When I picked up my trailer from the dealer after having some accessories installed, I complained of always getting grease on myself and clothes whenever I was hitching or unhitching. The head mechanic said he uses a teflon spray. He then suggested cleaning all the grease off the ball and the weight distribution bars and then just spraying the ball and bars with Slide Out Lubricant each time before hitching up. Has anyone tried this? I looked through the archive on this subject, but didn't see any mention of teflon spray. I did see a mention of some grease that simply washes out of clothing, but don't recall the name. Any ideas for staying cleaner?

Radar - when things start to stick, we use a teflon spray but off the top of my head, I can't remember the name of it. It works really well, don't have too much residue and we keep in the TT so it's always available. Can't help with the grease that washes out though.

I've hauled trailers for many years and never used anything to lubricate. Just how much movement do you think is going on back there? Not much and I never saw any wear on the ball or hitch. Just something to get on your clothes. Get a piece of wax paper to put over the ball when hooking up if it will make you feel better. JMO

powderman426 wrote:I've hauled trailers for many years and never used anything to lubricate. Just how much movement do you think is going on back there? Not much and I never saw any wear on the ball or hitch. Just something to get on your clothes. Get a piece of wax paper to put over the ball when hooking up if it will make you feel better. JMOI had mine dry for the first year but I did get wear, then I started using grease. KNowing me the grease gets all over the place but I started using a plastic hitch cover, its not 100% but 95%. I use gloves when handling the hitch.

I wipe the ball down everytime I unhitch and then tab some grease on when it's time to hitch up again.

cm11599ps wrote:I wipe the ball down everytime I unhitch and then tab some grease on when it's time to hitch up again.Seems like a waste to be wiping off perfectly good grease.I just cover the ball with one of those quart/gallon size Ziploc bags. You can zip it up enough to where it will stay on.Only time my hitch is in the receiver is when im towing. Otherwise I pull it out so no one will walk into it. And by no one, i mean me! :S

Grease that Ball | Good Sam Community

43 Replies

DarthMuffin
Explorer
May 09, 2013
Before I got my Anderson hitch (no lube needed) I used a beer/pop can cozy over the ball. Had one dedicated to the purpose (glow in the dark even, $1 on the clearance rack) that stayed in the trunk. If it's too big or loose, use two can cozies one inside the other.
akin2camp
Explorer
May 08, 2013
I just cut the top third of a plastic water bottle off and put it on the ball. There are always empty bottles around and when it get to dirty, just throw it away.
wrenchbender
Explorer
May 07, 2013
I wrap a plastic bag over a ball when its not in use.I have 3 sitting in the back of the PU now.
john_b1
Explorer
May 07, 2013
W.E.BGood wrote:
I have good luck with white lithium grease...if you get it on your clothes it will come out with Simple Green without staining it. I do not grease my Equalizer bars, only the hitch ball/socket and cover the ball with a flexible plastic/rubber cap when not in use.

I totally agree with this opinion JMHO jb
allen8106
Explorer
May 07, 2013
powderman426 wrote:
I've hauled trailers for many years and never used anything to lubricate. Just how much movement do you think is going on back there? Not much and I never saw any wear on the ball or hitch. Just something to get on your clothes. Get a piece of wax paper to put over the ball when hooking up if it will make you feel better. JMO

Agreed
facory
Explorer
May 07, 2013
Couple things: First, put a plastic cover over the ball to keep the grease off you clothes when you are in your site. Second, the greatest advantage to a greased ball is that it helps the hitch slide onto the ball when it is not lined up exactly. I don't think it really adds much while towing because the hitch/ball connection has some play int it anyway.
69_Avion
Explorer
May 07, 2013
RadarRv wrote:
Thanks to all that have posted. I have received some really great information over the years on this forum. The best advice was to buy a Prodigy Brake controller. What a great difference that made. That was my reason for asking about the teflon spray. It sounds like few people are using the teflon to just spray and go, which makes me wonder about its benefits. I have to believe if it was that easy, the folks on this forum would already be talking it up. Being a "greaser" for many trouble free towing miles, I guess I'll just have to stick to success and keep greasing, and work a little harder at staying clean. Thank you.

I think that you have a good game plan. I just push on one of those rubber ball covers and it keeps you from getting greasy if you happen to brush up against the ball. Before I started using those covers I used to get dirty on a regular basis.
RadarRv
Explorer
May 07, 2013
Thanks to all that have posted. I have received some really great information over the years on this forum. The best advice was to buy a Prodigy Brake controller. What a great difference that made. That was my reason for asking about the teflon spray. It sounds like few people are using the teflon to just spray and go, which makes me wonder about its benefits. I have to believe if it was that easy, the folks on this forum would already be talking it up. Being a "greaser" for many trouble free towing miles, I guess I'll just have to stick to success and keep greasing, and work a little harder at staying clean. Thank you.
69_Avion
Explorer
May 07, 2013
Heavy trailers will tear a ball and coupler apart without grease. I have built many heavy equipment trailers over the years and I went to pintle hitches over 35 years ago. They are nice because they are heavy and don't require grease. I have had 2-5/16" heavy duty ball hitches that galled both the ball and the coupler when they didn't have enough grease. With a light load, you will probably never have an issue. When you have extreme pressure, you will probably have problems without the grease.
thomasmnile
Explorer
May 07, 2013
Rescue16 wrote:
Okay so you sold me on Grease...Now which is the best type to use, Bearing grease, White lithium, Vaseline, something else????

What does your hitch manufacturer recommend? :h
I have a Reese StraitLine hitch. Reese recommend their Ball Grease, or as an alternative, petroleum jelly. I use the petroleum jelly because it wipes off easily and I could buy 2 jars of it for the price of one tube of the Reese product.