Struck trailer hitch
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Struck trailer hitch
The trailer hitch in my reciever is stuck. The previous owner looks like he's never taken it out, or atleast not recently. I pulled the pin, put a toe strap on it and around a tree and tugged pretty hard and it wouldn't pull out. I've been spraying it with PB blaster for 2-3 days. It's just rusted in there. Any suggestions to get it out? I lifted my truck and need to put a drop hitch in, too high.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Struck trailer hitch
if your using a tow strap, don't. They stretch and can catapult the hitch when it does break loose.
Get a five pound mallet and hit the hitch several good strikes, this will be really loud but should break it loose. If your going to try and pull it out use a chain.
Get a five pound mallet and hit the hitch several good strikes, this will be really loud but should break it loose. If your going to try and pull it out use a chain.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
Struck trailer hitch
I use a 20 lb sledge, a torch, and a lot of brute force. Mine rusts up over the winter. Once ya get it out, put wheel bearing grease on the new one before you install it, so it doesn't happen again (rust breeds rust.)
Heat it, beat it from all sides, and then just keep pounding on the ball until it comes out..
Heat it, beat it from all sides, and then just keep pounding on the ball until it comes out..
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Struck trailer hitch
I already wacked it with a sledge hammer, and my dad wacked it while I put some tension on it and it still didn't come loose. There wasnt anything behind the truck so it if let go it wouldn't damage anything else. Next is the jaws of life (my dad's a firefighter) and after that it's the torch i think.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Struck trailer hitch
I got it to move but only by hitting it with the sledge hammer inward. It moved in about 1/2 an inch but I can't pull it out with the tow strap. I yanked on it pretty hard and it still wouldn't come out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 347
From: SE Iowa
Struck trailer hitch
Get the receiver frame cherry red (not the ball mount) with a oxy-actetylene torch. Then beat the crap out of it with a sledge as far in as it will go. The heat it up again and use a 1/2" or larger log chain instead of the tow strap to tug it back out. Keep working it back and forth while red hot! I work on my old one for 5 hours before it finally broke free.
TIP OF THE DAY!!! Lube the new ball mount with Anti-Seize coumpound!
You can also reuse the old one after sanblasting or grinding it clean.
Stryder
TIP OF THE DAY!!! Lube the new ball mount with Anti-Seize coumpound!
You can also reuse the old one after sanblasting or grinding it clean.
Stryder
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
Struck trailer hitch
Back in history I had a real job as an agricultural engineer for a seed company. One of our people came in with a receiver hitch problem and I told him to stop back in about a half an hour.
To make a long story short it took two guys, a heavy-duty clevis attached to the drawbar insert with a 3' x 2" solid square steel bar run through the clevis between a 6x6" wood block and an 8 ton hydraulic jack pulling against the receiver frame. We heated with a "rosebud" tip and used lots of "heat seeking" penetrating oil. We'd pump the jack up until it bypassed and hit the frame with an 12' sledgehammer.
With every blow the insert would jump out just far enough to relieve the pressure and cause the whole works to fall off onto the floor
. We'd set it all back up and do it again!
Took us four hours to do what should have taken fourty seconds. Use the never-seize and keep the empty tube covered to keep the dust and dirt out afterward.
To make a long story short it took two guys, a heavy-duty clevis attached to the drawbar insert with a 3' x 2" solid square steel bar run through the clevis between a 6x6" wood block and an 8 ton hydraulic jack pulling against the receiver frame. We heated with a "rosebud" tip and used lots of "heat seeking" penetrating oil. We'd pump the jack up until it bypassed and hit the frame with an 12' sledgehammer.
With every blow the insert would jump out just far enough to relieve the pressure and cause the whole works to fall off onto the floor
. We'd set it all back up and do it again!Took us four hours to do what should have taken fourty seconds. Use the never-seize and keep the empty tube covered to keep the dust and dirt out afterward.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
Struck trailer hitch
I don't think a tow strap is going to be any help. they are too stretchy. and God help you if it does, that strap will act like a big rubber band. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that. Can you borrow a really heavy chain from someone ? Thats how I got mine out. and I went down to the local filling sataion and asked them If I could hook the other end of the chain to one of their big steel poles filled with concrete- they said okay. One hard tug and it came right out, and my face went right into the steering wheel, so be ready. DF
