Hitch care

Can anyone tell me how to care for the ball and hitch?  Is lubricant necessary and what kind, if so.  The latch on the hitch sometime doesn't want to click in place and our 182 G was newly purchased in May 2016. What am I missing. First time female camper learning the ropes!

I use Reese Hitch Ball Lube for the hitch ball and for the pivot points on our Equal-i-zer hitch. Equal-i-zer also makes a lubricant for this purpose. If I had not purchased the Reese lubricant, I would have gotten the Equal-i-zer lubricant as it comes in a squeeze tube instead of a jar. For the sway bar brackets, I use the Equal-i-zer Sway Bracket Jacket. This helps quiet the hitch when turning so it does not make all the creaks and groans of an unlubricated bracket. I also added a hitch tightener to lock the shank into the hitch receiver which helps reduce that source of clunking noises.

I agree with TheBum about the hitch and latching. I usually bump the tow vehicle forward once I lower the tongue of the trailer to make sure it is as far forward as it can go. The hitch locks down easily then. I verify that it is fully connected when I raise the tongue once it is locked in order to put on the bars. If it were not connected properly, it would not lift the TV.

I give you a lot of credit for getting out there and trying. There are many men and women who don't even try. It will be easier as you gain experience.

I wonder if those Sway Bracket Jackets would fit the Fastway E2 L-brackets.

You can also buy a self lubricating ball. We have run one for the last 3 years, very happy with it.