Do I or do I not grease my tow ball? I am finding some reluctance for the caravan coupling to let go of the tow ball when unhitching.
woolman said
10:38 AM Mar 1, 2020
Hayman reece have a lubricant to use on ball, and hitch. Not dirty and does not attract dust andworks well.
Neil
rgren2 said
11:19 AM Mar 1, 2020
Dry lube works well, can use candle wax or bees wax. None of these will attract dust, bees wax may attract bees though.
iana said
11:29 AM Mar 1, 2020
I just use ordinary grease, I put a tennis ball with a hole cut in it over the ball when not towing to stop dust etc. The van hitch has a lock on it which also prevents dust. Every so oftan, I clean off the grease and apply new.
Bagmaker said
12:00 PM Mar 1, 2020
I use a plastic bag, like the ones that used to be free. Put it over the ball, attach the hitch and trim off the excess.
Radar said
03:38 PM Mar 1, 2020
Yep, same as Bagmaker. Using up old plastic bags, they are made out of petroleum side product.
If still catches when you are uncuppling, pull caravan hand brake on, choke caravan wheels, release car hand brake, cars handbrake on again, try to release tow ball.
Hetho said
08:44 PM Mar 1, 2020
IMO, No grease. Grease captures grit and acts as a lapping/grinding compound/paste.
If you ball/hitch won't let go you possibly have loading on the ball from reversing in a curve, van/tug sloping up/down hill etc.
I always try to end up straight, apply handbrake on van and chock wheels; then wind down jocky wheel; and if not unhitching apply a bit of forward reverse with the tug to feel it "Let Go".
I hope I`m not off topic with you post, and hopefully it is of assistance.
Regards.
Hetho.
blaze said
09:05 PM Mar 1, 2020
Hetho wrote:
IMO, No grease. Grease captures grit and acts as a lapping/grinding compound/paste.
If you ball/hitch won't let go you possibly have loading on the ball from reversing in a curve, van/tug sloping up/down hill etc.
I always try to end up straight, apply handbrake on van and chock wheels; then wind down jocky wheel; and if not unhitching apply a bit of forward reverse with the tug to feel it "Let Go".
I hope I`m not off topic with you post, and hopefully it is of assistance.
Regards.
Hetho.
x 2
Cupie said
10:43 AM Mar 2, 2020
I am a grease user but regularly wipe it clean & re apply new grease. I should use dry lube or graphite powder I suppose.
I have tried the plastic bag but found that they don't stay in place or wear through in the course of a day.
I always cover the hitch with a plastic bag when not in use to keep the dust away.
If the ball won't come free when unhitching, I just stand on the Patrol's back step and if necessary jump up & down once or twice. This works every time.
Pariss said
02:21 PM Mar 2, 2020
At the start of every big trip, I always grab a rag doused in Kero or petrol, and clean out the old grease inside the ball coupling & tow ball. Apply a small amount of new grease to both. I can't understand the reasoning for NOT using grease on an articulated 'metal on metal' constantly moving joint. Every moving joint on every vehicle has grease within or on, to stop wear on two metal surfaces. Anyway, I've been using grease for 48 years and never seen any wear at all on ball or couplings. Have fun.
ConsumerMan said
04:53 PM Mar 2, 2020
Thanks. Good advice from everybody. My travelling caravaner friend applied WD40 and all that has done is collect dust and grit. Will clean up when I get home later this week and think I will try a small amount of grease and then use a ball cap when not in use. Thanks again for your support .
oldbloke said
08:43 PM Mar 2, 2020
Always use grease. Clean ball and coupling ocassionally. When not in use put a plastic bag over the ball held in place with rubber band or string.
Not sure what the big deal with a bit of gritt is. Yeah, ball is nicely machined but cup is usually just cast. Bit of grinding might be a good thing. Improve the fit. Lol
I grease the WD bars too
Hawk7 said
08:48 PM Mar 2, 2020
Hetho x3
Landfall said
06:41 AM Mar 3, 2020
If you own a European van with the stabiliser built into the hitch DO NOT use grease or lubricant of any type.
Grease/oil/lubricant, including dry lube will stop the hitch anti sway braking pads working efficiently.
Also note that these hitches require a special tow ball with locking plate.
Cupie said
10:15 AM Mar 3, 2020
Landfall wrote:
If you own a European van with the stabiliser built into the hitch DO NOT use grease or lubricant of any type.
Grease/oil/lubricant, including dry lube will stop the hitch anti sway braking pads working efficiently.
Also note that these hitches require a special tow ball with locking plate.
Spot on there.
I picked up a Euro Van from a repairer so that we could do some gas work.
The repairer was anal about cleaning up my ball (which was constrained by a locking plate). He spent a long time with his two bottles of special spray stuff & clean rags making the ball completely free of any lubrication.
It seems that he had replaced the pads & didn't want to stuff them up.
BTW, it was a large, circa 22', van and it towed & stopped brilliantly without a WDH or break controller (over ride breaks). I was amazed at how well it sat behind the Patrol.
Landfall said
12:12 PM Mar 3, 2020
Our Geist was the easiest, safest van I have ever towed whether on dirt or bitumen, wet or dry. All you have got to do is know your limits with both van and tow vehicle.
Cupie wrote:
Landfall wrote:
If you own a European van with the stabiliser built into the hitch DO NOT use grease or lubricant of any type.
Grease/oil/lubricant, including dry lube will stop the hitch anti sway braking pads working efficiently.
Also note that these hitches require a special tow ball with locking plate.
Spot on there.
I picked up a Euro Van from a repairer so that we could do some gas work.
The repairer was anal about cleaning up my ball (which was constrained by a locking plate). He spent a long time with his two bottles of special spray stuff & clean rags making the ball completely free of any lubrication.
It seems that he had replaced the pads & didn't want to stuff them up.
BTW, it was a large, circa 22', van and it towed & stopped brilliantly without a WDH or break controller (over ride breaks). I was amazed at how well it sat behind the Patrol.
Do I or do I not grease my tow ball? I am finding some reluctance for the caravan coupling to let go of the tow ball when unhitching.
I use a plastic bag, like the ones that used to be free.
Put it over the ball, attach the hitch and trim off the excess.
Yep, same as Bagmaker. Using up old plastic bags, they are made out of petroleum side product.
If still catches when you are uncuppling, pull caravan hand brake on, choke caravan wheels, release car hand brake, cars handbrake on again, try to release tow ball.
IMO, No grease. Grease captures grit and acts as a lapping/grinding compound/paste.
If you ball/hitch won't let go you possibly have loading on the ball from reversing in a curve, van/tug sloping up/down hill etc.
I always try to end up straight, apply handbrake on van and chock wheels; then wind down jocky wheel; and if not unhitching apply a bit of forward reverse with the tug to feel it "Let Go".
I hope I`m not off topic with you post, and hopefully it is of assistance.
Regards.
Hetho.
x 2
I am a grease user but regularly wipe it clean & re apply new grease. I should use dry lube or graphite powder I suppose.
I have tried the plastic bag but found that they don't stay in place or wear through in the course of a day.
I always cover the hitch with a plastic bag when not in use to keep the dust away.
If the ball won't come free when unhitching, I just stand on the Patrol's back step and if necessary jump up & down once or twice. This works every time.
Not sure what the big deal with a bit of gritt is. Yeah, ball is nicely machined but cup is usually just cast. Bit of grinding might be a good thing. Improve the fit. Lol
I grease the WD bars too
If you own a European van with the stabiliser built into the hitch DO NOT use grease or lubricant of any type.
Grease/oil/lubricant, including dry lube will stop the hitch anti sway braking pads working efficiently.
Also note that these hitches require a special tow ball with locking plate.
Spot on there.
I picked up a Euro Van from a repairer so that we could do some gas work.
The repairer was anal about cleaning up my ball (which was constrained by a locking plate). He spent a long time with his two bottles of special spray stuff & clean rags making the ball completely free of any lubrication.
It seems that he had replaced the pads & didn't want to stuff them up.
BTW, it was a large, circa 22', van and it towed & stopped brilliantly without a WDH or break controller (over ride breaks). I was amazed at how well it sat behind the Patrol.