hitch grease

In 30 years i have never used grease on a hitch ball, not my travel trailers or not my work trailers. Nothing has ever worn worth a concern.

ken56 wrote:
White lithium grease. Anything that moves and rubs against each other needs some lube. The hitch ball needs it and the spring bar sockets need it. Oil will not lube like grease will.

I've used White Lithium for years. I clean it off and reapply about once a year.
It's messy, but it works.
I also use it at home on our Farm Bell.

Dave5143 wrote:
I found a tube of white lithium grease that I keep in my toolbox just for the hitch ball and a mini-grease gun with white lithium for the Blue Ox grease fittings.
The ball gets pretty dirty so I cut open a tennis ball and place it over the ball when I'm not hitched up so people don't get grease on their clothes if they brush against it.

Thats what I do

Tighten it til it strips and go 1/4 turn more.

falconbrother wrote:
I use moly grease. A little bit goes a long way.

Yeah. Just a little bit will permanently stain at least a dozen pair of pants.

I use moly grease. A little bit goes a long way.

Depends on shank diameter:

3/4" - 160 ft-lbs
1" - 250 ft-lbs
1&1/4" - 450 ft-lbs

wnjj wrote:
I’m curious how there could be enough friction to overcome a properly torqued ball shank nut. It seems to me that if grease is the only thing preventing the ball from loosening there’s a serious issue with that kind of design. I have no data, just my opinion.

What is the proper torque specification?

captnjack wrote:
I have never greased, oiled or waxed a hitch ball in 30 years of towing boats and trailers. I admit to not having towed extensively with the exception of one six week cross country trip with my hybrid.
I have never noticed a negative result.

Aye, Skipper, I'm from the same school.

If anything around here can wear from moving metal parts, it gets lubed. I have a whole arsenal of greases and different oils and such. Chain lube is a good lube for staying in place but doesn't offer much high shear lubricity. Synthetics in tubes is my go-to tool. Almagard 3751 has been recommended to me as one-grease-and-done product. It's lifetime on the surface seems to be very long. I'll be trying that out, the next time I buy tubes.

I have never greased, oiled or waxed a hitch ball in 30 years of towing boats and trailers. I admit to not having towed extensively with the exception of one six week cross country trip with my hybrid.
I have never noticed a negative result.