Tow Ball

[Daventura]

Hi. I have had a Brink BMU detatchable tow bar fitted. The surface of the tow ball (and all the way down the detached bit's length) has a black coating. It doesn't look like paint to me maybe it is. however, does anyone know if the tow ball needs to be made a silver colour before attaching the Alko AKS 3004 hitch?
Thanks.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx7ItIyqIuA

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Yes....all the black paint has to come off the ball before you hitch up otherwise it will contaminate the pads.

Emery paper usually does the trick along with maybe a wire brush.

I always use a spray of brake cleaner on the ball and give it a wipe each time before I hitch up as well.

 

[Daventura]

Yes....all the black paint has to come off the ball before you hitch up otherwise it will contaminate the pads.

Emery paper usually does the trick along with maybe a wire brush.

I always use a spray of brake cleaner on the ball and give it a wipe each time before I hitch up as well.

Thank you for the fast reply. Will carry that out now.

 

[Beehpee]

Only the ball though not the rest of it, just wanted to clarify in case you did it all.
BP

 

[Thingy]

I normally use the wire brush to break the surface but rather than emery i use wire wool. Indeed i always carry wire wool and give the towball a tickle before each journey.

 

[Daventura]

Only the ball though not the rest of it, just wanted to clarify in case you did it all.
BP

Thanks. Haven't got the energy to do all of it! ; )

 

[Darren.H]

On removing the black paint, I use a wire cup attached to a small angle grinder, brings it off in seconds, tried manual labour, too much effort 😁

 

[audiorob]

Makes you wonder why they paint the whole thing at the manufacture stage? Also for Dave assuming you have a hitch head stabiliser, ensure the ball is kept grease-free (for example if you tow another trailer to the tip like me!) so I too use a brake cleaner spray before towing the caravan, occasionally give a rub with fine grade wet and dry, and keep a plastic cap on the ball (fixed swan neck) when unhitched.

 

[Daventura]

Makes you wonder why they paint the whole thing at the manufacture stage? Also for Dave assuming you have a hitch head stabiliser, ensure the ball is kept grease-free (for example if you tow another trailer to the tip like me!) so I too use a brake cleaner spray before towing the caravan, occasionally give a rub with fine grade wet and dry, and keep a plastic cap on the ball (fixed swan neck) when unhitched.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Beachball]

Yes....all the black paint has to come off the ball before you hitch up otherwise it will contaminate the pads.

Emery paper usually does the trick along with maybe a wire brush.

I always use a spray of brake cleaner on the ball and give it a wipe each time before I hitch up as well.

Mine works exactly same way .

 

[CustardAvenger]

Put some tape around the neck just under the ball when removing the paint as its easy to catch it when you don't need to.

Makes you wonder why they paint the whole thing at the manufacture stage? ...

I too use a brake cleaner spray before towing the caravan, occasionally give a rub with fine grade wet and dry, and keep a plastic cap on the ball (fixed swan neck) when unhitched.

I only towed a caravan with a 'wet' hitch for some time, so didn't need to remove the paint from my towball. Stops it from rusting that way.

+1 for Brake cleaner. Give it a clean each time you use it. I also clean the hitch/stabiliser pads each trip to prevent squeaking/grinding noises.

Not seen anyone else mention this, but after some time in storage, I found my detachable had rusted quite badly; so I now keep it covered in grease when not using it.