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Taking off the hitch every winter, will it damage the bolt hole?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by kikik, May 24, 2018.

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  1. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    Ok, but I'm really weak...I can only do 5 pushups...still ok with just hand?! I mean if I do it with the drill there is no "do the rest by hand" because I don't think I can get it tighter than the drill??
     
    #21 kikik, May 24, 2018
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If your just putting on the bolt I wouldn't sweat it. Consider also getting a long handled ratchet wrench.
     
    #22 Mendel Leisk, May 24, 2018
  3. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    Ok, yes, I had to take off my tire today and couldn't get the bolt off I jumped on it like those apes at the zoo's but wouldn't budge so I went and took off the long pole of the trampoline and was able to! Good idea, thank you!
    I weigh 105lbs does that mean it's 105lbs torque?
     
    #23 kikik, May 24, 2018
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If your wrench is is one foot long and you just stood on it gently, yes, you'd be applying 105 foot/pounds. If your wrench was two feet long, same scenario: you'd be applying 210 foot/pounds.

    Toyota specs 76 foot pounds for the lug nuts, but if various mechanics have rotated the tires and just used impact wrenches, they often over-torque. If it's at 76 pounds it should not take too much effort with the supplied lug nut wrench; if you kind of bounce your weight down on it it amplifies the force a bit.
     
    #24 Mendel Leisk, May 24, 2018
  5. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    Oh...that tire was not a Toyota install maybe that's why. I only have the Toyota jack that's built in the back with the wrench. I will have to buy those jacks you just pump and wrench and all kinds of tools if I'm going to start taking my hitch on and off. I built a deck last year and I was so overwhelmed with all the tools I had to get...now I have to get car tools haha..

    Thank you very much to everybody that replied! I REALLY love this forum, everybody is so nice and helpful! ❤️
     
    #25 kikik, May 25, 2018
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah google breaker bar. There's simple ones, and also some that ratchet.
     
    #26 Mendel Leisk, May 25, 2018
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  7. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Duct Tape WD-40.jpg
     
    #27 RRxing, May 25, 2018
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  8. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    I put my hitch on today!! It was a pain in the butt hole! The muffler was in the way so I had to have my son pull on it while I screwed it in...he's 9... I also had a hard time getting the holes lined up with the muffler plate. Also I learned that you HAVE to have the driver side INSIDE when you put on the muffler side. ARGGGGG. I had to do a do over after I FINALLY lined up the holes!! I did the torque wrench after the drill but I couldn't get it to click :notworthy: I can't believe you're doing this every year with 2 cars!!

    The amount of dust and whatever getting in my eyes was TORTURE!!! But feels so GREAAAATTTT after finally done :D
     
    #28 kikik, May 29, 2018
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just leave it on forever more??
     
    #29 Mendel Leisk, May 29, 2018
  10. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    Hahaha! Maybe?! :X3: But I think I can do it a LOT faster next time. I know now that I need to leave the left side in and when lining the holes I have to tilt it more because it "looks" straight when you're under it but it actually isn't. But we'll see!! :giggle:
     
    #30 kikik, May 29, 2018
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  11. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    That's why I asked.
    I have a shop full of hand tools, air tools, plus jacks & ramps. I would never even consider removing a trailer hitch seasonally.
    If you're concerned about the hitch rusting, brush a coat of boiled linseed oil on it, and it won't be a problem.
     
    #31 tvpierce, May 31, 2018
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  12. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    Yeah but....you've never seen a hitch corroded with salt before right? It's not JUST rust it eats INTO the steel. It's scary because if that hitch collapses or comes off and gets dragged while moving bikes it's going to affect other cars, accidents etc. I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking it but I just want to keep it safe I have kids :)
     
    #32 kikik, Jun 6, 2018
  13. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    Oh wait YOU LIVE IN MAINE??!! WT!! Then whats the deal?? Yours hasn't corroded? So you slab oil on and it's ok?!

    How long have you had yours on?
     
    #33 kikik, Jun 6, 2018
  14. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    I do indeed live in Maine. I don't have a hitch on my Prius, but I do on my 2002 4Runner, and did on my Volvo before that and my Sienna before that. The car will likely rust out before the hitch. There is surface rust on my 4Runner hitch, but it doesn't bother me and it's not a safety concern. I used boiled linseed oil extensively on the underside of my Volvo 940. When I sold it, it was 19 years old, had 320K miles and no rust to speak of -- and it had spent it's entire live in Maine. (I still miss that car!)
     
    #34 tvpierce, Jun 6, 2018
  15. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    That's good to know! But do you live in rural Maine? My inlaws hitch is fine too (rusted but not corroded, rural Maine) but I live in Portland. EVERY single road is covered in salt and tons of it. The hitch that was corroded (my friend) also in Portland and he had it on for 8 or 9 years. I'll research more on rust proofing it too though. Thank you for your input! :)
     
    #35 kikik, Jun 6, 2018
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Spray, brush, both?

    There's talk of replacing road salt with other substances, comparable at melting snow/ice, but less corrosive.

    Road salt | PriusChat
     
    #36 Mendel Leisk, Jun 6, 2018
  17. kikik

    kikik Junior Member

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    But it'll be harmful to the environment though right? Although salt is corrosive, it is a natural resource after all...
     
    #37 kikik, Jun 6, 2018
  18. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    I remember an article where some place was using beet juice to de-ice roads. There's plenty of options out there...
     
    #38 RRxing, Jun 7, 2018
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  19. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    Applied with a cheap paint brush. Dries to a nice film.
     
    #39 tvpierce, Jun 7, 2018
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  20. tvpierce

    tvpierce Senior Member

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    I work in Portland.
     
    #40 tvpierce, Jun 7, 2018
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