Rusty Hitch

That looks to be surface rust. If it were me, i'd remove it, take the wirebrush to it, paint with rusty metal primer, then a nice finish coat of glossy black rustoleum (or equivalent). It looks like it will clean up nicely..

and - depending upon how you dispose of the 2005 - you won't put off the dealer or used car buyer when they see a hitch on a car that the owner's manual says shouldn't be towing...

 

y=]You can prably cleam all the rust off, with steel wool and a lot of work, but you will never get a factory finish that resists rust.

This looks like a coastal tech hitch, it appears that not only is it a badly desinged hitch, but also poorly made and finished. I'd recommend pulling it off painting it and selling it as quick as possible.

Get a Curt, or U-Haul hitch, better made and $150 installed from your local U-haul dealer.

 

A lot of folks around here will try to leave the receiver hitch in all the time. Then when they try to change receiver tubes, it's rusted in so badly it's impossible to remove

You can spray a film on to protect the hitch. Forget wd-40, it serves no useful purpose here. I've had the best luck with LPS-3 and Fluid Film. You can get both in a spray can, one can should do it

With either LPS3 or Fluid Film, a quick treatment every fall will last an entire year. If you wish I can take a photo of the hitch on my FJ, in addition to the frame I also treated.

 

Do you want to use your old hitch, have it look better than a new hitch and outlast several more new cars?

Take it off, look in the yellow pages for a place that does galvanising, have it sand blasted and hot dip galvanised. I had my land yacht hot dipped 10 years back for $70 so expect to pay about $50US as my job was much bigger. It will come back all shiny silver and will fade to a dull grey over a couple of years but you will never see rust on it again.

Be aware that galvanising will make the receiver hole a little smaller so if the hitch is a tight fit this may not be suitable but if there is some clearance it will take that up. Talk to the metal coaters for more information about the thickness of the coating. It will prevent the hitch or other attachments seizing in the receiver. You may also need to drill out the hole for the pin through the receiver or ask the coaters to do it.

 

I don't know why the title of this thread makes me giggle.

It sounds like the name of a NASCAR driver.
"Rusty Hitch just fell into ninth place after that pit stop"

Or something you did to your college roommate when he passes out after one too many beers.
"Dude! Greg had way too many Mickey's last night so when he fell asleep we totally gave him a Rusty Hitch"

Or maybe what you call that crazy cat lady who use to yell at you for cutting through her lawn on the way to school.
"Old lady Wilson tied to hit me with a tabby. I hate that Rusty Hitch!"

Yes, I AM that immature. But please, carry on.

 

How about Powder Coating it?

 

Look,
I grew up in Ohio, near Canton, and I saw plenty of hitches there through the years. A hitch that had been manufactured and coated properly should never have deteriorated like this one. Especially in only three years.

You could have the hitch powder coated, probably the best treatment, but I bet for the same money you could by a new one. Especially given the amount of work it looks like this hitsvh will need to get it ready for powder coating. Also you don't know how damaged the hitch has become.

 

Couple pieces of advice;

Don't buy that same brand of hitch again. The hitch made buy Curt is powder coated and much sturdier.

Move to California. We don't have rust here.

 

We use Boeshield T-9 on all our rust prone tools here in the misty woods of Oregon. But Fluid Film also has a good reputation.

Rust Prevention Rust Protection Metal Penetrating Lubrication Anti Corrosives Multi Purpose Metal Protection BOESHIELD T-9