Very common here in the NE. Just don't leave your hitch in there, cause it will be stuck forever. I've seen guys chain two hitches together and still not get the stuck hitch out. That rust on a solid built receiver will not hurt anything. Maybe a little grease, but that will get all over everything when you take the hitch out. And a little black paint on the outside.
As WHY said.. Do not leave the hitch adapter in there save for short periods (I'll remove mine tomorrow.. Put it in earlier this week)
(IN fact unless I"m going to be towing again in the next few days I leave the hitch adapter on the trailer and remove it from the receiver,, Nice and padlocked that way, both of 'em)
If your receiver is 2" or larger you can get a square wire brush at many RV stores. I think the price is a bit high but hey.. It fits and is designed to clean 'em up. I"m not sure I'd wish to use paint (more on that later) on the hitch.. Just wire brush it good and a good coat of lubricant
If you have the smaller 1 1/2 inch receiver like I do, you can order the special brush,,,, Or get one of those cheap BBQ grill brushes
Look for one like this, Most hardware, And RV stores have them though I went through about five stores to find a web listing ACE Hardware Link
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
Remove the hitch when not using it, if salty enviorment wash with fresh water. To prevent rust spray with WD/40 and put it away in a dry place for storage. If it is already rusted I would use a wire brush to remove as much as I can and then spray with a good rust preventative paint like Rustoleum, they actually sell some stuff at Lowes that will kill the active rust, you can use it then paint over as a topcoat.
NCH
2000 Ford F350 4X4 PSD,CC, DRW
4:10's, BTM Muffler, Isspro Gauges,
Coolant Filter,CCV Mod
FTVB , Ford AIS
6.0 Cooler,SCT2 W/DP's 40 tow & 80 econo,Zoodad mod
2005 Keystone Hornet 30BHSS
Reese Dual Cam
Family of 4 saved by Grace!!! MY TRUCK OUR TRAILER
Sorry meant to include that at the end of the post... Paint has thickness, if you put a layer or two of paint in the hitch you might not be able to get the adapter to slide in and/or it might jam it up as bad as the rust does.
So you could end up as bad off, or worse, than you are w/o it.
Easier to brush it out when you slide the adapter in
I spray both the hitch receiver and the draw bar with WD40 a few times during the trailer season (for us it runs from May through October) and the rust problem is relatively non existant.
Camping Forever
Ken, Marilyn & pussy cat Lady Amber
31 ft Glendale Golden Falcon (Single Dinette/Sofabed Slide)
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 6.0 liter Allison Trans Ext Cab short Box
The day we bought our 5er's Hitch, I lubed it, and waxed the entire out-side finish on it, and every place I could get my hands into. I wash and wax it every year. I also spray a Dry-Lube on a rag, and wipe down the Hitch before every trip. Our Hitch is now 12 years old, and not one spot of rust on it any where. We still have all of the original stickers on it as well. If more would take proper care of thier hitches, they wouldn't have any rust issues. We take the time to remove our hitch after each trip, and store in in our shed. Even our Hitches Rails are rust free. When our TV isn't used, it is coverd by a custom waterpoof cover. Maybe we go over-board, but it has really paid off for us, as every thing that we own still looks like new. Yes we are total nut cases, and take extream care of our belongings. We both worked way to hard all of these years to let things go to ruin. Money doesn't grow on trees you know. Good Luck. Happy Camping, Dan & Jill
1997 Ford F-250, H.D. Extended-Cab, Short Bed, 7.3 PSD, K&N Air Filter, 5000 lbs air bags w/on board compressor w/guage, SuperChips Tuner/Programer. 1996 Nash 24fter 5er, 15K "Lil" Rocker Hitch w/BedSaver, Twin EU2000i Gen's W/Kit. Nam-Vet, 33 Months.
I'm with Dan on the wax. I use a waxy rag on the inside of the square tube and hard paraffin wax or candle wax on the outside of the insertable part. The hard wax seems to stay on longer and rub off less easily.
Bill and Susan
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
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