“Funny thing, accidents. You never have them till you’re having them.” – Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh
If your RV is a towable, odds are you have a story about a bad hitch connection. You’ve either seen trailer hitch problems, or experienced them yourself. We’ve been in both camps. Once, there was a funny sound coming from the area between our truck and camper. We’d connected everything as usual, checking things twice. We pulled out onto one of the narrowest winding dirt roads we’ve ever driven along the Salt River in Arizona. Shifting into 4-wheel drive, we slowly wound our way 20 or so miles back to pavement. At every turn we’d hear that strange noise again. Finally, we reached a parking lot at the end of the road. So, we pulled in to check things out. Turns out, we missed something, a big something. The hitch coupler was locked down alright, but it wasn’t fully down on the ball hitch. It was just resting on top of it. So, that’s what made the noise.
Lesson learned: If something doesn’t sound right, feel right, or look right, pull over ASAP and check it out. There’s another lesson there: Your traveling speed compounds mistakes. The road was bumpy and winding, but because we took things slow, our mistake didn’t cost us an unplanned testing of the safety chains.
We’ve been traveling the continent with our tiny camper since the fall of 2012. We’ve made a lot of mistakes and survived plenty of trailer hitch problems. Some even as dumb as simply forgetting to connect the lock through the hitch coupler. True story. After 20 minutes of driving on the interstate, I started to question if I’d even locked it. I pull over, and there, sitting on the tongue is the unlocked lock just where I set it down 20 minutes before. What are the odds of that?
5 Common Connection Mistakes
Repair shops hear plenty of stories and deal with the damage that comes out of them. Consequently, services teams often cite these five common mistakes as the origin of most trailer hitch problems.
- Not having the right plug. Not using a waterproof plug for the 4-way or 7-way connector. This can lead to corrosion of the wires at either plug or outlet.
- Not checking for a good connection. When you’ve plugged in your trailer, make sure the lights work as expected. Every. Single. Time.
- Not connecting the wires properly. The complexity of vehicle electrical systems these days means that you need to use the appropriate adapter to your wiring harness for the plug you’ll be using.
- Not securing the ball and hitch coupler correctly. Hear any funny noises?
- Not greasing the ball enough. Now, let’s talk a little more about that.
The Great Debate: To Grease … or Not
Look: We know this is a passionate debate where people take sides and dig in! (So, if you’re a hardliner camp, you may enjoy scrolling through this debate forum on the topic.) Now, let’s examine the arguments from both sides about which solution better resolves (or creates) potential trailer hitch problems. (And pant problems too, but, we’ll get there in a minute.)
No Grease
The parts of a hitch ball and hitch coupler are made of hardened metal that can withstand a lot of force. The ball metal is harder than the coupler and will wear at different rates. Plus, the grease is messy and will attract dust, grit, and dirt into the metal coupling between the two parts and actually increase the wear and tear. Then, there’s the part about accidentally getting the grease on the knee of your new trousers.
Grease
Two pieces of metal that connect and disconnect — and frequently rub, bump, and grind against each other — create friction. Which, of course, produces wear, heat, and possibly noise. Grease reduces friction, and thereby reduces wear, heat, and noise. Plus, it also helps slide the hitch coupler onto (and off) the ball. Which makes backing into a campsite all the more pleasant. Sure: It’s important to regularly clean and regrease both parts to remove grit and dirt. And if you don’t want your pants stained by the grease, you can buy a ball hitch cover, or use an old beer koozie as we’ve done for over a decade.
Whichever camp you fall into in this great grease debate, it’s unlikely you’ll convince anyone on the other side.
As for use, we’ve been greasers for the following reasons:
- Smooth release. Without grease, the trailer coupler frequently “stuck” on the ball. When it released, it did so forcefully; and if the camper wasn’t on level ground, it tended to lurch forward. With grease, it slides off like butter.
- Noise reduction. When greased, we no longer heard squeaking and squawking coming from the ball/hitch area.
Parting Advice to Avoid Trailer Hitch Problems
An RV dealer once gave us his advice when connecting the towing vehicle and trailer:
- Never be in a rush. Move slowly and deliberately.
- Ensure all connections are appropriately made and locked, including hitch coupler, tension bars, and 7-pin electrical plug.
- Remove or raise all trailer stabilizers.
- Turn the vehicle on and check that all lights are working appropriately.
- Shut the vehicle down and go to the restroom. Cuz’ it’s always good to go before you go. And if hurry is bad (it is), nothing puts in a greater hurry than need to go.
- On the way back to the rig, take a long look and make sure that everything looks right.
- Pull out slowly, and keep an eye on things as you go down the road.
Did I mention not to be in a rush? If something is set to go wrong, rushing will always make it worse! Eager to learn more about hitches? Read more in our RV Tow Hitches 101 series.
Hitch Types and Ratings: RV Basics (Part 1)
How to Choose the Right Tow Hitch for Your RV (Part 2)
5 Common Mistakes That Lead to RV Trailer Hitch Problems (Part 3)
