Creaking, groaning hitch

Thank you.  It was definitely grease and dirty grease at that,

Fortunately I did not travel far,  just back to the pitch I was leaving having decided to stop another night.  I am now fresh back from a garage with degreasing fluid, cleaning the tow ball and stabiliser friction pads.

A very nice neighbour opposite is coming over to check all is well. As usual most folks on a caravan site are only too pleased to help. Quite lovely.

This man suggested it may have ben a bit of rust from the tow ball that had contaminated the friction pads causing a grinding noise. Nothing that a good clean of hitch Coupling and tow ball can't sort.

Thank you.

All is now being cleaned. The friction pads are virtually new, The suggestion is, from a very helpful neighbouring caravanner, is some form of contaminant, probably rust from the tow ball, that was causing the noise and a good clean should sort, something he has Kindly offered to help us with.

Thank you for that good advice.

I know he shoved a load of grease on the ball because he proudly showed me it, including explaining how he lifted it from some part of his recovery vehicle 

Fortunately I now have half the world's supply of degreaser with me and a very helpful neighbour.

We need a sense of humour with this caravanning lark!

Here is a tip for quick - and possibly therefore frequent - cleaning of the coupling.

There is a red ball available for inserting into an empty coupling as a slight deterrent against theft of the trailer.  Wrap a thin cloth around it and squirt on the brake cleaner, stick it in, and give it a twist about. Should remove stray contaminent.

The ball is easier to get at with same cloth and cleaner, and to keep it dry and safe, well 2/3rd of a tennis ball!  Nice bright yellow also helps a little with keeping one's kneecap away from it.

Brilliant. Thank you. A great suggestion.

There is a tennis court a few minutes walk away from Cirencester car park. Loads of bright yellow balls around :)

I'd be complaining to Green Flag/MayDay. For an out fit that's supposedly caravan friendly, it's unacceptable for one of their drivers to not know that you don't grease friction pads of a stabiliser. It's no different from lub'ing brake pads if they squeak.

I had the misfortune to breakdown twice this year and both times the driver who towed us up did not know anything about AKS hitches. And as we were going to be towed about 65 miles on the 2nd tow I suggested that the stabiliser be used, he didn't know anything about it! Although he did use brake cleaner on the towball before connecting up.

The creaking and groaning is not particularily unusual but it is very annoying, it can be difficult to prevent no matter how many times the hitch is cleaned. 

In the old days greasing of the hitch was required and there are still some oldies out there that suggest it is necessary - I have had a few doubtful looks when I say NO!  I suspect greasing may still happen in Farming and Horse trailing. 

The tow ball gets mucky from the stuff on the road too - sand paper and the spray are in my tool kit.