New tow bar paint removal

Without cleaning the paint off as you say it will affect the pads in the coupling head by contaminating them with paint and reducing their effectiveness of the job they are there for

You must remove the paint from the ball if you use a hitch head stabaliser (the majority of modern caravans) as ,as you state,any paint (or grease etc) will contaminate the pads in the coupling.Any caravan dealer would explain that but a towing bracket fitter might not think to mention it!

Thanks so much for the replies.

Next question as I've got a trip booked on Friday, whats the easiest way to remove the paint.

Cheers Tony

I have never had to do it. Since having hitch head stabilisers I have used the same tow vehicle and the tow bar fitter removed the paint as a matter of course. Personally I would use paint stripper and wire wool initially.

If you buy an Alko towball as a replacement for a third party ball which causes the brake safety cable to chafe when using their stabilised hitch., Alko provide specific instructions. These are to remove the thin layer of paint which covers the ball. This specific requirement is made, to avoid contamination of the hitch breaking pads. It’s not difficult to remove the paint with a very fine emery paper. 

Thanks for that, I'll get it sorted.

Trying not to come across as thick, why do they paint them?

To stop them rusting.

Ours is a swan neck removable. Witter. The safety cable clips into a purpose made hole in the bracket. Certainly no chafing.  I fitted the appropriate carabiner break away. So it would depend on the type of tow ball the OP has fitted.

Thanks for all the replies. Mine is a Westfalia removable swan neck.

Looking at online videos it looks like emery paper then wet & dry followed by break cleaner.

Tony

use a Bremel with a very fine disc. quick and easy