Creaking Tow Hitch

[rich the stag]

Hi.

Had a new tow bar fitted to my car.I cleaned the paint off of the towball with emery cloth untill shiny.Off we went,spot on no problems.When i hitched up again to come home there was a fine layer of rust on the ball but i didnt clean it.When i set off the was a hell of a creaking noise for a couple of miles.Should the ball be spotless every time?

I have an ALCO 2004 stabilizer fitted to my van.

Any advice would be great.

Regards

Richard.

 

[HomerS1]

Hi,

just returned from long trip in France (today) and had some groaning from the tow ball. On our stop over en route home I cleaned off the rust with a scouring pad, cleaned the pads in the stabiliser (alko 2007) and this stopped the groaning immediately.

Chris

 

[Damian]

Richard, yes the towball should be cleaned before you use it on every occasion.

Easiest thing to use is a scouring pad, and some brake cleaner if it is just surface dirt, 200 grade wet and dry if it is more severe.

Followed by brake cleaner.

 

[rich the stag]

Thanks chaps.

I will do this before our next trip in 2 weeks.

Thanks again

Richard