Trailer hitch cover

[Yellowjacket]

So, I learned it is a good idea to grease one's trailer hitch ball. It only took me two pairs of messed up jeans to see the downside of this, so I went to work. about 2 inches of 2 inch ABS, a 2 inch PVC pipe cap a 2 inch pancake magnet, a small screw and nut and a bit of glue and I made something that seems perfect. Photo attached. My first one got stolen, takes about $6 to make another one. I hope the person who took mine contracts a painful disease.

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by Yellowjacket

So, I learned it is a good idea to grease one's trailer hitch ball. It only took me two pairs of messed up jeans to see the downside of this, so I went to work. about 2 inches of 2 inch ABS, a 2 inch PVC pipe cap a 2 inch pancake magnet, a small screw and nut and a bit of glue and I made something that seems perfect. Photo attached. My first one got stolen, takes about $6 to make another one. I hope the person who took mine contracts a painful disease.

Walk through any farm and barn store lot and look at the hitches, none have grease. It’s not like they do a lot of turning. On long trips, the only lube I ever use is a square piece of waxed paper folded twice. I also remove the hitch when not in use for safety and security reasons. The shin I save may be my own.

[floyd]

Nice design...
but you can buy one like the picture below at Home Depot for about $2-$4...
No work and cheap enough that theft is less likely and less painful.

[k corbin]

just think of it....you made a "collectible" item.


Of course you can go on Ebay and get real collectable hitch ball cover made out of vinyl in the shape of fish, moose, deer, bears and I even saw on of President Obama on the web search. But I think I want a red colored vinyl one, that will be my car's clown nose

[Perryb67]

Why waste time, clothes, grease, and having to manage a cover.

The 2" Andersen Greaseless Hardball is only $12.99 and the 2 5/16" Hardball is $14.99. Both are guaranteed for life.

Install a Harball and you're done!

Enjoy,

Perry

[AC0GV]

[QUOTE=Perryb67;759846]

Why waste time, clothes, grease, and having to manage a cover.

Some of us prefer not to support Andersen, and when I opened the page, McAfee asked to close my browser to clear the cookies.

[Perryb67]

Originally Posted by AC0GV

Some of us prefer not to support Andersen, and when I opened the page, McAfee asked to close my browser to clear the cookies.

Andersen made a mistake. I've made mistakes. Everyone here has made mistakes. Some of us believe in the concept of "forgiveness."

I can "forgive."

Sounds like you have a computer problem too. Windows?

Enjoy your grease.

Perry

[bobblangley]

Nice design...
but you can buy one like the picture below at Home Depot for about $2-$4...
No work and cheap enough that theft is less likely and less painful.

I have one of those and find it to be somewhat of an annoyance as it is designed to fit tightly and is, therefore, quite hard to get on and off without spreading grease around.

I had one once on another trailer that was made of thicker rubber, fit loosely enough that it was easy to use but tightly enough that it stayed in place, and had a ring to hold it to the hitch when not in use. I can't seem to find another like it though.

So far as cookies on the Anderson site, if you click "X" at the top, right of the box asking you to accept cookies, you can access the site, presumably w/o cookies. BTW - if you check your computer, you will likely be completely amazed to discover how many cookies are already stored on it.

[AC0GV]

Enjoy your grease.

Perry[/QUOTE]
I do not use grease that was the point of the post.

[PCO6]

I play tennis so I have an almost endless supply of ball covers.

[Perryb67]

Originally Posted by AC0GV

I do not use grease that was the point of the post.

The readers here don't need to use grease or wax paper, that was the point of my post. I was approaching my response to you from your Andersen post in # 6. Grease/wax paper doesn't matter. If people want to have to grease or manage wax paper that's needless management. KISS!

Enjoy,

Perry

[Iowa Dave]

I use grease, I cover the ball with a ball cover. Once in a while I get grease on my hands, my knee or my pants. Life goes on.
People will steal anything. I had a sick raccoon in my yard one night. It was during Raccoon season. I shot him and put him on the shoulder of the highway. 45 minutes later he was gone. And that wasn’t even stealing. Got an old suitcase you don’t want? Put some skunk essense or a road kill skunk inside. close it up. Put it on the shoulder like it fell off a car carrier. Done. Life can be a dream Shaboom Shaboom.
Iowa Dave

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

The readers here don't need to use grease or wax paper, that was the point of my post. I was approaching my response to you from your Andersen post in # 6. Grease/wax paper doesn't matter. If people want to have to grease or manage wax paper that's needless management. KISS!

Enjoy,

Perry

The ball /hitch is a moving joint and probably would benefit with a little lubricant. A thin film of grease is all that's needed. How often or if you can get away without it depends on the distance tow.

[Glenn Baglo]

How long would it take to wear a 2" ball down to 1 7/8" ?

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by bobblangley

I had one once on another trailer that was made of thicker rubber, fit loosely enough that it was easy to use but tightly enough that it stayed in place, and had a ring to hold it to the hitch when not in use. I can't seem to find another like it though.

I found one like you describe at my local RV shop. It doesn’t have any manufacturer markings. Easy on and off, heavy rubber with tabs at the bottom to keep it on, about $7. No keeper ring, and I wouldn’t want that. It’s too big to be dangling around while you’re towing IMO.

I grease. Personal choice. Clearly the sky doesn’t fall if you don’t. I used tennis balls, but found they got grease on the outside no matter how carefully I handled them. Liked the bright neon green color, though!

[Perryb67]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

The ball /hitch is a moving joint and probably would benefit with a little lubricant. A thin film of grease is all that's needed. How often or if you can get away without it depends on the distance tow.

See post #5 in this thread. That's the reason I used and posted about the Andersen Greaseless Hardball.

Quite frankly though, spending years on a farm, and don't ever remembering seeing a commercial business grease, I didn't grease my balls. But did use the Hardball on my last few campers though.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Perryb67]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

How long would it take to wear a 2" ball down to 1 7/8" ?

A lifetime?

I'm guessing the trailer receiver/coupler would fail before the ball wore down to 1 7/8". I'm sure someone, somewhere can claim their coupler failed because they never greased their ball. I'm not holding my breath though.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Alben]

Graphite spray lubricant. Quickly dries. Doesn't mess up the hands or pants.

[johnlochbuie]

How do you get grease on two pair of jeans greasing a hitch ball only takes one finger to spread the grease on the ball

[SSBN]

[QUOTE=AC0GV;759848]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

Why waste time, clothes, grease, and having to manage a cover.

Some of us prefer not to support Andersen, and when I opened the page, McAfee asked to close my browser to clear the cookies.

I guess I’m out of touch. What did Andersen do/not do?