Tow bar issue.

[DegsyBlue]

Has anyone got tips for keeping a towball rust free. I have an electric foldable towbar, when it’s folded under the car it’s exposed to the
elements & when I’ve covered the towball with the rubber covers available it fills with water & makes the issue worse. I have to keep the towball
“shiney” for the alko head.
Thanks

 

[PTA]

I have this problem too. It necessitates using emery paper to rub it down every time we plan to hitch up.
I slowed the rust down a bit by rubbing down, applying brake cleaner and then, when absolutely dry, (no good in damp weather) covering tightly with a polythene bag held in place by rubber bands. I have a retractable so it isn't in plain sight and looking cheaply amateurish!
I'm not convinced there is any real solution tbh.

 

[otherclive]

I have this problem too. It necessitates using emery paper to rub it down every time we plan to hitch up.
I slowed the rust down a bit by rubbing down, applying brake cleaner and then, when absolutely dry, (no good in damp weather) covering tightly with a polythene bag held in place by rubber bands. I have a retractable so it isn't in plain sight and looking cheaply amateurish!
I'm not convinced there is any real solution tbh.

Looks like another “ form over function” development.

 

[PTA]

Looks like another “ form over function” development.

I was rather hoping my approach involved "function over form"!

 

[Anseo]

Apply a light coating of ACF50 when stowing away the towball.
ACF50

Apply brake cleaner to towball before hitching up.
Brake Cleaner

 

[Beehpee]

Would a wipe over with some sort of grease applied and then wiped off with brake cleaner that would be easier than emery paper every time.

 

[Beehpee]

Great minds think alike

 

[otherclive]

I was rather hoping my approach involved "function over form"!

I wasn't commenting on your approach but the need to have to do something like that for the newest iteration of towing kit.

Since I always use brake cleaner or meths on the towball before taking the caravan out using ACF 50 would be my solution. But it doesn't alter my initial premise.

 

[Jcloughie]

I don't find that a discoloration of rust makes any difference to the function. I find that a quick wipe with brake cleaner suffices. They just need to be clean, as opposed to 'shiny'

At present, mine lives in the boot. But I have had external towballs.


John

 

[Dustydog]

Look at the disc brakes on a car that has stood for a few days. Rust 🤬🤬. I just use a plumbers scouring pad before each tow. Not too abrasive, just enough to clean the surface.

 

[Jcloughie]

Apply a light coating of ACF50 when stowing away the towball.
ACF50

Apply brake cleaner to towball before hitching up.
Brake Cleaner

£32.50! It might well be better, but WD40 would do the same job. and save about £29. I have some tools which are used with corrosive materials and water. They will show rust in 24 hours, I give them a squirt of WD and they are good months later.

Another possibility is: clean with brake cleaner and wrap with cling film.

John

 

[ProfJohnL]

... I have to keep the towball
“shiney” for the alko head.
Thanks

The ball only has to be free from paint and lubricants, both of which would hamper the correct action of the Alko hitch. It's also advisable to remove any loose rust, but you don't have to "shine" the ball.

 

[otherclive]

£32.50 would be a bit extreme unless the OP is going to soak the towball in a bath of ACF 50. An aerosol can (similar to WD 40 size) can be bought for £12.49 and the larger one for £25.69. It is an effective rust blocker as I used it on my Pajero off roader and my son used it on his motorcycle to protect it from the ravages of winter riding. It is excellent.

 

[DegsyBlue]

Has anyone got tips for keeping a towball rust free. I have an electric foldable towbar, when it’s folded under the car it’s exposed to the
elements & when I’ve covered the towball with the rubber covers available it fills with water & makes the issue worse. I have to keep the towball
“shiney” for the alko head.
Thanks

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful.

 

[audiorob]

I have a fixed ball with a plastic cap when not in use. Before towing I give a quick spray with brake cleaner and rub with a dry cloth ( I also put a card behind the towball while spraying to protect the bumper surfaces - not sure that this is really needed!). I wonder whether a tight wrap of clingfilm before the ball is stowed would (cheaply!) meet your needs?

 

[Beachball]

l have a detachable tow bar with a cap it been off the car since October i always checked the ball to make sure there is no rust i use brake cleaner and give it a quick rub with a dry cloth then put it on the car when we need it to each its own .

 

[Clifford_374377114]

I believe the ball HAS to be shiney otherwise you would get the 'creak' they are famous for.
I don't think they serve a very good function particually when ATC is fitted and I would like to go back to a greased towball when we didn't have problems!
Cliff

 

[JTQ]

I believe the ball HAS to be shiney otherwise you would get the 'creak' they are famous for.
I don't think they serve a very good function particually when ATC is fitted and I would like to go back to a greased towball when we didn't have problems!
Cliff

The AKS and ATC address quite different issues, though complementing each other.
The AKS only damps, and marginally to, the inevitable minor sways a trailer exhibits from a multitude of disturbances, which then get reflected onto the towing vehicle.
Its purpose is to make towing less stressful and uncomfortably so less fatiguing for all onboard. The pitifully small amount of friction on a pivot less than an inch radius, can in no way tame a natural frequency snake.
Pity generic friction dampers of all flavours ever got called "stabilisers", as far too many people assume that implies a great deal more ability than they can ever offer.

That true stabilising role however is where the ATC comes in, on territory ways beyond the AKS's role. It can tame a snake, having the vehicle's pulling "power" and caravans brakes as a lot more effective tools to do so.

Greasing the ball, loses that more damped towing experience.

 

[Guzzilazz]

The friction pads in the hitch stabilisers are similar materials to brake pads, and I agree with the Prof, a light discolouration of the tow ball is nothing to worry about, it will self clean just as brake discs do on cars. I've just picked up my new Volvo XC40, and it has a tow ball cover, BUT it isn't the traditional "cup" it's a fine lattice to let the water out.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I believe the ball HAS to be shiney otherwise you would get the 'creak' they are famous for.
I don't think they serve a very good function particually when ATC is fitted and I would like to go back to a greased towball when we didn't have problems!
Cliff

Whilst the coupling might creak a little, it should soon stop as the friction pads will do any necessary scouring of the ball. But do remove loose rust (edit All contaminants) before coupling.

 

[Damian]

Whilst the coupling might creak a little, it should soon stop as the friction pads will do any necessary scouring of the ball. But do remove loose rust before coupling.

As an Approved Al-Ko workshop I have to say this is totally wrong advice !

The Al-Ko towball should be perfectly clean before hitching up and ALL contaminates removed.

It is recommended that the ball be scoured with 100 or 120 grit wet or dry and cleaned off with white spirit or brake cleaner.

Even minor rust , if left, will contaminate the friction pads and cause the creaking which can be very loud , especially at low speed turning.

 

[Raywood]

I am not sure if it is down to the quality of the tow ball but ours does not suffer from rust. It does have a very tight fitting cover which might also help. After removing the black paint on it when it was fitted I have had no problems since.

 

[Jcloughie]

[

As an Approved Al-Ko workshop I have to say this is totally wrong advice !

The Al-Ko towball should be perfectly clean before hitching up and ALL contaminates removed.

It is recommended that the ball be scoured with 100 or 120 grit wet or dry and cleaned off with white spirit or brake cleaner.

Even minor rust , if left, will contaminate the friction pads and cause the creaking which can be very loud , especially at low speed turning.

I had one van that creaked really loudly, could be embarrassing. I remember leaving one French site which involved tight turns and I could see the turning of heads and pointing. I tried cleaning as suggested but whatever I did made no difference. New pads did not help either. Strangely, it always went quiet after a couple of miles.

I had a theory, that it might have been due to a poor fit of the pads within their housing allowing excessive vibrations.

The problem was only on that one van. normally I will give a good clean as described once per year, and just a wipe before use at other times.

John

 

[Thingy]

I don't use emery paper on mine, I user wire wool which does the job just as well, and then wipe over with white spirit. I have also had good results with Scotchbrite Pads.

 

[ProfJohnL]

As an Approved Al-Ko workshop I have to say this is totally wrong advice !

The Al-Ko towball should be perfectly clean before hitching up and ALL contaminates removed.

It is recommended that the ball be scoured with 100 or 120 grit wet or dry and cleaned off with white spirit or brake cleaner.

Even minor rust , if left, will contaminate the friction pads and cause the creaking which can be very loud , especially at low speed turning.

my advice is not at odds with yours, I may not have expressed it well enough. yes remove all contaminants, but polishing a ball to excess is unnecessary.