2012, 01:12 AM

Hi: Leon Webster...Another great plus for the 5.0...No grease required. A Teflon plate on the trailer pin and you're ready to TOW!!! Neat and clean too. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

cpaharley2008 · 10-19-2012, 06:37 AM

I keep mine well lubricated and use one of these for protection ( sounds like an xrated post)

dave macrae · 10-19-2012, 07:36 AM

I use lucas lube for fith wheel hitch plate on the ball, I don't use a weight distribution set up so no bars to deal with. I also use um " protection" for the ball when not in use to minimize the mess. I have seen the hitch balls with the nylon piece on them much like the fith wheel plate that Alf uses , but not sure about that yet, I guess I will look into it more. I really don't miss having to deal with the equalizer bars.

Jim Bennett · 10-19-2012, 09:23 AM

I always use grease too. I don't wipe it off and reapply every time, but do once it starts to get a bit dirty and thicker.

hippo · 10-19-2012, 10:55 AM

A friend uses a dryer sheet on top of ball no grease. It works well and no grease to get on your pant leg.
Chuck

Jim Bennett · 10-20-2012, 06:40 AM

I would definitely not risk putting something like a dryer sheet between the ball and hitch. Too much chance of it causes grief. It could easily break down and have bits get caught up in the mechanism, something you may not even notice build up until a problem is created.

Using a good grease, and either wiping it off, removing the ball mount, or simply putting on a protective cover is such an easy thing to do. It is so simple, why try to reinvent a new way?

It is one of those "Why risk it" scenarios. Manufacturers recommend a hitch grease for good reason.

escape artist · 10-20-2012, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 (jim)

I keep mine well lubricated and use one of these for protection ( sounds like an xrated post)

Hi:cpaharley2008... I too use a lube product called Dura-Lube www.duralube.com to keep the moving hitch parts moving. The hitch stays under cover. Either the trailer is on it, or the tonneau!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Garand · 10-20-2012, 10:05 PM

I used synthetic wheel bearing grease with our old Casita. After I tattooed my jeans and legs enough times, I got in the habit of wiping off the ball whenever we camped and re-greasing it when we hitched up. I stored everything with a light coating of the grease to prevent rust.

Those hitch-ball-covers look like a good idea, and will probably keep the greasy ball from getting coated with grit and increasing the wear in the hitch.

Dave

p.s.: The synthetic wheel bearing grease is also great for lubing the rails in semi-auto pistols and the bolts, lugs and rails in rifles.

Bruce Wray · 10-20-2012, 10:23 PM

I'm on my second old tennis ball, cut a little less than 180* from side to side. It goes on the hitch ball as soon as the hitch comes off, and only gets removed the moment I am hitching up. Second ball, because they do get crudded up after a while. Even though she has lots, the dog's not too happy when it comes time to donate one of her balls. No more lubricated pants.

Bruce

float5 · 10-20-2012, 11:37 PM

We had the same creaking on turns and came to the same conclusion as you, namely that the trunnion points on the WDH needed some oil. We used 3-in-1 oil but I would think that Triflow would work as well. To try to keep the oil off of us, we put the bars carefully into paper trash bags and change the bags every once in a while.

We use white hitch ball grease for that purpose that you should be able to find easily. It comes in tubs that are the size of the ball so that you just put the tub over the hitch ball to grease it. We clean the ball on every arrival and put on a cover if removing the hitch. We use a shop paper towel for cleaning which has the grease off in less than a minute. And then re-grease before hitching again. You are also supposed to put some grease up inside the coupler at least every once in a while if not every time out.

Garand · 10-21-2012, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

<snip>You are also supposed to put some grease up inside the coupler at least every once in a while if not every time out.

Agreed completely. I used to periodically spray the inside of the coupler with WD-40 (don't get me started on the misuse of WD-40) to rinse it down, then wiped it, then re-lubed it with a proper lubricant. An amazing amount of crud accumulates up in there.

Dave

Jim Bennett · 10-21-2012, 07:21 AM

The only lube I do to the coupler itself, is to spray a white grease into the mechanical workings a couple times a year tops (wiping any excess off). I do wipe it clean on the mating surface with the ball once in a while, but only apply grease to the to the ball.

hippo · 10-21-2012, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I would definitely not risk putting something like a dryer sheet between the ball and hitch. Too much chance of it causes grief. It could easily break down and have bits get caught up in the mechanism, something you may not even notice build up until a problem is created.

Using a good grease, and either wiping it off, removing the ball mount, or simply putting on a protective cover is such an easy thing to do. It is so simple, why try to reinvent a new way?

It is one of those "Why risk it" scenarios. Manufacturers recommend a hitch grease for good reason.

Hey Jim but it smells better. Each time you unhook you throw away the dryer sheet. one time use.
Chuck

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