Posted 2014-07-24 12:57 PM (#160131 - in reply to #160128) Subject: RE: Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
Anything can break, but wearing out a ball is unlikely. The most important parts are the neck and the diameter of the ball. Just put a dab of grease on the ball before hitching and you'll be fine.
Posted 2014-07-24 3:19 PM (#160133 - in reply to #160127) Subject: RE: Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
I had a friend last year that went over a big bump and his trailer came off of the ball, it was so worn on the front side that it was almost flat so we changed that out and his hitch on the trailer was almost as bad, so we put a new one on it also, both were 10-15 years old and had been used quite a lot.
Posted 2014-07-24 6:52 PM (#160136 - in reply to #160133) Subject: RE: Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by kooner on 2014-07-24 12:19 PM
I had a friend last year that went over a big bump and his trailer came off of the ball, it was so worn on the front side that it was almost flat so we changed that out and his hitch on the trailer was almost as bad, so we put a new one on it also, both were 10-15 years old and had been used quite a lot.
If you have a B+W turn-over ball, you could turn the ball 90° every time you flip the ball. That would equalize wear and prevent kooner friend's situation.
Posted 2014-07-25 8:43 AM (#160141 - in reply to #160136) Subject: RE: Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Veteran
Posts: 147 Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Originally written by hosspuller on 2014-07-24 6:52 PM
Originally written by kooner on 2014-07-24 12:19 PM
I had a friend last year that went over a big bump and his trailer came off of the ball, it was so worn on the front side that it was almost flat so we changed that out and his hitch on the trailer was almost as bad, so we put a new one on it also, both were 10-15 years old and had been used quite a lot.
If you have a B+W turn-over ball, you could turn the ball 90° every time you flip the ball. That would equalize wear and prevent kooner friend's situation.
Thank you and great suggestion. That's what I have and I will do that. We use the truck for hauling stuff and are constantly flipping the ball so it has probably been turned a lot over the years. Makes me feel better and I love this forum!!!
Posted 2014-07-25 9:01 AM (#160142 - in reply to #160127) Subject: RE: Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Regular
Posts: 73
I wouldn't put grease on it though. All the sand and dirt will accumulate on your ball and the cupler, then it would be a constant grinding and would wear the ball out and the hitch twice as fast. Also not to mention that the ball and hitch are part of the ground system, with grease you loose that.
Posted 2014-07-25 1:05 PM (#160152 - in reply to #160127) Subject: RE: Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
the hitch that I was referring to was on a bumper pull and turning your hitch ball for a goosneck once in a while is a good idea but remember the coupler on the trailer is also suspect but it can also be rotated.
Should you replace your hitch ball periodically?
Just wondering, I'm kind of a worry wart. My truck is a 2001 so that ball is 13 years old....do they wear out? 
