How much squeaking is too much squeaking?

[NedMac]

My husband and I enjoyed our first outing of the year in our 1992 Scamp. We noticed when we were slowly driving around the campground, there was a lot of squeaking and creaking going on. As far as we are aware, the axle is as old as the camper. I know we are coming to the end of its life in our near future, but it seems ok in terms of the common "eyeballing" measures. Could we just need to lube the ball on the hitch? Is some creaking normal? We couldn't exactly pinpoint where the sound was coming from, but it was loud & noticeable.

[David B.]

Dawn, our Scamp squeaked like you have described, and lubing the ball and locking assembly, and adding a "Hitch Vice" to the drawbar eliminated most of the noise.
Dave & Paula

[Raz]

As well as the hitch, brakes make noise even when not engaged. Also I found the trailer noises more noticeable when I towed with my Subaru than with my truck.

[NedMac]

Thanks guys! Do you use a high pressure lube specifically made for that, or can you get away with anything, like bearing grease

[Raz]

When unhitched I have a tennis ball on the tow ball to separate me from the grease. First of the season I put a glob of bearing grease in the tennis ball.

[Franswa]

when I got my trailer unsettling noises were coming from back there....smearing grease on the bars (the part of them that slide into the hitch body) cured the problem immediately.....

metal on metal....binbing....and these bars have to move sideways with every slightest turn.....

any grease would do....even bacon I bet....

[Donna D.]

The squeaks may not even be coming from the trailer or the hitch. The noise may be coming from the springs/shackles, etc. (depends on setup) on the tow vehicle because you've got more weight on the back end than it's used to. My suggestion is to tow to a LARGE empty parking lot. Drive slow, slow... while someone is walking along side (outside) and listen for where the noise is coming from. Be CAREFUL and be SAFE.

[Casita Greg]

I don't know if you use one, but anti-sway bars will also make a lot of noise from the friction slide when you are driving around slow enough to hear it. Normally at highway speeds, it isn't a discernible noise, but they creak and grind a lot driving through camp grounds or parking lots, especially when turning.

[Wayne Collins]

Originally Posted by NedMac

Thanks guys! Do you use a high pressure lube specifically made for that, or can you get away with anything, like bearing grease

Any trailer hitch store - even Walmart sells a hitch ball lube in a small jar.
It is white -ish probably a lithium grease. But any heavy grease will work.
They also sell a ball cover.

[NedMac]

Thanks everyone! Glad to know it most likely isn't anything serious. We will lube it up & likely try the parking lot method!

[TechiePhil]

If you have the Fastway hitch with the anti-sway bars, the instructions say you should NOT lube the flat part of the bars that slide under the bracket with the cotter pin. That is the metal-to-metal friction that resists swaying. It also makes the most noise. Yeah, I greased it, then had to clean off the grease. But greasing the other ends near the ball and the ball itself does help with the creaking sounds.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by TechiePhil

If you have the Fastway hitch with the anti-sway bars, the instructions say you should NOT lube the flat part of the bars that slide under the bracket with the cotter pin.

You make a good point - some of the newer none traditional WDH designs such as as yours, do not require grease at the bar attachment points as most traditional WDH do.

[cmartin748]

I spray some WD40 on the ball and hitch and it stops the squeaking and is not so messy

[Raz]

Originally Posted by cmartin748

I spray some WD40 on the ball and hitch and it stops the squeaking and is not so messy

I tried some of the Teflon lubrication products to avoid the mess but they didn't last very long before I had to reapply and I didn't want to carry the stuff with me. Your right though, grease is messy.

[stevebaz]

I would not write this issue off without checking the trailer frame from the A part of the frame all the way back under the body to where it is welded to other framing members.

It is not uncommon to have frames crack where the body meets the frame and the frame tube is bent. If the frame cracks and starts creaking you are getting close to total failure. 10 minutes under the trailer looking for cracks or unusual narrow rust streaks is a worthwhile endeavor. Search this site for Norms frame failure will give you an idea of what to look for. I would also check the frame structure around the main door opening as the drop down box area has past history of weld breakage.

Could be nothing more than a little grease but you don't want to find out out on the highway.

[NedMac]

Certainly what I did not want to hear, but you make great points Steve. I will absolutely do a thorough inspection of the frame. Thank you!

And in response to other posts, we do not have a WDH