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04-14-2019, 11:42 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Carson City
Posts: 28
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age old question revisited
To lubricate or not to lubricate the ball hitch?
Some say yes, others say no. My theory in NO because any lubricant will cause dirt,dust, debris to stick. However if no lubricant is used wouldn't any debris accumulate anyway?
I know - stupid question but last week an RV neighbor and I got into a friendly discussion of the Pros and Cons.
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04-14-2019, 12:30 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Wood River,IL
Posts: 121
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I use lube on my ball hitch. I put a ball cover on when not in use to keep dirt off.
__________________
2018 Bullet Premier 22RBPR
2019 F-150 XLT 5.0 Super Crew FX4
Wood River, IL
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04-14-2019, 12:32 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,398
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Fair question. One school of thought would say that you should lub metal-on-metal friction points. The other school will cite the collection of dirt as you have noted. It's been many years since I pulled a TT but when I did I did lube the ball and used a rubber boot desinged to protect against collecting dirt or having grease rub off on something it shouldn't.
I do know that some receivers have a hard nylon insert negating the need to lubricate, as is the case on the Andersen Ultimate Hitch.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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04-14-2019, 12:33 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,690
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I am a proponent of lubing the ball. Very easy, clean it before using and lube and keep covered with a plastic/rubber ball cover when not in use. Very easy, simple and quick. And, as the link below will tell you, it can prevent some expensive repair bills due to damaging the coupler. But as always, to each his own.
https://www.rvtravel.com/grease-up-the-hitch-ball/
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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04-14-2019, 12:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 708
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rber1234
I use lube on my ball hitch. I put a ball cover on when not in use to keep dirt off.
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^^^Same here
I also lube the WDH bars.
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04-14-2019, 12:37 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,331
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Just walk through any large RV park one day and count the hitch balls with grease and without. Without will win hands down. I'm all for greasing the ball when I tow a boat or whatever, but no one can locate a ball or hitch that wore out because it wasn't lubed. The only drawback I can see is the dry cleaning bill to get the grease out of my pants when I rush up against it, but I can't see any obvious advantage.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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04-14-2019, 12:54 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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I'm in the lube it side of this discussion. Metal on metal rubbing/friction is never a good thing. I've never owned a trailer of any kind since 1975 that didn't get the hitch ball lubed, and I probably ain't going to start now.
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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04-14-2019, 01:01 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrated
I'm in the lube it side of this discussion. Metal on metal rubbing/friction is never a good thing. I've never owned a trailer of any kind since 1975 that didn't get the hitch ball lubed, and I probably ain't going to start now.
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I'll drink to that ..... but then again, I'll drink to anything.
Friction is for brakes and sway control. If it rubs grease it, if it spins balance it.
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Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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04-14-2019, 01:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,286
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I keep mine lubed. I put the tailgate down when I’m camping to avoid brushing up against it with my pant leg. I have a lock on my tailgate so it can’t be stolen.
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Mike
2017 F250 6.7 Powerstroke FX4 crew cab
2016 Hideout 24BHSWE (27 foot TT)
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04-14-2019, 02:19 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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Some on here have tried and use Dawn dish soap. Easy to clean off and it does lubricate.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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04-14-2019, 02:42 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Lake Stevens
Posts: 764
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The ball is not the issue, it is crystalizing the thinner metal of the coupler. If a hitch ball does not need grease, then why do tie rod ends, drag link ends, ball joints, u-joints and other parts that move against another need grease? For that matter, why does the motor need oil? Or differential need gear oil? Just saying! Chris
__________________
2019 Laredo 225MK for travel. Bighorn 3575el summer home in Washington, Park Model with Arizona Room for winters.
2015 RAM 3500 SRW CC SB Aisin Laramie
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04-14-2019, 02:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,212
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hankpage
Friction is for brakes and sway control. If it rubs grease it, if it spins balance it.
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I like that quote!!
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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04-14-2019, 05:41 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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Heck yeah I grease that thing. My specialty lube is a mixture if marine grease and nickel base Never Seize. It of course has to be the nuclear grade. And it can't be the copper base Never Seize. Wipe it off when you get home. I'm assuming y'all are using a stainless steel ball? I used to put that rubber cover over it, but I'm getting lazy. Just wipe it off. I keep it in the truck receiver all the time. Some day it might come in handy punching a hole in some texters radiator.
I occasionally use brake parts cleaner on the trailer coupler. You can have too much grease. I have never measured the diameter of a new vs. used ball. But it's an idea.
That guy on that youtube is using enough grease for 20 balls. You have to use your index finger to massage the ball so the lube gets in the pores. Really.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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04-14-2019, 06:17 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Monroeville
Posts: 1,550
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I am a fan of lubing the ball. Keeps the hitch components on the trailer lubed as well.
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2014 Bullet Premier 29bh in Charocal
2019 Ram 2500 HD 4x4, CC, 6.4L
2011 Passport 2510RB (Sold)
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04-14-2019, 07:23 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
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My hitch ball doesn't see the light of day for the entire camping season under my Hensley. I must use a quarter tube of bearing grease on the ball when I hook her up in March. The WD bars are greased at the beginning of each trip. After 3 seasons, the ball has no scarring or discoloration. The old grease does take a bit of time to remove from the hitch and ball in late October.
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier
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04-15-2019, 09:47 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Taylors, SC
Posts: 3,031
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04-15-2019, 10:02 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Vacaville
Posts: 309
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__________________
2013 Premier 22RBPR
2022 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Gasser
2019 Beta 500 RR-s (Pasta Rocket!)
2015 Honda CRF250L (Wifes)
Camping, home brewing, and dirt bikes!
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04-15-2019, 01:21 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Okanagan, BC
Posts: 916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CampNBrew2
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I've been on both sides of this. Years ago when I was young, I bumped someone and got their ball indent in my car. I wasn't texting (didn't exist then) but was looking at a stain on my tie and rolled into someone. Bad me.
But I got rear ended when driving my old Wagoneer. No hitch in but the receiver stuck out far enough that I put a square hole in the bumper of the can that hit me. Looked pretty funny. Also had a lady see the traffic beside her start to go so she started to go despite our lane still having a red light. I think she was texting. Anyway, put a round hole in her bumper and cleaned a little rust off the old ball.
I grease mine as well as the spots on the 4 pt they say to grease.
__________________
2010 Cougar 30RKS
2015 GMC Sierra Max Trailer
"Drinks for 6, Dinner for 4, Sleeps 2"
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04-15-2019, 07:00 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: prophetstown
Posts: 318
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I vote no lubrication,, if you wear the hitch out by then the rest of the trailer will be shot,, jmo
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04-16-2019, 04:22 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Sammamish
Posts: 256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingAroundRV
^^^Same here
I also lube the WDH bars.
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Same here, and when not on a trip with the trailer the WD Hitch/ball itself is removed and stored in the front pass-thru out of the weather.
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2017 Springdale 202QBWE, 2017 F150 XLT 5.0
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