Protecting receiver hitch from rust

[toolmiser]

I've got a new silverado with the factory receiver hitch. I know it's painted, but what can be done to keep it looking nice thru the years? Waxing it doesn't seem like a good option- it probably wouldn't wipe off well and would look bad if it didn't. I only occasionally use the hitch, but on my old truck (2001) it was looking pretty tired, and the rest of the truck still looked good. Thanks for all ideas. I don't normally leave the bar in it either.

[gmtech4]

mike you're killin me ,,,,just use the truck !!!!

[kstruckcountry]

Sandblast it and have it powdercoated. Nothing else will be as tough.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I've only seen surface rust on hitches, never rust that goes through the metal itself. So I wouldn't worry too much about it. A hitch isn't made to look good. If you look they just try to hide it from view instead of trying to make it look good.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

Sandblast it and have it powdercoated. Nothing else will be as tough.

 

A cheaper way could be to bedliner it, not sure if it would last like powdercoat though.

[Imcrazy]

wax it, when it gets rusty sand and put a fresh coat of paint, heck you could even just brush it on.

[Kent2500]

There are numerous anti-rust products on the market from simple WD-40 to Boeshield T-9 to marine grease to Rust-Olenum.

[kstruckcountry]

A good powder coat will hold up nicely. My bumper has held up great. I see a lot of painted ones that are really rusty. For durability powder coat can't be beat. I'm planning on having my hitch done eventually.

[99silveradoz71]

I usually hit mine with Rustoleum every few years.

[KMGZ400]

I spray mine down with white lithium WD40 and it sticks well and will last for a month probably longer, but I spray it on usually when I wash it. Weird but works good for me!

[00Silverado4x4]

I personally haven't done anything to mine except use it and forget about it. I typically always have a hitch in the receiver but I'm not worried about the appearance of it in the least.

[02suburbanZ71]

Fluid film

[4x4Hank]

I've got a new silverado with the factory receiver hitch. I know it's painted, but what can be done to keep it looking nice thru the years? Waxing it doesn't seem like a good option- it probably wouldn't wipe off well and would look bad if it didn't. I only occasionally use the hitch, but on my old truck (2001) it was looking pretty tired, and the rest of the truck still looked good. Thanks for all ideas. I don't normally leave the bar in it either.

Toolmiser, like you, I don't like the looks of harmless surface rust anywhere on my vehicles and that includes the hitch. I traded in an 05 Trailblazer on my 2014 Silverado. About once a year or so I used to mask off my receiver hitch or maybe even just use a handheld piece of cardboard and touch it up with gloss black Rustoleum. To me, it makes a vehicle look better without the surface rust showing. It may also be one of the reasons that I received what I consider top dollar on a trade-in for my Trailblazer.

[TimmyG]

My 11 was getting rusty at the welds, hit it with rustoleum looks good as new

[mefly2]

We have a stinger in ours 9 months out of the year ... used to pull our travel trailer on weekends and vacation. Since there is always metal grinding on metal, there is no way to keep it from a bit of rust. What seems to work very well, however is the spray on bed liner on the stinger and outside of the receiver. All that really shows any use / rust is the interior of the receiver and that is quickly taken care of with a spray can just before winter hits..