Grease for hitch balls

[stuckmotor]

I've seldom used anything that had a hitch ball and when I did I didn't put grease on it. For a long time I didn't even know I was supposed to. What kind of grease should I use?

 

[ruffdog]

Most time it is a white grease because it is thicker. And it stains the legs/pants less.

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-58117-Hitch-Ball/dp/B0008F67JU/ref=asc_df_B0008F67JU/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312202698398&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14011811434804258568&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019012&hvtargid=aud-801738734305la-491054622366&psc=1

 

[nikerret]

I just use the same polyurea grease I have in the gun, for the tractor.

 

[Fallon]

Any grease is better than none. I use the nasty black molly stuff. Partially because it's the best for high pressure joints & partially because it's in my grease gun for all my tractor stuff.

I rarely unhitch the trailer from the beater F250. So nasty staining molly isnt that big of a deal. When I do I put a ball cover on and/or remove the ball mount. They are $5, or you can use an old tennis ball or something.

 

[stuckmotor]

Well, we have a variety of answers and Fallon has solved one of the mysteries of my life. The tennis balls are to keep the grease on the hitch ball and off people's pants. I though they were there to keep people's precious hitch balls from rusting.
Thank you gentlemen!
Stuck

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Now if you titled the thread "why do you cover your balls" you would get more responses.

 

[stuckmotor]

I thought about calling it something like that but fought off the temptation.

 

[Wagtail]

I was not aware that one should grease their ball(s). I will in the future, in the privacy of my carport.

I do employ a decorative ball cover (in the shape of a horse head :horse but that purpose was to minimise whacking my shin on the hitch.

 

[Monster5601]

I'm the odd guy out, I use Fluid Film on the ball as well as inside of the hitch. Works perfectly.

 

[fried1765]

I'm the odd guy out, I use Fluid Film on the ball as well as inside of the hitch. Works perfectly.

Fluid Film is likely better than nothing.
However, a much heavier grease is desirable.
If you could pump Fluid Film into your TLB zerk fittings, would you consider them adequately lubed?

 

[ovrszd]

I use a teflon spray. Works great. No mess.

 

[Fallon]

I use a teflon spray. Works great. No mess.

Mine are used & rusty enough either directly or from various rusty trailer tongues. So even if I were to use silicon or teflon spray I'm still getting black or red residue in my shin or what not. I just go with it & use the black molly grease.

 

[nikerret]

The only problem I have is I run a lot of gravel. The dust gets in the grease and acts like sandpaper.

 

[two_bit_score]

Using grease on your hitch ball seems like a city slicker thing to me.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Interesting. I've never put grease or anything on a hitch ball. Whatever it is for, I guess it hasn't been a probem for me.

 

[ovrszd]

Interesting. I've never put grease or anything on a hitch ball. Whatever it is for, I guess it hasn't been a probem for me.

My GN ball squeals loudly if not lubed with something.

 

[ArlyA]

I take our 2" hitch's in and out to many times a week. Having the balls covered with dirty grease seems more like a laundry soap commercial to me... New balls don't cost enough to warrant my dirty pants or hands..

 

[ovrszd]

I take our 2" hitch's in and out to many times a week. Having the balls covered with dirty grease seems more like a laundry soap commercial to me... New balls don't cost enough to warrant my dirty pants or hands..

I agree. If they squeal loudly try a graphite or silicone spray. No mess.

 

[CalG]

really

When is the last time YOU wore out a trailer ball or hitch?

Squeeks, and long duration ease of movement, I can see. but worry over "extreme pressure grease" is just weird.

I have needed to lube the locking device from time to time to keep it from jambing. Fluid film or any spray lube seems to work.

Don't put a dirty ball socket down over a dirty ball! Makes for gritty sounds that no one likes ;-)

 

[rankrank1]

Well I used to be one who never used grease on any of my trailer hitch balls, I would sometimes give em a squirt of oil, WD40, PB blaster, kroil or whatever I had handy, or run em dry if nothing was conveniently handy. Then one day I noticed my hitch ball was having the nut work loose when i pulled the trailer even though I had tightened it with a 3/4" drive large length breaker bar socket. Luckily the lockwasher had chinged the nut enough to keep it from totally having the nut fall off.

From that day on...I have greased the ball with grease and I have never had a hitch ball work loose again on me so I will continue the practice of using grease for this safety reason alone! I usually just use the cheapest $1 a tube stuff from Rural King that I use in my wore out antique farm equipment but any grease would be fine in my opinion. My trailers live outside so grease helps the trailer coupler from getting all rusty up inside as well.