How tight should this be?

[Kevin K]

How tight should the safety trailer latch bolt be? (See yellow arrow in photo)



I use a lock through the latch when driving to prevent the latch from coming loose.



Right now ,I have it set so I can just bring the trailer latch down and put the lock through the hole. With no forward or backward or side to side play on the trailer hitch ball.

[Dan Meyer]

Hi Kevin

You've got it about right. There is sometimes a spring between the nut and moveable jaw. If the nut is too tight the coupler will be hard to latch. Too loose, and you will have slop between the hitch and the ball.

-- Dan Meyer

[Darwin Maring]

As Dan said, it looks like you have it right. Lowe's sells a white teflon based greese for the ball/hitch.
I always use the greese on our hitch.

[nick c]

I'm new to towing, 1 yr. Why the grease? how does this help? glad to see this link, my trillium 4500 is loose by this description, i'll look at it tomorrow and figure out how to snug it up...thanks

[kevin61]

Less friction with the grease. Therefore less wear on the ball. Your trailer can easily jump off of a worn ball.

[jim munson]

Less friction with the grease. Therefore less wear on the ball. Your trailer can easily jump off of a worn ball.

Experts say that would take 375,000 years. But the black grease stain on your pant leg only 85 years. So wear shorts because skin is washable.

[Darwin Maring]

I don't think you would wear out a ball however the parts of the hitch may be a different story.

I Completely clean the inside of the hitch and the ball then use the white grease. Not as messy as regular grease but still messy. I use a ball cover so I do not rub up against the messy ball.

I recalucated and think Jim was off a little, my calculations say it will take 375,995.0001 years.