Anybody ever detail a ball hitch.....

P

pingable

New member
Everything looks great on my DD except for the ball hitch.

Receiver has flaking paint/metal.....ball is a mix of chome and rust.



I dunno. May be just pointless as the rusting might just come right back due to morning/dew/DD and and even if I spray brush/scrape/prime/paint the metal. I suspect it will all come right back...
 
It's a constant battle; if you want it to stay looking nice, you can't really do much other than grind it down, prime, and paint. As for the ball itself, try some Evapo-rust. I've had that stuff work miracles for me in the past.



Of course the other option is to replace it, as long as it isn't fused into place by rust.
 
I've never had a ball hitch, but what makes this so challenging? No, no...I'm not busting on anybody, I just don't get it :confused:



I've kept the trailer hitch, uhm...oh [snap] what's the term?!?...trailer hitch bracket/receptacle/big black rectangular steel thing under the bumper OK on my SUVs with no real trouble. Well, I haven't gotten the one on the beater-Tahoe really nice yet (I'll chemical-treat, wire brush, Rust Bullet, epoxy paint) but I've been able to keep its surface rust arrested and it looks OK in that "black undercarriage stuff" kind of way.



For the ball itself, why not just get a new one and OptiCoat/etc. it? Wouldn't that work OK like on other chrome stuff?
 
Accumulator said:
I've kept the trailer hitch, uhm...oh [snap] what's the term?!?
Click to expand...



That would be the "receiver." ;)



For the ball itself, why not just get a new one and OptiCoat/etc. it? Wouldn't that work OK like on other chrome stuff?
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I tried that with a locking hitch pin (holds the cover in place) and it still rusted out over the course of a winter. I once had to get out a grinder with a cutoff wheel to remove it. With a ball, especially if you actually tow stuff with it the OC would be gone in short order anyway. The quality of coating on most of those isn't great. Now, a billet aluminum piece might be more durable, but I'd bet that's expensive.



Personally I never leave the ball and tongue mounted unless I'm actively using it. The rest of the time it's in a storage bin under the rear seat in my truck.
 
C. Charles Hahn- Ah yeah..."receiver"! As soon as I saw that I was all..."well, duh... :o ". Thanks for schoolin' me, both on that and how stuff just corrodes back there.
 
I remember looking at a replacement and I did not look too hard.....but I did not want to NOT spring for nothing other than OEM. Sometimes, I find the fitment is off, and it rattles a bit more than I would want.



I have not put a trailer/track rat on it in 2 year. But it's a great Don't Park Too Close to Me, especially out here in Gotham City.

I was at a new restaurant in the city and watched this murdered out F350 park super close. So tight....I could have sworn his nose was PAST the top of my front bumper and almost toucing the rear window of my SUV. Lo and behold, when I stepped out later, I looked at the bottom of his matte black bumper. Nice Crack/Dent Dead Center where my the *ball* of my car was. That's what they get when you get too close to my b...s
 
BBQ Matte Black paint did wonders on my 1997 Toyota hitch. It stood the test of time...over a year, anyway. Was still looking great when I sold the truck.



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Brad B.- I still think that was a great SUV you had there ;) BBQ paint huh....I'll keep that in mind if/when I do the one on the Tahoe.
 
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