Removing a Stuck Hitch from the Receiver

The owner of this truck wanted to tow a trailer with it, but someone had left a hitch in the receiver for years, which eventually rusted itself inside the receiver and was seized. Using a cutting torch and an air hammer, I was able to remove it.

[@FishFind3000]

Looks like you could use a big nasty!

[@DanielJaegerFilms]

Yeah, South Main Auto’s Thor and Big Nasty would have been handy! 🤣

[@stanpatterson5033]

Sooner or later, everybody comes to the same conclusion : Life is better with lubrication.
I've found that removing the hitch from the receiver when I'm not towing, also helps greatly.

[@EngineeringGoneWrong]

So much wisdom in so few words!

[@fryreartechnology7611]

The hot wrench. You can be tight if you're liquid lol

[@Hubjeep]

Nice! A relief cut or two with a recip saw would help shrink the ball mount and get it out.

[@A.C.71]

What if the ball part has a solid shaft instead of tubing and we tried an air hammer, penitrating oil soaking etc ?

[@wobbygong]

I had this issue live on the coast plenty of beach trips had it rusted on like it was welded but persisted with the recipro saw and hammer until it finally came out for those of you without an oxy torch

[@wreckerjonny6144]

We got a weight distribution hitch seized in there. It's a solid square tube.
Truck isn't worth a new hitch

[@jmr9974]

I would love to see an update video on the excursion

[@FishFind3000]

The issue I have is a stuck lock on the reviver hitch. The locking mechanism is rusted and only partially moves. Hopefully with enough messing around and liquid wrench it will let go.

[@buddyweiser8508]

I’m assuming your talking about one of those locking hitch pins that hold the hitch in the receiver. If so I have also had this problem.
I didn’t have a lot of space so I took a blade off my hacksaw, and grabbing it with my bare hands I was able to slowly saw it off. Took about half an hour, but I could only move the blade about a inch in each direction.
If you have more room and can fit the saw as well as the blade, probably take less than 10 minutes. Or even better sawzall, that would’ve worked for me, but I couldn’t afford one at the time.

[@paulgat1016]

@@buddyweiser8508 It's easier to put a pipe on the end and bend it back and forth about 15 times. It'll snap right off and then you can hammer it out. That's how whole boats are stolen. It takes about 30 seconds.

[@bullnpcola]

Junkyard get whole entire hitch maybe easier. Plus the heat stressing the metal maybe compromising the strength.

[@markm0000]

Lmao repeatedly shoving the hitch in the hot and lubed up receiver like this is automotive animal planet hahahha

[@Timothy-NH]

Maybe it was a reduction sleeve?

[@samsquires2877]

I would have sprayed Fluid Film on it when you finished.

[@FishFind3000]

Did you ever put that flywheel into that vw?

[@DanielJaegerFilms]

Not yet, planning on doing it when it hits 260k miles

[@jamesonpralle6154]

@@DanielJaegerFilms You should put Performance Improved Cylinder Heads, Camshafts, and Intake Manifold on the Tandem Axle and make it push 300hp!!

[@redneckbryon]

Any worries about damage to the receiver, after using a torch??

[@markm0000]

Eh it’s probably fine. Actually it’s stronger how that it’s heat treated.

[@daviddavis9720]

Wow, I live in the desert southwest and never see rust like that!

[@russell6578]

Cannot trust the hitch strength , after extream heat from your cutiing torch!

[@pilotguy1141]

i always put anti-seeze on my hitch inserts to avoid this

[@Dylan-kw4ol]

can you show us how to weld

[@lonwillis783]

Wow Thanks 👍😊

[@HanzelFonferek]

Noice

[@HanzelFonferek]

Lol! Ugliest Ford ever! Lol!