To grease the ball or not?

BarneyS wrote:
...except the shank will hang downward.

Yeah, I guess "slamming" is a bit dramatic, but that's the part I was talking about. Maybe more of a "thunk." Or I can leave the spring bars in as well and pretend I have a Hensley when I'm hitching up...;)

All you do is jack up the tongue until the shank is just starting to rise in the receiver. You can see this by watching the small space between the shank and the receiver opening. Whin the shank just starts to rise up from the coupler pulling on it stop jacking and pull the pin on the shank and drive out. There will be no movement of the head or coupler at all except the shank will hang downward. You can then level the trailer front to back as normal.
Barney

BarneyS wrote:
If you are going to do that then why not just pull the pin out of the receiver and drive out leaving the hitch attached to the coupler? Seems to me that would be a whole lot easier than putting the hitch back into the coupler after pulling out.
Barney

Dunno, that's just the way I watched my Dad do it while I was growing up. Your way makes sense though. Although I wouldn't be a fan of the hitch head slamming nose down when it pulls clear of the receiver, I don't suppose it would damage anything.

CEddy wrote:
Snip...

One thing I do at the campground is take the hitch head out of the truck and hang it from the trailer coupler, so there's no greasy ball waiting for my shin while I unpack the back of the truck!

If you are going to do that then why not just pull the pin out of the receiver and drive out leaving the hitch attached to the coupler? Seems to me that would be a whole lot easier than putting the hitch back into the coupler after pulling out.
Barney

Previous owner of my trailer didn't use grease, and there's a bit of galling apparent on the top forward portion of the ball. I always keep my balls greased- figure it's a good use for old wheel bearing grease I have laying around. I also periodically wipe the ball and coupler with a paper towel to make sure I'm not collecting dirt and grime.

One thing I do at the campground is take the hitch head out of the truck and hang it from the trailer coupler, so there's no greasy ball waiting for my shin while I unpack the back of the truck!

After reading all of the post for those that lube and those that don't lube I decided it was time to go out in the shop and find what I have been using. I use Wagner Lockheed White brake lubricant grease FC39198.

I grease mine less wear and less noise. Just don't wear a good shirt when removing hitch from truck leaves a nice round circle on the belly and wife couldn't get it out but hasn't forgot to remind me everytime I get near the hitch.

GeoBoy wrote:

mrnoyb wrote:
You don't lubricate the friction bars on a WDH. Why would you lubricate a hitch ball? If it were necessary to grease the ball, wouldn't the manufacturers say so?

Equalizer says to lube the hitch ball, and sells the lube for it.

Reese does the same thing. But whatever works for some.

mrnoyb wrote:
You don't lubricate the friction bars on a WDH. Why would you lubricate a hitch ball? If it were necessary to grease the ball, wouldn't the manufacturers say so?

Equalizer says to lube the hitch ball, and sells the lube for it.

I am in the powderman's club.

I see no reaon and am still using the first 2" ball that i purchased so many decades ago I can't remember. :h