I don't know of any way to have the Ball tested but at the price you can now buy them I thing the best safety test would be to replace it, If you are using a good quality hitch like Hayman Reece and have not bashed it around like some off-road 4X4 drivers I have seen then you would not expect to have any trouble with it, if only a cheap hitch I for reasons of safety be upgrading to something like Hayman Reece brand.

my van wrote:

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I often wondred if the ball or the hitch on a caravan  needs to be replaced  after a few years  or if it is good forever . That joint is a very imporrtant   bit of equipment   .  I grease  it occasionly   . Can anyone tell me if there is a correct way or safe way of  checking the integrityof the ball and hitch .  maybe I worry too much  ? cheers  from  "my van"

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 Hi my van

I change my tow ball every big trip,that,s me though we go away every second year fot three months,I feel that the ball has done it,s job I feel safer with a new one,some people never change them ,for the sake of $8-10 dollars is money well spent,the HR hitch head will ware a bit where the trunnions  fit in but will last a long time ,I thought  mine was worn pretty bad I checked it with a new one ,it is still  ok by the trailer experts, if you have a HR  WDH make shore you put dry lube on your trunnions and  grease your ball ,I lube the trunnions before every hook up,the trunnions are the t piece on the end of your bars,the reason for the lubeing is to stop wear and stop any rattles or clunks while driving  and turning.

Lance C

Have never changed mine in over 20 years. I did have one that came loose about 35years back, think there would be more chance of that happening than to ever have one shear off and that would have the same chance of happening with a brand new tow ball as an old one.
David