Hitch Ball Loosening

[Paul P]

I noticed yesterday that my hitch ball had loosened which I found very surprising. Could this be due to excessive friction on the ball? If so what is a good remedy without making it a grease stain hazard?



Thanks



Paul

 

[Paul P]

Lock washer is on.

 

[Bob G.]

Grease the ball and trailer coupling....it's not supposed to be an electrical connection.



Bob G.

 

[Dennis Ciccaglione]

Paul,



If the lock washer is installed & you torque the nut correctly, it really should not back off.



However one of the things I do just as a precaution is, after tightening the ball & nut I use a punch and put a dimple in the threads just below the nut. This will prevent the nut from being able to back off & loosen by itself.



Dennis

 

[Lamar Gilbert]

I would suggest you not take any chances and replace the hitch ball. Only about ten bucks and can rest easy then.



Lamar

 

[Michael Snow]

While all of these guys have offered good advice, I can't believe that duct tape hasn't been mentioned yet. Then again, I just duct tape the trailer to the truck and be done with it. My old wench strap broke, so I used duct tape instead. 34 years later, still working like a champ.

 

[Dan J.]

Is the threaded shaft appropriately sized for the receiver? I've seen people try and use a 3/4" shaft trailer ball in an 1 1/2" receiver hole. It will almost never stay tight with that much walk room no matter how many lock washers or fender washers used. (Reese has a nice new system that has a recessed base in the receiver that matches the hex shaped base of their trailer balls. They lock down solid!) The trailer ball's threaded shaft should just clear the coresponding hole in the receiver, then add the lock washer and nut on the bottom. If they already are, I can't think of any other reason for the hitch to work loose. Good luck!

 

[Rick Cohoon]

I have had it happen even with the ball tourqued and a lock washer.



I carry a great big giant, as my son calls it, wrench and give the nut a twist every so often.

 

[Bruce Freeman]

Dan J, is probably right (not the size) but the idea, hitch balls come in 3/4 and 1 inch shaft size. They make a shim kit if you don't want to purchace a new hitch ball.



BF..