Whichever way you go, GET A COTTER PIN INTO THE THREADS ON THE BALL.
I've towed all over the country, never a mishap (and BTW never greased the
ball). I always stop a couple of blocks out and check the hitch, load, etc.
I stop again to recheck a few miles out, and then recheck everything at
every stop. I keep the appropriate wrenches handy and check the tightness
of everything - ball, hitch, etc. - but had never found anything loose.
Last year, I borrowed a trailer (coincidentally, the coupler happened to be
greased inside - a first) and left on a trip to Florida. We were late, it
was raining, and I forgot to do my usual initial stops. 125 miles out the
trailer tore loose - the ball nut had dropped off. Thank God that traffic
was thin at that point and nobody was hit. The trailer backed about 100
feet down a hill into woods, and the damage turned out to be slight --
except for the $300+ hole in my wallet for a tow and hitch repair, and a
huge dent in my ego for being such a fool.
Moral - make sure the ball has a cotter pin. The loss of that nut can cause
as much damage as the nut behind the wheel ;-)
Karl Vacek
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