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12-02-2012, 04:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Greaseless balls
Has anyone had any experience with these? I'm wondering if they are any good? Thanks
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12-02-2012, 04:50 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Trailer: U-Haul 1985
Posts: 3,438
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I don't have any grease on the ball for my trailer. I haven't had an issue, is it really needed?
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12-02-2012, 05:05 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Trailer: Trillium 2010
Posts: 5,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pam Garlow
I don't have any grease on the ball for my trailer. I haven't had an issue, is it really needed?
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I've gone greaseless, tefloned, and greased. I prefer to be a greaser. It lasts longer than Teflon and keeps the wear and the rust down. And my tennis ball protects the ball and me. Raz
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12-02-2012, 05:09 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: Jack
Trailer: '98 BURRO 17WB
Delaware
Posts: 2,548
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My granddad hooked his ancient stock trailer to a 49 Chevy DeLuxe with a rusty ball for about twenty yrs. Wear factor from abrasion has to depend on tongue weight and volume of use.
jack
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12-02-2012, 06:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: Outback (by Trillium) 2004
Posts: 1,589
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your title brought a naughty smirk to my face.....thank you---after the crazy day i had at work, with patients VERY much still reacting to that full moon the other night, reading this thread gave me some much needed comic relief.
...and i apologize for not appreciating the dire seriousness with which it was intended.
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12-02-2012, 06:48 PM
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#7
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Member
Name: Jen
Trailer: 2008 13ft Scamp 2nd owner
Wisconsin
Posts: 57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theresa p
your title brought a naughty smirk to my face.....
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 hehe!
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12-02-2012, 06:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,641
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I cover the ball with a baggie once I disconnect and leave the grease on then I clean both the Hitch and the Ball B 4 every trip and re-grease with Teflon grease.
I'm not worried about the Ball, it's the Hitch parts that I want to protect from wear.
Better safe than sorry.
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12-02-2012, 07:33 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Patti
Trailer: 1984 UHaul CT13
Colorado
Posts: 451
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I'm with you Pam, never heard of this before. Am I missing something I really should be doing that is critical to towing???
Patti
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12-02-2012, 07:38 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theresa p
your title brought a naughty smirk to my face.....thank you---after the crazy day i had at work, with patients VERY much still reacting to that full moon the other night, reading this thread gave me some much needed comic relief.
...and i apologize for not appreciating the dire seriousness with which it was intended. 
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No apologies, I sometimes like to use the "double entendre" approach. I mean, 2 posts down, someone uses a "cover"- all kinds of double meanings going on here, if you like!!!
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12-02-2012, 08:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Jack
Trailer: '98 BURRO 17WB
Delaware
Posts: 2,548
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C'mon, I didn't call it a sheath. Cover couldn't be more than a half entendre. I never worry about the ball either but it's easier to grease than the hood on the coupler. Which brings to mind the thought that wiping out the coupler every hundred years or so also gets rid of a good bit of crap in there. Nice dog eh?
jack
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12-02-2012, 08:13 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Our last outing @ Burnt Cabins cost me a pair of shorts due to being unprotected around the ball!!
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12-02-2012, 08:23 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Jack
Trailer: '98 BURRO 17WB
Delaware
Posts: 2,548
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Say, I remember that!
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12-02-2012, 08:32 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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That was a clean looking 20 year old model wasn't it? The trailer, that is. We had a good time with the Halloween decorations and no that is not me with orange skin.
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12-02-2012, 08:40 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Name: Jack
Trailer: '98 BURRO 17WB
Delaware
Posts: 2,548
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Now I'll never be able to hook up without laughing
jack
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12-02-2012, 09:28 PM
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#16
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Moderator
Trailer: U-Haul 1985
Posts: 3,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keekers
I'm with you Pam, never heard of this before. Am I missing something I really should be doing that is critical to towing???
Patti
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Patti, Its suppose to cut down on the wear and friction between the ball and reciever and keep things workig smoothly. But the rv forums are split on whether or not its really needed. Knowing that, I'm making the decision not to grease. I don't tow that much (6-8 times a season) and I take off my hitch reciever when not towing, so I don't have any problems with things binding or rusting up. I do keep my hitch lock oiled and working freely.
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12-02-2012, 11:07 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,670
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I understand my hitch/coupler to be a moving joint that excess friction will wear out prematurely, and as such I lubricate it like any other. Since it's more exposed than other joints and will pick up grime more readily, I also clean old grease off before applying new.
The grease on the ball also serves to grease the working parts of the coupler, so for that reason I probably wouldn't convert to a "greaseless" system.
Francesca
__________________
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12-02-2012, 11:27 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2009 Trillium 13 ft ('Homelet') / 2000 Subaru Outback
Posts: 2,222
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I Don't Use Grease Either
Here is a photo of my setup. Never needed grease:
(Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, nor the Michigan plates.)
__________________
A charter member of the Buffalo Plaid Brigade!
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.
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12-03-2012, 07:07 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Another reason for the greaseless ball is that while unhitched, at the campground, you are not subject to getting grease on your clothes as you are near the hitch removing items from your tow vehicle.
Any moving joint should have some lubricant to operate it smoothly, they have ball and 5th wheel lubricants available.
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12-03-2012, 07:45 AM
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#20
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Moderator
Trailer: 2009 19 ft Escape / 2009 Honda Pilot
Posts: 6,283
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I absolutely keep my hitch greased.
The reasons are many, but mostly for safety and longevity of the connection. Any moving metal to metal joint needs lubrication. I am pretty sure most people don't go with out the recommended grease in your wheel bearings.
The grease keeps the parts moving smoothing, keeping the connection quiet as well.
It is a very easy thing to do. I wipe all the ball and inside of the coupler ever couple times it is hooked up. I keep the lube handy to the hitch, and when greasing I just apply a thin layer to the ball only. When detached from the trailer, I just keep a cover made for it at the hitch too, and put it on right away.
Until I started to use an anti-rattle pin to connect my hitch, I used to pull the pin and leave the ball locked in the coupler. Keeps the greased ball protected, and is added security if you desire.
As you can tell, I am a firm believer of keeping the ball greased. I have never heard of a hitch or trailer manufacturer that did not recommend so as well.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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