Do you grease your balls?

[cooperider]

Your TRAILER balls. Truckers grease their fifth wheels, do any of you grease your trailer balls?

[xsive]

No, not that it is a bad idea, I just don't want the grease all over my pants which is where it would end up.

[BoatsR4Me]

chromium, coop. chrome and clean. (don't forget the ground strip)

[Costa]

Ditto the grease on the pants. My 3yr old daughter never touches the trailer ball now but If I did put grease on it she would not only find it but then she would smear it all over the house and the inside off the truck AAGGGGHHH

[merc245]

I have to agree, It sounds messy and the mess would find its self on me and I'll take take that mess into the house and deposit it on the furniture or in her closet or something like that. And little miss "CSI" would take within "48 HOURS" to work the that crime back to its pepetrator. ME and my only defense would be 'I don't know ANYTHING about ANYTHING.'

[cooperider]

I actually use a Teflon spray, it works great and will not rub off on your clothing. Plus your trailer ball and tounge last much longer.:thumb:

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Geez..that's a personal question!! LOL!!!

[smsmith36]

I have stainless balls.

[slpcamaross97]

I use grease and the only kid running around know so stay away and not to touch the cars or boat. But it dosent hurt i usually tow long distance.

[TRsCheckmate]

Always have, always will. A little grease is always easier on the ball and the tounge. Less friction, less wear. That and it always goes in smoother:D .

[JW]

Don't grease my balls, but I do wax my tubes!

[Chris E]

never have, doubt i ever will.

[firecatgreen]

No grease sometimes a little tri-flo

[claupie]

my nik-name is ''hitch'' only have one...

[77trimate4]

I grease the fifth wheel plate on my semi approx. every 1000 miles, never have greased a ball though

[Eric82]

No, not that it is a bad idea, I just don't want the grease all over my pants which is where it would end up.

I would end up with grease all over everything, I've never seen alot of wear on a ball or coupling, but it seems like it wouldn't hurt....:banana:

[INXS]

I think I need to. Took the boat out the other day, first time this year, and I heard "Squaeking" sounds from the trailer when I made turns and the ball looked a little scuffed up when I loaded it up. If it's not the ball then it must be the bareings.

[Reed]

I use lithium grease once or twice a year

[gchildre]

I grease the ball lightly and bought a $3 black rubber cup cover at the auto parts store that fits right over the greasy ball. My cover even stays on through the car wash, I figure the grease reduces the wear on the ball and tongue and also reduces the inevitable rust where the ball wears. You have to "burp" the cup a little when putting it on. I guess this is towing with protection.

Geez this is sounding too racy for a family web site! Whoever started this thread just wanted to chuckle like Beavis and Butthead seeing us all type the words grease and balls, I have to admit I couldn't help responding.

[justincase]

Ok folks, do you grease your truck? and put oil in it? its metal to metal which means wear and tare, ive always greased it.....Justin

[CHECK16]

I agree metal to metal with no lube at all is never good.

[Chris E]

i like this thread, lots of different thoughts all that make good sense. Let me throw this out:

in the 15+ years that i was in the boat business, i never replaced a ball because it broke or wore out. beleive me if there was any way to overload, underload, tongue heavy, tongue light, incorrect way of hauling a trailer - i've done it and never had a trailer failure, ball failure, or truck failure for that matter - maybe i was lucky i don't know.

my biggest trailer nightmare is wiring - but we won't go there!

[merc245]

I trailerd my starflite 10's of thousands of miles. And not 1 failure do to lack of BALL strength.As for wiring, Do you pull out or are you one of those guys who leave it in while getting it wet.

[Chris E]

I trailerd my starflite 10's of thousands of miles. And not 1 failure do to lack of BALL strength.As for wiring, Do you pull out or are you one of those guys who leave it in while getting it wet.

always disconnect - you're already back there taking the straps off anyway

[orangecrush]

i did but kept getting grease on myself when opening the back doors on my suburban. always remembered when it was to late.

[justincase]

I dont mind trailer wiring matter of fact i kinda enjoy wiring stuff but i do unplug it except for the brakes...to many blown bulbs in the past....

[alwaysredee]

I personally DO grease the hitch ball, simply because I prefer smoother operation when tilting at the ramp and cornering. Although, I never had any real issues when I did not. I also don't normally unplug either. The whole issue (including blown bulbs) Is essentially having a solid, sealed ground system. Many of the new trailer light systems (most are now LED'S) are sealed so well the are pretty much totally waterproof if the wiring is right. By the way, sorry I haven't been around lately fellas.

[harleyherb]

If you don't have a ground wire on your trailer wiring, you don't need to greese the hitch ball. I tried that once and couldn't get the trailer lights to work after that.

[Big Red]

I grease my trailer ball and my light bulb sockets and plug. I always unplug the lights when backing in. I do not ever have a light problem only if I snag the wires on a auto trans some clown threw in at the boat ramp.

P.S. Thanks Clown :shakehead:

Big Red N.C.

76 Jetmate
96 convincor

[83PREDICTOR]

Dose anyone use the stainless steel balls?
If so, do they hold up better/longer?

[Enticer1]

Never have greased the ball, do unplug if I remember:cheers

[sawcat]

Never have, but the teflon sounds like a good idea. I do try to remember to unplug the lights. The title of this thread made it a must read.I got a good chuckle from it.Thanks for the thread cooperider.:lol:

[83PREDICTOR]

I dont grease my ball but I WD-40 the tongue of the trailer to keep the spring in the locking system loose.

[Bob Dobbs]

I never had a boat, but pulled a landscape trailer for many years. Never greased the ball, but thought about whether I should or not. The ball does get wear and tear over time. I did oil it one time and then forgot and that oil was all over my hands, arm, clothes, and what a mess!:brickwall: I will never do that again.

[OTonyOh]

Oil? Grease? Does it really matter? :cheers Whats gonna happen?

[Eluder]

My BALL rotates 360- it's the type that you can change Ball size and has Ball Bearings inside and i grease it. I would not use anything else since i also pull a 4500 lbs camping trailer...

[Eaglenva]

who could resist this tread... lol

ok, stainless ball (less rust issue)
unplug the wiring (seldom forget - except to replug afterwards and have to pull over)
no grease, - thinking may butter flavored pam spray. no, really i like the teflon idea - have never had a problem w/o though.

[smsmith36]

Dose anyone use the stainless steel balls?
If so, do they hold up better/longer?


I have a stainless ball on now but havn't had it long enough to tell if it's any better or not. It is staying better looking and isn't all rusty.

[cmpulse170]

Can't say that I've ever greased my ball, actually never thought about it. But I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night....:D

[smit401]

What a mess (greasy balls). I use a silicone spray on the coupler and locking mechanism.
Never heard of a ball or coupling wearing out.!!

[powerstroker]

I grease my ball in the truck bed for my gooseneck but i dont grease the bumper ball because i always hit my shin on it when i walk behind my pickup and i no i would get that crap all over the place!

[wizard8575]

grrrrrrr I hate that I always keep my hitch under the back seat stays clean and I dont bust my legs on it all the time.
I grease my ball in the truck bed for my gooseneck but i dont grease the bumper ball because i always hit my shin on it when i walk behind my pickup and i no i would get that crap all over the place!

[PapaMaC]

I don't see the point. Invest in a stainless tongue and ball if rust bothers you, you will never wear out a hitch ball.

[Big Red]

Some people have the tongue made into their trailer like me so you can not change it with a S.S. one. Also stainless may not rust but it will also ware its metal.

[wizard8575]

I think he meant to say stainless receiver and ball but I am sure most of those are just plated stainless and will eventually rust and look crappy.
Some people have the tongue made into their trailer like me so you can not change it with a S.S. one. Also stainless may not rust but it will also ware its metal.

[PapaMaC]

I think he meant to say stainless receiver and ball but I am sure most of those are just plated stainless and will eventually rust and look crappy.

I have a steel (not ss) ball that I acid-wash and re-paint on a semi-regular basis to keep it matching the chrome accents on my suv. My receiver is galvanized but kind of f***ed up from previous owner bending it somehow. My receiver is welded to the trailer, I have an acetylene/oxygen torch to cut it with and a good arc-welder to slap a good one back on; I'd rather just get a better trailer and use this one for scrap.

[Big Red]

http://forums.boatfreaks.org/images/smilies/roflrofl.gif

[PapaMaC]

http://forums.boatfreaks.org/images/smilies/roflrofl.gif
?

[PA-21 Skater]

I'm 10 miles from the water, don't think it would matter.