VW Factory Fit Tow Hitch
I have 2015 Treg with a retractable towball. It only just makes the Al-Ko 3004 standard but is good enough - even without the breakaway cable fastening ring. My problemn is keeping it clear of rust when it is tucked away after towing. I have tried a tow ball cover but that just holds the water sprayed off the road so it rusted. Then I thought it was mad to let it sit in a tow ball cup of water (and probably some added road salt at times), so I now retract the ball without the cover and it has rusted all over! I know I can use fine wet or dry to clean it but it is getting pitted even after the rust has been sanded off. I guess there are other factory fitted retractable tow hitches out there so can any body please suggest how they keep their towballs protected when not in use.
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You could try wrapping the towball (dry) tightly in plastic, such as a poly bag, and securing it with tape or some other means, John. The object being to keep damp air out.
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Worth a try.
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And there yu have a pretty effective cure, JohnS !
Clear the T/b of all rust, then use a tight wrap of cling film inside a quality polybag all held in place with decent elastic bands. The only lubrication EVER used should be that from a nice clean hand -- left or right should not matter !!
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I'll buck the trend if the previous posts cannot work due to tearing etc
In this case and seeing the towball is retracted far more than in use, I would wipe a film of oil on it before retraction then give it a good clean with a proprietary solvent or brake cleaner before use. After all its what we normally do anyway.Can't be no worse than rust and a pitted surface that will have to be removed and cleaned.
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My Audi retractable towball has the same problem, (poor design, the ball faces down. My last car a BMW the retractable towball faced up and never rusted!). I tried all the clingfilm, plastic bags etc. without success, its nay on impossible to get a water tight seal. I now give the ball a light coat of grease and keep some paper towels and a can of break cleaner in the boot which works a treat.
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Which way the Towball faces won`t prevent it from rusting the difference lies in the material used to construct it. Westfalia towballs which are used by VW (or used to be anyway) rust in a bag kept in a garage let alone under a car with water and salt spray flying around. I have a retractable towbar under a Merc made by Bosal I don`t know the material used in its construction (it looks similar to stainless steel) but it came unpainted and is as shiny and new as the day I bought the car over two years ago.
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at the risk of being indelicate, when I was doing my flying training on Bulldogs there was a rarely used similar shaped component inside an access panel, The engineers used to use a 'prophylactic' to keep it both clean and oiled when on the ground for long periods. Soldiers in the gulf war also used them on the end of their rifles to keep them clean of sand.
Whether your chemist will believe you are buying them for this purpose and what size you need, or the looks you will get on site while putting it on is your risk.
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Funny that, Ive got a retractable tow ball as well. Never bothered to protect it apart from a quick wipe with a dry cloth! I work on the principle that a ball with a nice rough surface will work better in my tow hitch. Guess what, - it does! It polishes the ball too on the wearing surfaces!!
One more job not to worry about.
TF
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indeed
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Would you recommend this method for 4x4 drivers who generally have fixed balls and exposed equipment?
Do they hold up to in an exposed position or should I stick to WD40?
If robust enough I would suggest a glow in the dark one for added safety.
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