HELP! Hitch stuck in receiver on my truck!

[Scozz]

I know this has nothing to do with tractors but I figure I'd throw it out there anyway. I've been trying to get the hitch out of the receiver for the last 3 hours with no luck.
1) I've tried nylon strap to tree in 4WD- LOTS OF PENTRATING OIL!
2) Beating a wood splitter between it and hitch
3) Heating hitch
4) Floor jack between ball and bumper
5) Backing into a big rock to try to get inward movement.
I can't ge the thing to move more then 1/4 inch in or out.
Any one have aothe suggetions?
I'm reaady to rip the hitc out and buty a new one .. new trailer needs a drop hitch! I'm exhausted and pissed!
Anthony

 

[Cliff_Johns]

If you can convince the hitch that you want it to stay in, it will fall out on the ground when you look the other way.
Cliff

 

[Gatorboy]

You have pulled out the pin right?

When was the last time you had it out? I've never heard of anyone having such a hard time removing a hitch from the receiver. Did it get bent, or damaged someway?

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Did it get bent, or damaged someway? )</font>

Probably from backing into a rock.

Seriously, usually the hitch is pretty loose, I can't imagine rust or corosion ever making it that hard to release. The fact that you can move it a little bit does imply that it somehow got bent as Gatorboy says. You may well have to remove the whole thing as you said. If you start pulling or pushing too hard, you may cause dammage to the truck.

Cliff

 

[Dargo]

I've never heard of a hitch getting stuck either. I'd try smacking it side to side and up and down with a little 3 pound sledge until you work it loose. I couldn't imagine it not coming out then.

 

[SeymourBota]

I have had this happen before and have taken a small sledge and banged the heck out of the nut at the bottom of the hitch ball.
If you have a compressor, you might try an air hammer with the most blunt tip you can find.
It will just take alot of fine blows to break the corrosion seal, if that is what is holding you in.
Hit it with some more penetrating oil as you try these things.

 

[stevenf]

I had the exact same problem you must be using a solid shank like you would use in a class V equalizer 2" hitch. Heres what you need to do. Use slightly thicker oil than penetrating like 3 in 1 or 10 weight as the penetrating oil has to much petro distillates in it to make a very good lube. try to get it everywhere you can find a crack or hole then with a 2 to 5 lb hand type sledge tap it back and forth repeatedly like in and out of the receiver and everytime you get a little more exposed add more oil it will pop right out pretty quick be careful it doesn't land on your foot or you'll have something else to talk about "loudly" after you get it out remove the paint or at least a couple of layers and this will not happen ever again. I think they must submerge the shanks in paint on the solid shanks because it adds at least 1/32 which you have already found out because they also have eaten up all the clearance.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I've seen them rusted in place before. If you're getting a full quarter inch movement it's not rusted fast. Just keep working it with a hammer as suggested and you ought to be able to get it out eventually. If not, a new hitch is only around $150 or so. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I was told Meijer Stores here has a class III/IV on sale for $119 right now.

 

[TOMDUALLY]

if you have a step bumper you might try putting a small hydraulic jack horizontally between the bumper and the ball then just start applying pressure while tapping on the underside of the stinger to prevent binding

 

[thcri]

Yep, I had that problem about 8 years ago. No matter what I did I could not move it in or out. So I just got patient, (me patient?? hmm) I just kept spraying penetrating oil on it every 6 hours and tapping it one way or the other with a hammer. After loosing my patience I started beating the living day lights out of it with a real big hammer. (Didn't much care about re-using at this point). The last and final thing I did was to run a cable around it and a tree. Tighten it real tight with the vehicle and then started hammering from the back side of the ball. I finally got it to move about a 1/2 inch. I then backed up and took the pressure off the cable sprayed the hitch and pounded back in. Tightened the cable , well you know the rest of the story. Long story short, I ruined the ball but was able to keep the reciever. Had to clean up the female end also before I could re-use again.

Oh yes forgot to tell you, I took the ball off and installed upside down so I could hit it with a good swing of the hammer.
murph