Should You Grease Your Trailer Hitch Ball? Pros And Cons Explained

Have you ever had a tough time decoupling your trailer out of your hitch currently? Does it seem stuck on the hitch? That is likely to be an indication that the hitch ball must be greased.

There are multiple advantages that come from greasing a hitch ball, a few of which may fix some issues along with your tow hitch. One profit is that it makes hitching and unhitching a trailer much easier by providing lubrication to the ball. It might also reduce wear and tear on the hitch, helping it to last more, due to the thin layer of grease that sits between the ball and the socket reducing the abrasion that happens from metal rubbing against metal. As well as, the dearth of metal rubbing against metal has the additional advantage of a quieter towing experience. That layer of grease may help protect the ball against rust and corrosion.

Trailer hitch grease might be found on Amazon and box stores like Home Depot. Popular brands of trailer hitch grease include Reese Towpower, AGS Trailer & Hitch, and 3-In-One Trailer Hitch Gel Lube – but there are a number of things you need to know before you decide up a can. Listed here are among the pros and cons to consider before you apply grease your trailer hitch.

Paradoxically, while grease might help a hitch ball to last more, it might also do the alternative by causing wear and tear on the hitch ball. How so? Dirt and other particles can keep on with grease. If these particles are pushed on to the ball when hitched to your trailer, the rubbing could cause damage.

One other issue is over greasing a ball hitch. When an excessive amount of grease is applied to a ball, it should trap much more containments and will potentially cause the socket to maneuver greater than expected. This might be avoided by applying a skinny layer over the ball – simply enough to permit the socket to freely swing.

Finally, after all, there’s the mess. It is often a possibility of getting grease in your shirt or pants. It’s challenging to get grease stains out of garments, as anyone who has tried can attest to. Be sure that to be apply the grease with care, not using an excessive amount of directly.

In the event you’ve decided so as to add some lubrication to your trailer hitch, first apply a skinny layer of grease to the hitch ball while ensuring to get it into all the crevices. Chances are you’ll need to use a clean brush or rag for the appliance. It’s an excellent idea to guard your hands by wearing gloves, especially nitrite gloves, which work well for this purpose.

You’ll be able to keep your ball hitch from accumulating dirt and particles by cleansing the grease off when not in use. You may also take into consideration investing in a hitch cover to guard the hitch ball. Alternatively, just cut a hole right into a tennis ball and use it as a canopy. As an alternative of trailer hitch grease, some have really useful using products which might be more proof against dirt, like candle wax, bees wax, or multipurpose dry lock lube. You will certainly want to scrub the hitch thoroughly each time before greasing it — the last item you desire to do is to trap dirt and particles under the grease.

So, yes, it’s an excellent idea to grease your trailer hitch ball before use. Doing so might help it to last more and improve your towing experience. Just be certain to not over grease it and keep it clean of dirt and other particles.