our latest camping trip to PA

I can only imagine that a piece of metal got in there somehow. Anything else would have just been ground to dust and not affected the ball. Or the socket somehow developed a spur inside. I can't see how lack of lubrication was at fault. I rarely lubricate the ball. The creaks, groans and pops from the WD/sway mechanism is quite normal, especially around tight turns.

Atomic, you are correct.its 2 5/16 ball. Trying to do to many things this am. I am thinking something got in there. Can't post a pic as trailer is at storage facility and won't get by there till later today.

ZeeLet50 wrote:
Ball hitch was a 2 5/8 ball which is the correct size I towed with this six times this season already without a problem I will try to get a picture of the ball. it is physically marred. it did engage very easily and the catch slid over without a problem that is why I am so confused as to why there was all the wear.

2 5/16" ball?

Even running completely dry won't tear it up as bad as it sounds it was with just a few runs - depending on distance traveled of course. Something in the coupler is at fault.

Doug, this is a TT and yes we had electric but only 30amp and if you have electric heater on and AC, you will trip the box breaker! I do have a equalizer WD setup. Never had an issue with it till this last ride. Everything hooked up fine and easy. Ball was not dry but could of used more grease. Replacing ball is easy...if it damaged the trailer coupler cup,then it can get pricey as its welded on. I did hear allot of creaking on turns but that is standard fare for this type of WD. Plenty of hills and curvy roads on my trip home. Had it connected up correctly because if I did not,when raising to install sway bars,hitch would of popped off. Maybe some piece of metal got in there. I use magnetic mount locator balls to align. Thinking maybe a piece of magnet broke off and was sitting ontop of ball and I did not see. That is where I place it.

Is this a TT or a PU? Was there any sway/weight distribution gear? Did the campground have any utilities? Some State Parks in PA have electric on some sites.

Ball hitch was a 2 5/16 ball which is the correct size I towed with this six times this season already without a problem I will try to get a picture of the ball. it is physically marred. it did engage very easily and the catch slid over without a problem that is why I am so confused as to why there was all the wear.

Check with a light inside the "hitch ball cover area".

Specifically, check that your latch that locks the ball into your hitch is not bent or worn.

When hitching up, if the ball is on a bind, the latch/lock won't close easily if the latch is bound up. NEVER force it! Much easier to raise the tongue again and reconnect than damage the hitch/tongue.

My guess is you had it in a bind and instead of the latch sliding into the neck of the ball below the head, it was somehow jammed into the ball and every turn wore down the latch. I'd be very surprised if the ball itself is worn.

Without this latch/lock functioning properly, the trailer can come unhitched and disconnected from your hitch.

FYI. Many of these latches are adjustable via a nut, so it is possible it isn't engaging fully- the same as if you had the wrong ball size.

Speaking of which, what ball size did you have on your hitch? I switch my hitch regularly between different trailers and sizes of balls, heights, etc.

If you did use the wrong size or the latch was jammed or worn or mal-adjusted, it would cause what you describe pretty quickly and needs to be corrected before towing again.

Hope this helps!

Clean the flue spiders love the smell of propane and a web may be in it.

Glad you had a good trip! I would have the water heater checked , the ball I can not Imagine having to replace it... It could not have worn that much in such a short time. I would think a ball should last well past the life of the trailer.. If not forever. Maybe a piece of metal got in the hitch? The trailer part of the hitch would wear before the ball.

Good luck

Paul