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01-08-2020, 07:01 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
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Hitch grease brand recommendation
What brand/type of hitch grease do you use for your bumper pull?
I've been using motorcycle chain lube (at the recommendation of my first RV dealer) with reasonable satisfaction, but recently have noticed some spalling on top of the hitch ball with my new trailer/load equalization hitch (I didn't have load equalization with the old trailer, again at the recommendation of the dealer). I don't know if this is normal or shows the need for grease versus the chain lube.
Thanks for you help.
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Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
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01-08-2020, 07:37 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Fort Thomas
Posts: 339
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I use marine wheel bearing grease. It won't wash out in the rain.
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2020 Keystone Passport GT 2521RL 30 FT.
Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH 1000 LBS Bars.
2016 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4X4 All Terrain V8 5.3
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01-08-2020, 07:50 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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Reese Towpower 58117 Hitch Ball Lube. Been using it for about 5 years with no issues.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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01-08-2020, 08:39 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
Reese Towpower 58117 Hitch Ball Lube. Been using it for about 5 years with no issues.
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^^^^^This is what I use. Got a container sitting in the truck.
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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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01-08-2020, 08:42 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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As "different" as it might seem, some people recommend Dawn dishsoap. It coats the ball/hitch surfaces, is easy to wash out or clean up, doesn't stain if you brush against it and provides the needed "slick surface" for metal to metal contact.
I don't use a WD hitch any longer, but did use Ivory dishsoap (pre-Dawn era) years/decades ago.
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-08-2020, 09:08 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
As "different" as it might seem, some people recommend Dawn dishsoap. It coats the ball/hitch surfaces, is easy to wash out or clean up, doesn't stain if you brush against it and provides the needed "slick surface" for metal to metal contact.
I don't use a WD hitch any longer, but did use Ivory dishsoap (pre-Dawn era) years/decades ago.
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^Ditto on the Dawn. Cheap, lubes and easy clean up. Used synthetic grease but found it is messy. Have an E4 hitch. YMMV
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2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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01-09-2020, 06:30 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northeast Florida/Southeast Maine
Posts: 784
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All,
Thank you for your suggestions.
I am going to try the Dawn approach first. One reason I liked the chain lube was it is relatively clean, as will be the Dawn.
How much do you put on the ball?
Thanks again.
__________________
Now: 2019 Winnebago 2500FL w/e2 WDH;Sold: 2015 Bullet Premier 19FBPR (shown)
2012 Ford F-250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab (gas 6.2 L, 3.73 gear ratio 2WD, 172" WB)
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01-09-2020, 06:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Fort Thomas
Posts: 339
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I have never heard of using Dawn. This really works?
__________________
2020 Keystone Passport GT 2521RL 30 FT.
Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH 1000 LBS Bars.
2016 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4X4 All Terrain V8 5.3
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01-09-2020, 06:54 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: radium hot springs bc
Posts: 2,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gobirds38
I have never heard of using Dawn. This really works?
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Works for me. Cost you $0.99 (99 Cent Store) to try.
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2018 Ram 3500 6.4 Harvest Edition
2018 Cougar 27RESWE
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01-09-2020, 09:09 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,695
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I tried Dawn years ago on the Equalizer. It did not live up to my expectations. It does lube, for the moment. On the L brackets it was gone by the end of the first day travels - if it rained or even a light mist, there was nothing left on the L brackets. The grease stays. It does present some possible issues with getting dirty but before I install it in the receiver, or take it out of the receiver, I wipe it down and remove most of the grease so it doesn't really present a big issue vs the benefits of trying to lube w/Dawn all the time. That was my experience others have different ones I'm sure.
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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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01-09-2020, 09:27 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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I'm with Danny, the Dawn worked well as a short term lube.
WD40 or other spray lubes don't work well long term either, IMO.
If it's slippery, gooey, thick & messy, of whatever brand you choose, it'll probably work better than the soap or sprays long term, but have rags & gloves handy when near it.
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Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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01-09-2020, 09:29 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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I previously stated that I use the Reese lube on the Reese wd hitch. In my thinking, if the hitch ball galls up Reese is going to get a call.
I don't have a problem with getting the grease on me. A proper coating is just enough for a thin coating on the ball. I use a ball cover and coat the inside of that with a thin film as well. Makes getting the cover on and off easier and keeps it lubed.
I've driven in some very heavy rains for several hours and never had it wash off. To each their own and whatever works for you is great but personally I think investing more than 99 cents to lube the single point that pulls the trailer is not a waste of money.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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01-16-2020, 08:37 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NW Iowa
Posts: 127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough
I tried Dawn years ago on the Equalizer. It did not live up to my expectations. It does lube, for the moment. On the L brackets it was gone by the end of the first day travels - if it rained or even a light mist, there was nothing left on the L brackets. The grease stays. It does present some possible issues with getting dirty but before I install it in the receiver, or take it out of the receiver, I wipe it down and remove most of the grease so it doesn't really present a big issue vs the benefits of trying to lube w/Dawn all the time. That was my experience others have different ones I'm sure.
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They sell clip on plastic plates for the L brackets. I made a couple years ago. dont use lube there. Still get enough hold for sway too.
Use some poly grease from the local implement dealer... they can set you up with something that sticks
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01-16-2020, 01:04 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Wrightstown Pa.
Posts: 80
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Yep that good stuff
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01-16-2020, 01:17 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
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My first big trip to the maritimes we left a campground just outside of Fredricton NB and it sounded like two young lovers going to town on an old spring mattress, everybody stopped what they were doing and open mouth stares looking at us. I hit an Irving gas station, a really nice one by the way with a great restaurant, and bought an aerosol can of white lithium. I sprayed everything. It's still quiet. It was a bit messy at first, I have a large supply of nitrile gloves so I don't care. But it has stopped being messy.
I was watching a video on the pullrite superlite goose neck and they recommend the dry PTFE lube on the ball.
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Dan & Serena
2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
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01-16-2020, 06:34 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Hillsdale
Posts: 3
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I use Reese Towpower grease also, put hitch ball cover on ball when not in use. Also use the equalizer nylon sway bracket jacket on the L brackets, don't get all the squeaks and groans from the hitch anymore moving through the campgrounds.
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01-17-2020, 06:10 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Eastern U.P. of Michigan
Posts: 237
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I carry a small tube of Permatex white lithium grease. I don’t have any problems using it on my goose neck.
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A rainy day campin' is better than a sunny day workin'.
'14 Montana High Country 305RL - Reese Goose Box - Morryde HD shackles & wet bolts - JoyRider shocks - JT StrongArms - Torklift steps - Correct Track - Progressive EMS-HW50C - Clear Source water filter - On The Go water softener
'21 Ram 3500 w/6.7 Cummins - Sinister Diesel oil bypass
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01-19-2020, 03:00 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Gardner
Posts: 23
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It’s hard to believe that any kind of soap product has any lubrication qualities. Any type of high quality chassis grease is appropriate.
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01-20-2020, 09:14 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Midwest
Posts: 238
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I purchased a plastic disc from the dealer and then put the grease that came with the b&w hitch. I will see how long it lasts I only have pulled the RV 400 miles.
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2019 Cougar 361RLW
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