Remove your hitch.
- Thread starter Diamondpilot
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With time available...... Soaking with your favourite metal juice....
or/and
Lots of Heat (OA torches).....
Lots of Pull (took two 4x4 trucks pulling inline (dry pavement) on one hitch at my buddy's shop one time....) ......
Lots of Pounding (sledges).......
and, like Chris said, the hitch can still just go to scrap as a one piece item.....
This problem (up here) can lead to people saying "Oh well", and just pulling with a smaller-stuck-in-place ball.
It's a whole lot simpler/safer/cheaper to just pull the drawbar.....
Rgds, D.
or/and
Lots of Heat (OA torches).....
Lots of Pull (took two 4x4 trucks pulling inline (dry pavement) on one hitch at my buddy's shop one time....) ......
Lots of Pounding (sledges).......
and, like Chris said, the hitch can still just go to scrap as a one piece item.....
This problem (up here) can lead to people saying "Oh well", and just pulling with a smaller-stuck-in-place ball.
It's a whole lot simpler/safer/cheaper to just pull the drawbar.....
Rgds, D.
s219
Super Member
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That is pretty amazing to see, thanks for posting the pictures. I remove mine when not in use just because I know I will bang a shin or knee sooner or later.
I just change the ball , why buy two drawbars when I only need one , and its there when I need it . I paint it every second year .............
Whatever works, safely, is all that matters. (Just a general statement.... I'm not implying that you are doing anything unsafe by just changing balls Wawa. That said, would I want the average consumer today changing balls on a drawbar - No.).
Pulling different trailers, I need a different rise on the drawbar - for that reason alone I won't tolerate a fused-in-place drawbar.
Rgds, D.
ruffdog
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I tow a variety of different trailers that require different type inserts so I always pull the insert and keep a light coat of marine grease on everything so no rust forms.
brokenknee
Platinum Member
Not illegal to leave in, in MN; that being said if the hitch or ball obscures your license plate in any way that is illegal. I know an officer that has and will write that citation. Some may just use it for PC to make the stop.
I tried to pull mine out the other day, been in there since last fall. The hitch itself is loose, can move it up and down. The key cylinder on the pin on the other hand has rusted so bad I can't even get the key in it to unlock. Guess I'm gonna have to hacksaw through the pin.
Bigfoot62
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Hacksaw may not work. Some of those locking pins are made from hardened steel. Use a grinder to cut one end off.
If you haven't already, try blowing out some of the crud from the cylinder with compressed air, soak with your favourite metal juice, and repeat - for as long as you have patience..... works sometimes..... at least well enough to release the lock once.
Yet another good example of the "fun" we get to have in salt country......
For light duty security (kids w. no tools) I use a pin with a tiny hasp, takes a small padlock, which seems to stand up OK for occasional use. I think it was a Reese part (?).
Good luck, grind safe if it comes to that....
Rgds, D.