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Protecting receiver hitch from rust

toolmiser

By toolmiser
in Towing, Hauling & Hitches

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toolmiser Enthusiast

toolmiser

Posted
Posted

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.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 Senior Enthusiast

SouthernSilveradoGuy85

Posted
Posted

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.

Imcrazy Senior Enthusiast

Imcrazy

Posted
Posted

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

Kent2500 Enthusiast

Kent2500

Posted
Posted

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

kstruckcountry Senior Enthusiast

kstruckcountry

Posted
Posted

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.

KMGZ400 Senior Enthusiast

KMGZ400

Posted
Posted

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 Senior Enthusiast

00Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted

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.

4x4Hank Enthusiast

4x4Hank

Posted
Posted

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 Senior Enthusiast

TimmyG

Posted
Posted

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

mefly2 Enthusiast

mefly2

Posted
Posted

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..

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