JuicyBaron Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Any tips on getting out a trailer hitch thats seized in the receiver?? I've used PB blast and tried beating it with a sledge with no luck. Would a small propane torch work to heat it up enough?
coralee Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 I've had success hooking up to a heavy trailer and moving back and forth and hitting the brake, just need to make sure the trailer doesn't go flying or get damaged when it drops down if it comes loose.
1mainiac Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Just keep hitting it till it moves then hit it more. I have had a couple where I had to cut them out with a torch. Rule number one never leave a hitch in the receiver in MI. Which reminds me to pull mine out tomorrow LOL. My younger brother refers to rust as the grip of God and what God has joined together let no man take apart LOL.
1mainiac Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Heat won't likely help much unless you can get a lot of it if you can get the receiver hot and cool the hitch shank it might help. If you have a good snatch strap hook it to the hitch and wrap around a large tree to try and pull it out much safer than trying to tow a trailer to free it. But again keep hitting hit with the big hammer do not try and force it with little hammers get the biggest hammer you can swing. Hit it from every direction then hit it some more.
fishy1 Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Get a bottle of mapp gas from your local hardware store it gets a lot hotter than propane.I helped a friend with the same problem and heated it well along with hitting it with a small sledge hammer and it finally came out after about 20 minutes.I applied the heat to the receiver not the hitch, good luck.
JuicyBaron Posted March 21, 2014 Author Posted March 21, 2014 Thank for the replies guys. Mapp gas was going to be my next attempt. Heat the receiver and then try to quickly cool the shank to hopefully break the seizure. If that doesn't work I'll try to pull it out with a strap and tree. I just worry about the bolts breaking off the frame on the receiver at that point. I guess I know what I'll spend my Saturday doing.
Play Dough Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Just make sure there's nothing or no one down range from that slingshot of a strap if you go that route. That's a Darwin award qualifer.
Boltman Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 Take it from a fastener specialist , get a New hitch or someday your trailer will pass you by. Or if it's the ball get a new one and change it out as I have to do , when I installed my receiver , the powder coat welded to the inside of the receiver and not even a Cat front loader can get it out, we've had it red hot to , no biggie I just get new Balls!!!!!!!
Paulywood Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 I tried everything listed above one year. Ended up just buying a new receiver and figured it was a cheap lesson learned. Now I grease up the hitch every spring when I put it in and coat the receiver with grease in the fall when I take it out. No more issues now.
JuicyBaron Posted March 21, 2014 Author Posted March 21, 2014 Thanks again for the replies guys! I'm hoping I'll be able to break it loose this weekend after some work on it. Worst case scenario I'll change the coupler on the trailer to match the hitch size if I can't loosen it. Thanks again for the info and ideas!
prop nut Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 I've had success hooking up to a heavy trailer and moving back and forth and hitting the brake, just need to make sure the trailer doesn't go flying or get damaged when it drops down if it comes loose.I did the same thing but put a 3/8" bolt in in place of the bigger hitch pin After I got it moving I beat it out with a sledge No I anti seize the snot out of all my hitches
Far Beyond Driven Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 One that came with my wife's truck didn't break loose after a full sized van hit it a 40 mph. $7200 and a new hitch later, I pull the receiver and throw it under the seat after every trip. Also saves on the shins, as the truck barely fits in the garage.
coralee Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 On the trailer part I'm NOT talking about towing it-just moving slowly and slamming the brake so nothing can go far. I like the smaller bolt idea to keep it in place but I'm pretty sure a strap won't "break it" loose I'd use a chain even if using a tree. I have a heavy 2 axel trailer that will sit with out the jack down on the ground so it works perfect to use as it will only roll backwards a short ways when it comes loose. I could leave the chain on but don't want it slamming so I just let it roll a bit.
Tug Boat II Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 I had it happen to me. Had to heat the receiver with an oxy acetylene torch. Hooked a chain to the receiver and a big tree. Gave it one jerk and out it came. Now I use no seize and never leave the receiver in.
King Slammin' Posted March 21, 2014 Posted March 21, 2014 I've had success hooking up to a heavy trailer and moving back and forth and hitting the brake, just need to make sure the trailer doesn't go flying or get damaged when it drops down if it comes loose. Don't forget, the only way this works is if someone is taking video...
anthonyyost Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 I had that happen and had to remove the receiver from the truck and have the hitch pressed out at a metal shop
TURBOTWIST Posted March 23, 2014 Posted March 23, 2014 Drill a small hole like .125" in the corner of the top on each side opposite each other and spray your pb blaster or other thin penetrator oil in and giver a few days slap it with your four pound hammer in between.it may go then .
JuicyBaron Posted March 23, 2014 Author Posted March 23, 2014 Well, after about 2 hours on friday and an hour today I have finally released the hitch! I ended up heating the receiver up with a MAP torch and tied off to a tree with my strap and pulled tight to get some tension, then beat it with the blunt side of a maul for about 30 minutes and it finally broke free. I'll chalk this up as a lesson learned and grease the new hitch up good and take it out in the winter! Thanks again for all your help guys!
starcraft Posted March 23, 2014 Posted March 23, 2014 I just had the same problem recently.I did use pb blaster several times in all the open spots I could find.Each time waited a while and pounded with hammer.The last time I used the rest of the can on it,next day put some heat on outside and pounded and got it loose.Good luck!
Priority1 Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Unless I'm pulling something the next day mine comes out. They're nothing but shin bangers anyway when nothing is hooked up. Ouch!!!! The small propane torch will do nothing. An oxyacetylene torch may get it done with a rose bud tip.
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