New tow bar paint removal

Lunar Tony
Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
edited April 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all,

I've recently read online that new tow bars should have the paint removed from the tow ball.

I previously had a tow bar but didn't remove the paint!

Had it fitted at Trident towing near Maidstone & they never mentioned a thing.

Is this something I should be doing, only reason i can think of is if it affects the pads,

Thanks in advance

Tony

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #2

    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

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited April 2019 #3

    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!

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited April 2019 #4

    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

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #5

    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.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited April 2019 #6

    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. 

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited April 2019 #7

    Thanks for that, I'll get it sorted.

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

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #8

    To stop them rusting.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2019 #9

    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.

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited April 2019 #10

    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

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited April 2019 #11

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

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2019 #12

    Is that cross between a toasted sandwich maker & drill? 😉

  • trellis
    trellis Forum Participant Posts: 1,102
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    edited April 2019 #13

    Surprised to hear that about Trident (Maidstone ) .Had one fitted last year and the first thing they asked was did I want them to remove the paint .Cost me a fiver , but thought it money well spent.😀.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited April 2019 #14

    hahahaha. oooops.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2019 #15

    Cost me a fiver

    The thieving bu66ers ....

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2019 #16

    Two minute job with a bit of emery. Nice work if you can get it.

  • trevtows
    trevtows Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited May 3 #17

    I'm lucky to get a new towcar every 6-8 months or so (working for Ford) so I've got pretty used to getting the paint off quickly for the alko hitch. Quickest is a combination of plumbers emery cloth (I use plumbers abrasive strips) and one of those decorating abrasive sponges for rubbing down paint with a fairly course grade - 60 or 80 grit. Sit on the caravan step and get comfy. Alternatively, bribe one of your children to do it...

    When I bought the caravan, the dealer went at the towbar with an angle crinder. Bit lumpy but did the job quickly...

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited May 3 #18

    I wrap some masking tape around the neck of the ball so I don't rub away paint were I should not, and use coarse emery tape to take the paint off. 

    A spot of break cleaner and an odd re-emery through the towing season keeps all in good order, along with a dry ball cover.

    Over winter I use an old ball cover and lots of grease.

     

    Colin

     

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited May 4 #19

    Having changed the tow car recently and it came with a Toyota towbar on and it had never been used so OH used emery paper and all done ok.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 5 #20

    Once removed keep it clean. I have a wad of fine grade wire wool, comes in handy for all sorts of things. A wipe around each time I hook up keeps things clean and bright!

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5 #21

    The factory fitted towbar on my car is zinc plated, so there was no need to do anything. Anyone else's like that?

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