I was looking at my truck yesterday and noticed how rusty the hitch receiver, ball mount, and ball are. Needless to say it’s time for a new one. Any suggestions for a good ball mount and/or tips on keeping rust away from this trouble spot would be appreciated. One more question, are you supposed to lubricate your ball with grease?
I have a topper on my truck. I keep the receiver hitch in the topper when not in use. Nothing worse then having a receiver rusted in when you need to change ball size. You can grease the ball if you like. I’ll generally put a dab on early in the spring. If you wanna leave your receiver in year around take it out and spray the hell out of the inside of the piece on the truck with WD40.
I use the ball on the bumper of my 2000 explorer. When I bought it it had a 1 7/8″ ball with 15 years of rust on it, and my trailer needs a 2″ ball. Had to take a torch to the old ball to remove it.
Now I remove & store the ball when I winterize the boat. Also try to remove and re-install once a summer as well, just to keep the threads used to the idea of doing their job. Seems to be working out OK.
I only put the hitch in the receiver when towing. It only takes a minute to install, keeps it in good shape, and prevents the hurt of running into it.
I’m hoping the stainless receiver hitch and stainless ball will help. I’m also keeping it in a case under the rear seat of my truck when not in use.
Duke
Where is a good store to find a stainless ball mount and ball?
Try to keep it in as much as possible. Means I’m using it and that’s a good thing.
Anti seize on the balls and nuts makes life easy.
X2 on the anti seize . I use it on anything with threads that might have to be removed in the future .
I leave it in year ’round. However I pull the hitch out and slather it up with grease at least once a year.
SR
When you guys say grease, what kind we talking about here?
I’ve had a solid stainless hitch, interchangeable ball, and lock on my truck for 12 years now. Still looks almost as good as the day I installed them. It was a considerable investment compared to steel but should last a lifetime or more and I never need to worry about it seizing up. Very rarely comes off the truck, but will come right out when needed and I never lube it.
I think I got mine from Fleet Farm, but have seen them on Amazon for decent prices. I believe mine is Bully Brand.
Anti seize on the balls and nuts makes life easy.
This ^^^^.
I leave mine on year around and that paid off one time in downtown Minneapolis when a moron talking on his cell phone rear ended me because I was stopped at a red light that he was too busy gabbing to notice.
After that I called my hitch “The Impaler”. It split his bumper and then speared his radiator causing massive carnage, but stopped his car from doing anything more to my truck than scuffing the bumper. It was satisfying driving off after the police were there and leaving him standing there with his car pissing green on his shoes.
I wanted to try sometime to coat the hitch part that is outside of the receiver with truck bed liner.
Grouse
Last fall I put a wire brush attached to the 4″ grinder and cleaned up the hitch, primed and repainted. Put ball back on. Looks like new. Should be good for another 5+ years.
Mines in the garage when the boat is stored for the winter and in the truck when boat is available.
When you guys say grease, what kind we talking about here?
Honestly I don’t even know where I got this stuff. It’ just generic brown grease that I’ve had forever. I don’t think it’s critical. I just wanted something in there that would displace water, dirt and salt and keep the parts from rusting together.
SR
I only put the hitch in the receiver when towing. It only takes a minute to install, keeps it in good shape, and prevents the hurt of running into it.
Same here, no point in leaving it to the elements when not using. That and I can’t say how many times I’ve busted my shins on the darn thing the short time I have it in. 
When you guys take the ball off the receiver, might want to inspect the shaft that comes out of the ball for cracks.
I have a friend that lost his boat a couple years ago when that shaft snapped. His safety chains snapped right along with it.
It has a very small crack with light rust to start with. The rest was a clean break.
I haven’t ever heard of this before, but now it habit to check it once a year.
I use WD-40 also , I carry 3 different sizes of receivers with me. Tried the exchangeable ball type on one receiver and had rust problems on the ball shaft, pins rusting.
Spray the whole receiver on the back of the trucks after a car wash with WD, put sone Vaseline on the electrical plugs also.
Vaseline on the battery terminals also will stop the corrosion.
The wife asked me about the tub of Vaseline on the tool box once, LOL
I purchased a stainless ball and after a year looked just as bad as a regular ball. Did clean up better though. I sand and re-paint my receiver every year and it stays looking good.
been using these for twenty plus years with no problems
I have two powder coated hitches with chrome balls that always look like new. One that I have had for over 40 years now. Course I always pull the receiver and store after I’m done using it. I’ve left it on a couple times only to f up my shin real bad.No more of that ship for me.
I had a ball shear off once taking the boat to get winterized, I always inspect the ball now.
Try lubricating with Fluid Film instead of WD40. Lasts a lot longer.
Fleet farm has a good variety of stainless steel balls and receivers. That’s all I use anymore. X3 on the antiseize.
If you get a convert a ball put antiseize on threads as well as under the ball and on that shafts it slides on. I’ve had my stainless convert a ball and stainless receiver for 14 years now and never take it out cuz always using it. Looks like almost new. I believe in antiseize.
Wow, you guys are making me wonder about my tow ball. I don’t even know how old it is. Might be time for checkup this Spring.
To the original question, the hitch is only in place while towing on the weekends. Removed during the week.
The most likely reason for a ball breaking off is being loose. Being loose is the worst.
Nothing loose on mine when it broke.
Anti seize on the balls and nuts makes life easy.
When you say Anti-Seize, you mean ‘never leave’? X4, makes quick work of changing balls if you only use 1 mount.
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