Make my hitch ball shiny again

[sbi]

Less than one year old, Curt trailer hitch ball is rusty and it spreads.
Does anyone know how to clean it and restore it shininess?

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[carmigo]

Less than one year old, Curt trailer hitch ball is rusty and it spreads.
Does anyone know how to clean it and restore it shininess?

Seems like they always end up rusting no matter what. You could try to clean off some of that rust with WD-40 and then grease (or use Fluid Film, a rust inhibitor) to prevent more rusting.

 

[JohnMcClane]

I gave mine a long bath in a gallon of evaporust, pins and everything, need to hit it really good with the wire brush since it’s got a little surface rust sitting in the garage, but then I plan to put a few coats of rust reformer on it (you could polish yours after the evaporust bath) and some regular black enamel on it so hopefully it deters rust for a while, taking it out while not in use is one of the best ways to keep it looking new.

 

[powerboatr]

use it . keep it lubed in the coupler and forget about it
my 2 5/16 for the hauler is greasy rusty and hard on the shins, so it stays in tool box ..ball wrapped in a disposable glove

 

[sbi]

Seems like they always end up rusting no matter what. You could try to clean off some of that rust with WD-40 and then grease (or use Fluid Film, a rust inhibitor) to prevent more rusting.

I tried WD40 with not much luck, although I did not use any brush or anything, I didn't want to scratch it.

I gave mine a long bath in a gallon of evaporust, pins and everything, need to hit it really good with the wire brush since it’s got a little surface rust sitting in the garage, but then I plan to put a few coats of rust reformer on it (you could polish yours after the evaporust bath) and some regular black enamel on it so hopefully it deters rust for a while, taking it out while not in use is one of the best ways to keep it looking new.

TBH, I don't really tow. I bought it for one tow that I needed last year to move my daughter, but I kept it on the hitch because I read somewhere that it's an extra "buffer" if someone rear ends you (a minor rear ending, it will destroy their front bumper and may save mine

 

[powerboatr]

I tried WD40 with not much luck, although I did not use any brush or anything, I didn't want to scratch it.




TBH, I don't really tow. I bought it for one tow that I needed last year to move my daughter, but I kept it on the hitch because I read somewhere that it's an extra "buffer" if someone rear ends you (a minor rear ending, it will destroy their front bumper and may save mine

no to mention shin smackers for those folks that walk to close to the rear of the truck in parking lots
i have a weather tech bump stop in mine.. its easier on the shin.(mine)

 

[JohnMcClane]

TBH, I don't really tow. I bought it for one tow that I needed last year to move my daughter, but I kept it on the hitch because I read somewhere that it's an extra "buffer" if someone rear ends you (a minor rear ending, it will destroy their front bumper and may save mine

Yeah I left mine in my last truck which was a 145” WB, that’s how it got pretty rusty in the first place.

Current long boi doesn’t need anymore length.

Buffer thing makes sense, I’d give it the evaporust bath, prime and paint black parts black, polish shiny parts and put on some clear coat enamel.

Give your receiver some love with some rust reformer too or it’ll get crusty in no time. The receiver on my last truck didn’t want to give up the hitch until the 3lb hand sledge gave it some love.

 

[Tomzz]

I’ll send my wife where do you live ?

 

[Blue]

Im not one to polish my balls so I only use stainless steel balls.

 

[Pedaldude]

If the chrome is worn off, there’s not too much to do. If it’s just for show, you can always get a shiny new ball. They’re available for less than $10.

Some states don’t allow trailer hitch mounts to be installed without a trailer for reasons mentioned in this thread.

As for the anecdotal reason for leaving a hitch mount installed to mitigate damage. It is a bit dubious and in some instances can actually damage your truck more. It reminds me of another apocryphal word of mouth piece of advice that I was actually given by a traffic school instructor, where they said that if you do hit a pedestrian; make sure you kill them, so that you will be the only witness and that it’s cheaper than injuring them.

A bumper is designed to absorb an impact and distribute it over a wider area and over a longer period of time through deformation.

A trailer hitch/receiver is designed to carry loads directly to the frame from a small point load.

While most newer cars have ABS plastic and foam bumper covers with aluminum bumpers underneath and will be more damaged by a trailer hitch, possibly even piercing the radiator during a low speed collision; but then since it’s pretty easy for a 2” ball to punch a hole through a plastic grill and aluminum radiator, the rest of the car is still going to hit and damage your bumper anyway.

But then if another truck with a more substantial bumper, or an older car with a proper 5MPH bumper rear ends you, it will only impact and bend the hitch mount, then possibly the rear frame where the hitch receiver is mounted and make the difference between replacing a bumper and the bumper brackets or having to weld on new rear frame horns.

It’s too bad that there was never a Mythbusters episode on this one.

 

[JohnMcClane]

Of all the names you can give a product, this is definitely one of them…

https://www.skidmark4x4.com/

 

[EricR]

If it's rusting, the chrome has been worn of. In my (unfortunate) experience this will happen quickly if there is no lubrication on the ball and the hitch on the trailer. I forgot about grease the first time towing our trailer. That one multi-state trip left me with an ugly ball.

It seems to me paint just won't hold up in this situation.

1) Pull the draw bar and ball off the truck and store it under the rear seat or in your garage. If you need it again some time in the future you have it. If you don't care what it looks like for this short period, this scenario works. Why bother about grease and chrome if you only use it every 2-5 years.

-OR-

2) If you care about how it will look the next time you use it go buy a new ball and some grease, and store both together under your seat or in your garage. You'll have it you need it, as well as the grease you will need to keep this from happening again.

 

[JJSnell]

(a minor rear ending, it will destroy their front bumper and may save mine

That's exactly why mine stays in year round....
Otherwise, tow boat and jet skis to lake in spring, pullout in fall.

 

[flatag]

Spend the bucks and buy a stainless steel ball. Them cheap balls will always rust after the first use.

 

[sbi]

If the chrome is worn off, there’s not too much to do. If it’s just for show, you can always get a shiny new ball. They’re available for less than $10.

Some states don’t allow trailer hitch mounts to be installed without a trailer for reasons mentioned in this thread.

As for the anecdotal reason for leaving a hitch mount installed to mitigate damage. It is a bit dubious and in some instances can actually damage your truck more. It reminds me of another apocryphal word of mouth piece of advice that I was actually given by a traffic school instructor, where they said that if you do hit a pedestrian; make sure you kill them, so that you will be the only witness and that it’s cheaper than injuring them.

A bumper is designed to absorb an impact and distribute it over a wider area and over a longer period of time through deformation.

A trailer hitch/receiver is designed to carry loads directly to the frame from a small point load.

While most newer cars have ABS plastic and foam bumper covers with aluminum bumpers underneath and will be more damaged by a trailer hitch, possibly even piercing the radiator during a low speed collision; but then since it’s pretty easy for a 2” ball to punch a hole through a plastic grill and aluminum radiator, the rest of the car is still going to hit and damage your bumper anyway.

But then if another truck with a more substantial bumper, or an older car with a proper 5MPH bumper rear ends you, it will only impact and bend the hitch mount, then possibly the rear frame where the hitch receiver is mounted and make the difference between replacing a bumper and the bumper brackets or having to weld on new rear frame horns.

It’s too bad that there was never a Mythbusters episode on this one.

Makes sense.

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