Receiver and hitch stuck together

[Kal-Kevin]

     Have you ever got your hitch get stuck inside your receiver of your tow vehicle?

     I had that happen last summer when I got rid of my old vehicle and wanted to move my hitch to my new truck. so I tried a few ideas my friends have offered to me over the year with no results. What I found work like a charm was to hook a com-along to one of my larger trees in the yard and then to the ball on the hitch.  I then crank the com-along till the vehicle started to roll back as far as the brakes would let it. Then I added two more cranks to it just to make sure it was not going any where soon. Next I use a five pound sledge hammer and tapped the hitch a few times on both sides, then I would check the com-along for tightness.
     Well this went on for a good half hour, then all of my work just popped out of there, the hitch came out of the receiver with a good bang!

Word of warning: do not stand in line with the hitch as it will fly out of there when it pops free of the receiver! 

Fact for those new to truck parts: the receiver is the part that is hooked to the truck and the hitch is the part that has the ball hooked to it! 

   

[Bassinkorea]

.................with a good bang!

Ear plugs might also be a good idea 

Thanks for sharing your idea Kal 
Did you add some kind of lube when you installed it in the new vehicle?  that could save you some time next time.

[Kal-Kevin]

Yes Bk I sanded the hitch to get the rust off, then I took a good load of grease to the receiver. Also from now on I will remember to check it out a few time during the summer, to make sure it is removable! 

[ronalddipietro]

where is the TIP?

[bass1cpr]

   Kal I just use a telephone pole and a chain it needs to be lined up straight and the chain needs to be level shoot some penetrating oil in the receiver put tension on the chain and tap with a big ballpien hammer or have someone have it in gear while tapping. Works all the time at the boat shop.

[DBrooke]

Good call Kevin. I found that a healthy coat of never-seize on the hitch is a good idea. It repels water and keeps it greasy. I try to take mine out a couple times a year for this reason and clean the hitch and receiver, especially get bad for us northern folks with all the salt on the roads.

[Kal-Kevin]

where is the TIP?

tip 1: it is how to get it out when it is frozen in
tip 2: do not stand in line with the hitch when doing it
tip 3: what we call the receiver and what is called the hitch! 

I found that a healthy coat of never-seize on the hitch is a good idea. It repels water and keeps it greasy.

good idea might have to go buy some soon! 

[hornytoader]

I can see me trying that with my luck.....the tree would fall on my truck instead of hitch coming out of receiver 

[Kal-Kevin]

I can see me trying that with my luck.....the tree would fall on my truck instead of hitch coming out of receiver 

Then use a bigger tree the second time! 

[3deez]

never had that problem. probably because my hitch is in the reciever only when I'm actually pulling the boat. only takes 10 seconds to take it off. I know guys who never take them off and they have the bruises on thier knees to prove it.