How’s that for a topic?! Needed some action around here.
What are the opinions of trailer ball wear? My main 2″ has no chrome at the base and is pretty rusty all the way around but solid. Do they need to be smooth shiny chrome all over?
I dont think so. Mine is pretty nasty, but I just bought a new adjustable hitch so I will be using my old drop hitch anymore. I had an aluminum trailer that the ground wasnt very good and I had to grease the ball in order for the lights to work properly.
How’s that for a topic?! Needed some action around here.
What are the opinions of trailer ball wear? My main 2″ has no chrome at the base and is pretty rusty all the way around but solid. Do they need to be smooth shiny chrome all over?
No
only if it bothers you that your Balls are not ” smooth shiny chrome all over ”
Now them being a rusty all the way around. That may ne a slight problem 
I’ve got one rusty ball and one shiny chrome ball. The trailers don’t seem to care which one is used and they tow the same.
I’ve got one rusty ball and one shiny chrome ball. The trailers don’t seem to care which one is used and they tow the same.
What happened? Do you want to tell us about it? 
I knew this topic would veer to the side of the road! 
But I got my answer. Thanks. Merry Christmas.
Fitting this is posted… friendly reminder… if you have a tilt bed trailer, check the bolts that it pivots on.. snapped one yesterday.. fun. Not 
It’s a badge of honor. Lots of miles, lots of fishing, you’ve been there and back a few times.
SR
It’s a badge of honor. Lots of miles, lots of fishing, you’ve been there and back a few times.
SR
I recently got a new set of balls. Wanted an adjustable hitch. No more badge of honor.
I knew this topic would veer to the side of the road!
But I got my answer. Thanks. Merry Christmas.
More like in the ditch!
Wanted an adjustable hitch. No more badge of honor.
Don’t fret Joe, I replaced mine a couple years ago and it does not take long to get some wear in your balls and the badge of honor is back.
Fitting this is posted… friendly reminder… if you have a tilt bed trailer, check the bolts that it pivots on.. snapped one yesterday.. fun. Not
That’s a great reminder! Happened to me last year when unloading a snowmobile off the trailer. The bed and tongue became completely seperated. So lucky it was done in the driveway and not somewhere else or on the road.
Keep the nut tight and watch for any rusted cracks at the base of the ball. They have been know to shear off at that point.
If there’s a push when coming to a stop or a pull when starting off, check that nut to ensure it’s not loose!
@Ripjiggen
We got a different truck and the receiver lock is froze on the old truck so I had to get a new ball and receiver. So one is rusty and the other shiny for now anyway.
There was a post a while back about locks to keep hitches from being stolen. If someone was to try to steal mine, the better have a tenuis shot. As far as the nut becoming loose. That would take a torch and impact on mine. Never seen a ball crack or break, even pulling stumps. I’ve removed several on vehicles that were rear ended, and the class c hitch destroyed, the ball was fine. Although we would replace for liability reasons. Only reason I could see to replace. If you’re that guy that waxes his boat. Not to say that’s wrong, just rather spend the day fishing.
Does it matter how big your balls are?
Does it matter how big your balls are?
Only matters how big of a “receiver” or “tongue” you have.
@Ripjiggen
We got a different truck and the receiver lock is froze on the old truck so I had to get a new ball and receiver. So one is rusty and the other shiny for now anyway.
It was just a joke apparently a bad one.
I knew it was a joke. Just didn’t want any confusion as to why my balls were different
If you cannot see your reflection in the chrome – replace it.
Kidding.
Most of my trailer balls are pretty rusty.
I keep grease on my balls. 
Never seen a ball crack or break
Your first one.
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I must be in the minority.
I take my receiver hitch off ( It is locked on too) every time I put the boat away.
I HATE rust. Do not like the look of it. I have a box right inside the tailgate where all that goes to stay dry. Takes me 2 extra minutes to pull it out an put it on each time I grab the boat ( avg 3 days per week).
It also doesn’t catch on my driveway then either ( i have a steep approach).
No big deal.
This post reminded me of this incident that happened a couple months ago. Truck was stuck so they hooked up a towstrap to the hitch of another truck and tried pulling it out. Hitch sheared off and the elasticity of the towstrap flung the hitch back through the windshield of the stuck truck into the head of the driver, killing him instantly, while his wife and kids were watching nearby. PLEASE, Don’t use a hitch to pull on anything besides a trailer. Get a hitch mounted shackle if you need something, and throw a tarp or blanket over the strap to keep it under control if something does happen.
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That’s why when you’re using tow straps and jerking people out you always put your hood up on the vehicle being pulled out.
That’s why when you’re using tow straps and jerking people out you always put your hood up on the vehicle being pulled out.
That helps but what if you’re pulling back to back? A tarp or blanket over the strap is always preferred. I also don’t trust a piece of thin sheet metal/aluminum protecting me from a chunk of steel flying at me at Mach 50.
I must be in the minority.
I take my receiver hitch off ( It is locked on too) every time I put the boat away.
I HATE rust. Do not like the look of it. I have a box right inside the tailgate where all that goes to stay dry. Takes me 2 extra minutes to pull it out an put it on each time I grab the boat ( avg 3 days per week).
It also doesn’t catch on my driveway then either ( i have a steep approach).No big deal.
You are not the only one. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Coletrain27 wrote:</div>
That’s why when you’re using tow straps and jerking people out you always put your hood up on the vehicle being pulled out.That helps but what if you’re pulling back to back? A tarp or blanket over the strap is always preferred. I also don’t trust a piece of thin sheet metal/aluminum protecting me from a chunk of steel flying at me at Mach 50.
Well at least the hood would slow it down and give you some sort of protection. My friends wife almost died from the exact same thing
I take my receiver hitch off
I take mine off when not in use either. I don’t use mine on a daily basis. In the open water boating season, about twice a week. Then again during deer season for a few days towing the ATV trailer.
My Father left his in all the time on the previous truck he had and it was stuck in there permanently. He tried to pull it out with another truck. He tried spraying it down with a rust inhibitor. He even took it to a shop and they tried heating it up with a torch and then tugging on it with a fork lift. He ended up selling that truck with the hitch in there.
My wife likes holding my balls. She said I get in less trouble without stuff hanging from my back end.
I found a little wheel bearing grease inside the female end of the receiver helps it from getting stuck.
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