Quick answers needed on towing a gooseneck.

[rickhans]

I have towed bumper pulls for many years but just got my first gooseneck - 16k 20' flatbed with 5' dovetail. After off and on towing around the city for a couple of weeks it has begun squeeking. It appears to be the hitch on the ball. I can rock the trailer slightly and hear it. Am I supposed to grease the ball? I heard somewhere to do so, but the trailer dealer said that it is not necessary.

Any suggestions or comments?

Question 2. My rear springs have 3 upper leafs and two shorter lower leafs with a spacer in between. On my chevy trucks there was never a spacer. The bottom two did serve as overload springs. Are the top leafs supposed to ever contact these lower two. I don't see how without bowing downward.

I am trying to determine when I have sufficient tongue weight. I am leaving in the morning to take it to Houston to pick up some heavy equipment and hope to have a few answers before I go.



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98. 5 24V QC 4x4 SB 3:54 5sp

 

[C Schomer]

I smeared a shot of grease on the ball every time I used mine. Sounds like the lower leafs ARE overloads and the top ones will hit them - with enough weight. Craig

 

[illflem]

I eventually added a zerk to my GN hitch because I rarely remove the trailer. I've seen major wear to the ball when allowed to run dry.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(work truck)
95 3500,5 speed 3:54,BD E-brake,Driftwood,Banks&Psycotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(works harder truck)

 

[BBrodin]

I didn't want the greasy ball (in the bed of my pickup) getting everything greasy. By accident I found a chain link fence post cover fits over the top of the ball (2 5/16") just right. It's rounded and sits there just perfect. No greased ball out in the open.

 

[Okie-Go]

I grease my ball all the time. I bought some white grease. Got it at Wal-Mart. It is stainless and I grease it before every hook-up. There is a lot of friction on that ball and the grease cuts down on the wear as well as the squeak.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[BFaoro]

Grease that thing, it is metal on metal and it will wear the softer of the two metals making contact !! It would really suck to have to replace the hitch because it was pulling off the ball. I grease my 20' cattle stock trailer whenever the kids rub it all off #ad
Their mother hates it when that happens !!

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

yes grease the ball everytime you use the trailer. just think of lbspsi on that ball with 2k or 3k on the pin.

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if it ain't broke fix it till it is!!
2001 eth, ez box, dd2's,southbendclutch

My Ram Pics

 

[OILBRNR]

To answer your spring question, the top leaves are the overloads. If you look, you will see that as the frame moves down, the springs will contact perches attached to the frame.

It takes about 700# on my receiver hitch before they make full contact.

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'99 2500 4x4 • SB • QC • 3. 54 • LSD • AT • Leather • Mag-Hytec • Westach Guages • Line-X • Luverne Nerfs • Tommy Gate

Towing:
'99 28' Airstream Excella (~7000# dry)
'69 24' IMP Inca Twin Screw (~6000# wet)

 

[QRTRHRS]

Just before I hookup, I wipe the old grease off the ball to remove the dirt that builds up. Then grease it up again. I do the same with my bumper pull ball.