Greasing a Trailer Hitch Can Flip Right into a Messy Job if You are Not Cautious
To grease a trailer or to not grease a trailer hitch? That’s the query. Some RV homeowners think about it a necessary a part of routine trailer upkeep whereas others assume it’s too messy to trouble with. It could actually grow to be fairly a messy job when greasing your trailer’s ball hitch. Sufficient so that’s turns into a significant con and folks want to keep away from it regardless of the advantages.
Advantages od greasing your trailer hitch
Drivin’ & Vibin’ acknowledges the objections surrounding greasing a trailer hitch however assume the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. You’re more likely to agree the primary time you’re having fun with the peace and fairly of an idyllic campsite when a journey trailer with a screeching hitch pulls in subsequent to you.
Different benefits of an adequately greased hitch embrace defending it from corrosion If it’s chrome steel it could defend it from friction put on or galling. The causes, outcomes, and prevention of one of these “chilly welding” are finest defined by the RG Group.
Stopping corrosion and put on will give your hitch an extended helpful lifespan. Subsequently, a well-greased ball hitch received’t want changing as usually.
Most likely essentially the most noticeable challenge that arises from not greasing your ball hitch usually is the teeth-grating caterwauling that happens each time you flip a nook or hit your brakes. Chances are you’ll not discover it a lot from the inside of your tow car, however your totally aggravated campground neighbors actually will.
Causes to not grease a trailer hitch
Let’s face it—greasing a ball hitch is messy. That mess tends to get in every single place, particularly if children or pets are operating round. The slightest bump will lead to grease getting on garments or fur and inevitably into your camper.
In the event you get some grease in your garments or the within of your journey trailer, don’t strive wiping it off. Grease will unfold as you’re wiping. A small spot can rapidly unfold to the scale of a dinner plate in case you strive wiping it off. As an alternative, there are just a few totally different strategies you’ll be able to strive. One is finished by Silver Image. They advocate you not use cleaning soap and water whenever you get it in your pores and skin, however use vegetable oil or olive oil you might have round the home and a paper towel. Nonetheless, one of the simplest ways is to take preventative measures.
Overlaying your newly greased ball with a bucket or erecting a brief barricade will assist scale back the possibilities of a large number. When you grease your ball hitch, it’ll begin attracting mud, filth, and grit. This may be laborious on the receiver and is troublesome to take away with out totally cleansing your hitch and regreasing it, which is able to begin attracting filth and grit over again. Apart from the injury that grit is doing, it additionally appears to be like unpleasant. In the event you want the look of a shiny, clear hitch, you might need to skip greasing it.
Greasing a trailer hitch
So, you’ve determined to grease your trailer hitch. Now what? Step one is to examine your hitch for any indicators of injury. Dents, extreme scratches, and rust are all indicators that it may be time to set up a brand new hitch. In case your present hitch is in good condition, totally clear it. You need to take away all of the filth and outdated grease, so that you’re left with a easy, clear floor.
If there are minor rust spots, take away them with sandpaper and wipe away any of the sanding residues. Then liberally coat your complete ball with grease till all its surfaces are coated. Now it’s time to wash up. Fastidiously wipe your fingers and examine your clothes and sneakers earlier than getting into your camper. Repeat the method as soon as a month or so in case you go RVing usually, as soon as a season in any other case.
A dry graphite lube will defend the hitch similar to grease does, but it surely repels filth as a substitute of attracting it. It is available in two varieties, as a sprig or a dry powder. Solely use the spray in a well-ventilated space and defend in opposition to overspray. Powdered Tube-o-Lube is much less more likely to make a large number.
RELATED: All of the Fantastic Issues You Can Do With Your Trailer Hitch (Different Than Towing)
