Stuck in the receiver: How to prevent your hitch from rusting solid.

[DieselGuru]

I tried to pull my ball mount out of the hitch receiver today, and it was rusted completely solid. I had to use a sledgehammer and penetrating oil for an hour to get it loose. Does everyone just leave their hitches in 24/7, or is there a trick to keeping them slide-in/slide-out easy?

 

[DieselPilot]

Don't leave it in. That's the root cause of rust. Pull it out after every use, and smear a light coat of grease or anti-seize on it. It’ll slide out like butter next time.

 

[TorqueLab]

Just slather some petroleum jelly or grease on the shank. If you block the air and moisture, rust doesn't have a chance to bond.

 

[TurboLogic]

Get a rubber receiver cover. It stops mud and water from packing into the receiver. If you don't cover it in the winter, the salt brine will fuse it in place.