hitch ball lube

Agreed. This is what my hitch manufacturer says about lubrication:

"The friction surfaces of the head and sockets should be kept clean and well lubricated with a good quality lubricant. They should be lubricated before each trip."

Same philosophy applies to the ball.

What type of hitch do you have? Round bar or Trunnion style? If round bar, you should grease the bars where they insert into the hitch head. If trunnion, you should apply some grease or oil on the trunnion ends both top and bottom.

Those points, along with the ball/coupler interface, generate a terrific amount of steel on steel pressure and require grease to keep them from galling, making a lot of noise, and wearing out prematurely. Waxed paper cannot stand up to the pressure and wear generated by those areas.
Barney

Light film of grease on the ball, light film on the pivots of the weight distribution bars, and a tiny blob in the saddle of the over-center hooks where the weight distribution chain link connects. Quiet.

2Macs wrote:
I use a small amount of lithium white grease at the beginning of the season only.

X2 for Lithium White Grease

But I clean mine between trips and reapply.

BarneyS wrote:
Good old wheel bearing grease works just as well. One can will last for years! :)
Barney

X2!

No need for a special lube which most likely is more expensive.

A light film of wheel bearing grease works great and a plain old blue shop towel to remove the grease after use works wonders for cleaning off the ball and the shop towel can be tossed out.

Although I tend to store my hitch with the grease on the ball and wrap the ball in a plastic shopping bag. This keeps the ball from gaining any surface rust while not in use.

Pull it out of the bag, wipe off old grease and freshen up with a light layer of new grease. Put shop towel in the greasy bag and discard.

Been doing that for 25+ years.

I use a small amount of lithium white grease at the beginning of the season only.

I'd be interested to hear if lubing the hitch ball solved the creaking. Most likely the hitch is causing the noise although the ball does need lubing as part of normal maintenance.

I have heard you can use wax paper between the ball and coupler but i hav never tried it. Seems it would be cleaner.

I splurged... Reese Teflon Lube. Had same jar for years.