Dear Dave,
I have about 3000 miles on this little TT. The ball is scarring on the new Blue Ox anti-sway hitch installed at the dealer. I’ve not had a hitch ball scar before. Thoughts? Regards, Kevin, 2025 Geo Pro 15FBS
Dear Kevin,
Almost every travel trailer that I have pulled or worked on had some type of scratching or scarring. I’ve used several different types of grease and lubricants over the years. Some have helped quiet the squeaks and stop rust, but nothing has stopped the scratches.
However, just to make sure I was not missing something in the setup of your Blue Ox hitch, I sent your question to my technical contact at Blue Ox. Here is what he replied:
It’s normal to have scarring on the hitch ball. Two dry surfaces rubbing when turning or maneuvering causes this. It isn’t compromising the integrity of the hitch ball. One way to prevent the scarring is to lubricate the top of the hitch ball and the top of the inside of the coupler. I use Super Lube Multipurpose grease on my own equipment.
You can find Super Lube® on Amazon here.
However, since the scratches or scarring is on the very top, I would recommend checking your tongue weight to make sure you don’t have too much weight on the hitch.
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Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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Some scarring is normal. Most people will wipe off the ball, but neglect cleaning the coupler especially if it is greased. The grease in the coupler holds all the dust and dirt and acts like course sandpaper.
I have used engine degreaser sprayed into the coupler and let it soak followed by a strong steam of water. Even spray brake cleaner will work. Just cover everything near the coupler.
Once done, spray the couple lock with WD40 Gel lube, Boeshield, or any other gel type lube.
Per my dad’s decades of experience, I use a molybdenum disulfide dry film lube from a spray can on our hitch components. A “wet” lube like oil and grease can attract road dust and dirt and create an abrasive paste, actually accelerating wear.
I use this: https://amzn.to/448KIim There is still some crud build-up. Depending on actual use, 1-3X a year, I fully clean both the ball (and its plastic storage cover) and coupler and re-apply a layer of grease to the ball. Takes less than 10 minutes and in my opinion very worth the effort.
I use Super Lube for many things , but never on a hitch ball as it attracts dirt. A dry lube is better. Super Lube can be bought at Harbor Freight also.
Thank you for the discussion and suggestion, Dave! Have a great weekend and safe travels!