Greased balls

[whateg01]

This article just came up on my feed. Talks about greasing a hitch ball. I read through part of it chuckling. Then got to the post where the author says grease repels dirt and grime and actually lol'd.

Should You Grease A Trailer Ball? | Junkyard Mob

As a first-time trailer owner, there are a few things you should know before hooking a trailer for your truck, like why grease is good for a trailer ball?

www.junkyardmob.com

 

[txvwnut]

I spray mine with WD everytime I set the trailer on it. I manage a medium sized fleet that pulls a lot of trailers. I try to beat lubricating the ball to every operator. They finally get it when they have a de-couple due to a worn ball or coupler. Lubrication won't totally negate the wear but it will help prolong the life of the coupler and the ball.

 

[budget76]

i'll never do it, for the dirt factor. but i'll also never wear out a ball with my uses

what i might do next time I'm outside is take the junk candle I leave on the bench and just rub the ball so it slows the rust that started. or butchers wax

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I got your greased balls right here!

I grease the lock mechiwith marine grease on my trailers a couple times a year.

More of an ease of use type thing rather than a wear preventative measure.

 

[mike93lx]

It repels dirt by rubbing it all off on my pants leg.

I go at it dry. Seems to work well enough and less cleanup mess

 

[Zeus36]

Dry Graphite Film Spray.

 

[zkdiesel]

Gooseneck/ kingpin require it far far more then a bumper pull setup due to weight on the ball/pin

 

[softailgarage]

The author contradicts himself, first he says grease attracts dirt, then he says grease repels dirt. He also states using a lithium grease like WD-40 which is neither lithium or grease.

 

[mike93lx]

The author contradicts himself, first he says grease attracts dirt, then he says grease repels dirt. He also states using a lithium grease like WD-40 which is neither lithium or grease.

You can definitely get lithium branded as wd40

 

[whitesco]

I grease mine, it just seems like it should be greased to me. Otherwise, knowing that it's not greased make my teeth itch every time I turn or something. Make a difference? Probably not, especially as little as I tow anything.

The hitch tightener doodad did make a big difference though in rattles and other noise though, the tow bar never fit very tight in the receiver of the Jeep GC. Haven't towed anything with the new land yacht yet.

 

[RivennHewn]

I just spit on it

 

[Garcky]

If you're gonna grease your balls, you need to use a condom to keep your balls from getting dirty. Like this:

Google Search

 

[whitesco]

If you're gonna grease your balls, you need to use a condom to keep your balls from getting dirty. Like this:

And if you don't think you need one, let your wife get some grease on her jeans walking by it and you will change your mind in short order.

 

[MR2FC]

If you're gonna grease your balls, you need to use a condom to keep your balls from getting dirty. Like this:

 

[bwringer]

This article just came up on my feed. Talks about greasing a hitch ball. I read through part of it chuckling. Then got to the post where the author says grease repels dirt and grime and actually lol'd.

Should You Grease A Trailer Ball? | Junkyard Mob

As a first-time trailer owner, there are a few things you should know before hooking a trailer for your truck, like why grease is good for a trailer ball?

www.junkyardmob.com

Well, the grease "repels" dirt and grime from the metal by keeping it trapped in the layer of grease. That way, the dirt and grime has the best chance of "repelling" itself entirely by hitching a ride on passing pant legs.

It's sheer genius.

 

[Black300zx]

I'll take "Threads I won't open at work" for 500, Alex

 

[T VETTE]

I grease mine to to keep the creaking sound away when parking in tight spots.

 

[nh_yota]

Considering it's rare for me to tow one of my trailers more than a few miles a few times a year I don't bother greasing the tow balls. The mess would far outweigh the benefit for me.

Now if I was towing a trailer for hundreds of miles on a regular basis I might consider it.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I’ve always greased them, then wipe off with rag after use. I did switch to the teflon disc for the 5th wheel, much cleaner.

 

[CraigStu]

I use my 4x4 utility trailer maybe every 2 weeks and my 5.5x10 maybe every 4 weeks. I was getting tired of having to bang on that lever to get it to lock on and I was getting tired of lifting that lever but the trailer would not release from the ball. I greased the ball and also soaked down the latch mechanism w/ spray white grease, especially all the hidden parts. Now they work like they should and no more cussing trying to get it to release. I also found that having everything lubed I could get 1/4 to 1/2 turn on the adjuster nut underneath. Being properly lubed it doesn't need extra slop to be able to work it. So now I get a little less of the typical trailer hitch rattle over every little bump.

 

[PCustoms]

I don't know about greasing the ball, but after getting the drop hitch stuck in a receiver it might be worth greasing the hole

 

[alfadan]

I just spit on it

Not too much spit, though..

 

[hans109h]

Timely post...I noticed some rust on my ball today and thought I should probably do something about that before boat towing season.

Hans

 

[wssix99]

I definitely grease my balls. Any time metal rubs on metal, grease is needed.

Do people rub their balls to keep them shiny, or is it just me?

 

[DAustin]

Timely post...I noticed some rust on my ball today and thought I should probably do something about that before boat towing season.

Hans

You'll see more and more of that as you get older.

 

[landrover bodger]

i always keep mine well greased when not in use cover with a tennis ball with a slit cut in it.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I grease my balls and when not in use I use a condom similar to @Garcky ’s for dust/dirt control.
Dusty greasy balls provide to much friction for the receiver.

 

[APEowner]

I keep the latch mechanism lubed on the trailer but I don't grease the ball. I suspect it's a good idea, it is metal on metal after all but, my last trailer has a little over 200k miles on it and the coupler is still fine.

 

[ATC]

I definitely grease my balls. Any time metal rubs on metal, grease is needed.

Same. I grease mine before every tow, and wipe if off when I'm done...eventually. Sometimes I forget.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I just spit on it

Wrong balls sir.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I give the latch on the trailer hitch a squirt of oil now n then. I'll give the hitch ball and inside the coupler a quick wipe with the rag I clean the excess oil off the hitch with. And make sure both are dry n clean afterwards.

The two biggest noise preventers on my hitch rig are the receiver clamp and the trailer tilt clamp. Then all I hear is the tailgate, or the **** I'm hauling.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

You'll see more and more of that as you get older.

Especially when they hang out of the leg of your shorts.

 

[mike93lx]

I give the latch on the trailer hitch a squirt of oil now n then. I'll give the hitch ball and inside the coupler a quick wipe with the rag I clean the excess oil off the hitch with. And make sure both are dry n clean afterwards.

The two biggest noise preventers on my hitch rig are the receiver clamp and the trailer tilt clamp. Then all I hear is the tailgate, or the **** I'm hauling.

Receiver clamps are amazing. I've been using one for years and always have it on. Makes a huge difference

 

[DAustin]

Especially when they hang out of the leg of your shorts.

I just tuck mine in my socks.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I just tuck mine in my socks.

Both in the same sock or one in each?

 

[XJSuperman]

If you're the dipshit at my place of work, you just paint the whole hitch black, ball included (while its still mounted in the truck). Then the rust is magically gone and you don't get grease on your leg.

 

[larry_g]

Another point of view; my brother who lives and farms in the high desert of Oregon is against grease on the tow ball..His reasoning is that on the farm roads and back roads the grease will attract a lot of sand and grit turning the whole mess into grinding paste. So environment plays a bit into this decision of where to apply lube to things that are subject to abrasive conditions.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[oldmachinenut]

If you're gonna grease your balls, you need to use a condom to keep your balls from getting dirty. Like this:

Google Search

Do they come in different sizes or are they one size fits all? They would be helpful, that black-moly grease really stains your shorts.

 

[bbbarracuda]

Imagine my disappointment when I opened this thread and it’s about trailers.

 

[Garcky]

Do they come in different sizes or are they one size fits all?

I haven't researched that thoroughly.