Goose neck hitch

Spotted Horse · Oct 12, 2011

The goose neck hitch on my flat bed trailer is dry, should it be oiled or greased a bit?
How 'bout the ball?

DeltaRed · Oct 12, 2011

I put a dab of grease on the ball once in a while.

LAA · Oct 12, 2011

I grease the inside of the hitch, the lock, the ball and the adjustable goose, running dry creates friction and will wear you ball down and wear your hitch out.

rustyfarmall · Oct 12, 2011

I always grab the grease gun and pretty much cover the entire ball everytime I hitch up. Occassionally I wipe the ball clean and then start fresh with new grease.

J.Wondergem · Oct 12, 2011

I also do about like Rustyfarmall. But I just wipe some grease on the ball with my finger. When it gets dirty, I wipe it off and put new on, before I hook up.

Spotted Horse · Oct 12, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:12:49 10/12/11) I grease the inside of the hitch, the lock, the ball and the adjustable goose, running dry creates friction and will wear you ball down and wear your hitch out.

That's what I thought.
I just bought this trailer and replaced the floor, and had a new B&W (flip-over ball) hitch installed in my Dodge Cummins.
The trailer hitch was "dry" when I bought the trailer, and I thought I'd better ask before putting the grease-gun to work.

Thanks fellas.

thurlow · Oct 12, 2011

Common sense would dictate that they need to be kept greased, but.............have owned 4 gooseneck trailers (first one bought in 1970), 18 ft, 20 ft and 32 ft cattle trailers and a 27 ft flatbed. Only had.....I think........9 pickups (between my dad and me) in that time. Never a drop of lubricant on any of them unless we happened to spill some oil in the bed of the truck and it was always cleaned up. These trucks were typically driven 18,000-20,000 miles per year and for a good percentage of that time, they'd be pulling a trailer. Unless you put a lot more miles on than we did, I don't think it's worth the time. My current (and maybe last, given my age) truck is a '93 Dodge dually w/Cummins, bought new and with better than 300,000 miles; the ball has been it since the first week and it's spent its whole life outdoors. I don't think you could measure the 'wear' with a pair of calipers.

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Anonymous-0 · Oct 12, 2011

How about an occasional shot of graphite paint?

tomNE · Oct 12, 2011

i've never lubed any for the last 20yrs that i've owned them. have driven truck for 25yrs and have seen the plate lubed but never the mechinizm that locks the pin!

showcrop · Oct 12, 2011

I put a dab of grease on the ball whenever the creaking gets to me which is about two times a year.

heavyhaulertoo · Oct 12, 2011

I think the trailer metal is softer then the ball, I give my hitch a little grease. On my semi , you must grease the pin and the sliding laTCH ON THE TRUCK.

redtom · Oct 12, 2011

I apply a abundant spray of dry Moly to the ball and the hitch. I think its better than grease and dirt together.

fixerupper · Oct 12, 2011

I'm kinda hijacking this thread with this story but it's along the same line.

A couple of years ago I heard the DOT requires the ball to be greased. They will make you jack up the trailer to prove to them it's not dry. Fact or fiction? I think it's a bunch of hooey. Jim

John A. · Oct 12, 2011

Spotted Horse, If all you do is haul a couple of loads a yr to the sale barn then maybe not! If You haul a lot, and on a regular basis, and very heavy loads. It will behoove you to grease the ball! Promotes extended ball life. It will make turning, and in tight quarters a Whole Lot Easier!
If you do not believe me ask any Semi Driver and ask how is it when the 5th wheel get dry?
I know guys who pull a lot,,, Keep a soup can half full of grease to keep on the ball when they do not have a trailer hooked up!
IMO Even if you do not pull that much, grease the ball when in operation, after you dolly down the trailer take an old rag and wipe off the excess grease and throw it in the trash! now the ball will be clean and will not get grease on your boots or pants the next time you are up in the bed.
Hope this helps.
Later,
John A.

JOHNNYfromMI · Oct 12, 2011

If you like a glob of heavy greese on your balls, by all means put some on.

Dean Olson · Oct 12, 2011

My trailer "expert" recommended no grease as it could cause
grounding issues. I never grease my gooseneck. BUT I don't haul
very heavy or often.

My Peterbilt gets a abundant dosing of grease every time I service the
tractor. I do grease the locking mechanism and pin on trailer.
About 2x's per year I have it steam cleaned and start with fresh
grease. This rig hauls heavy and often.

Goose neck hitch

Spotted Horse

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DeltaRed

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LAA

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rustyfarmall

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J.Wondergem

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Spotted Horse

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thurlow

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Anonymous-0

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tomNE

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showcrop

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heavyhaulertoo

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redtom

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fixerupper

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John A.

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JOHNNYfromMI

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Dean Olson

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