Truck/towing question -- cant get reciever out

So the Sonoma I just bought -- the previous owner had the reciever in it for a loooonnnggg time it looks like. I got the pin out with a hammer (it was rusted in there) and I've been trying to get the reciever out but the f'n thing is like welded in there it feels like. The rust is SOOOO bad I cant get it to move. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has dealt with this before. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm going to go outside and try using my impact driver to try and get the thing out. I've been soaking it with rust-a-way stuff and no luck yet. Someone suggested I tie the reciever to a tree and drive straight away slooowwwlllyyy... :o

Tie a rope to a tree and yank it out ;)

Can you get at it from the back? I had to hammer one out from the back one time.

I wish. Its solid on the back. I was out there for about 45 minutes using my impact gun and not a damn thing changed... Im really considering the tie-it-to-a-tree idea -- haha.

Soak it with WD40, then use a jack and jack the rear of the truck up by the receiver hitch a few times to help loosen it up, then put a ball on it and wack at the ball with a sledge hammer and the receiver hitch should come out. I've run into this problem several times, the tree idea works but is sometimes dangerous so be careful.

Tried it - not working :-\

heat itw/ torch and yank w/ tree

heat itw/ torch and yank w/ tree
do that AND whack it with a BFH. the vibration from the beating will help dislodge the rust while the heat will help the hitch expand releasing its grip, and the tree applying pressure to pull it out. just make sure your vehicle has room to jump forward, and dont stand behind the receiver as when it comes free, it may fly out and hit you back. good luck
chris

I'd heated one out before, where one of us sat with a oxy-acetylene torch that got the hitch hot all over, then the other guy slammed on the ball with the sledge. We beat it out over the course of little 1/32 inch whacks but it eventually wiggled out. After that we sand blasted the inside of the receiver and painted with barbecue black paint.

Unfortunately the beating destroyed my nice lead hammer :(

i'd use chain not rope to a large tree, apply pressure and tap with a hammer.

are you SURE it's not welded? just be sure, lol.

tie to a tree... and get it on video incase something interesting happens :p

tie to a tree... and get it on video incase something interesting happens :p


I think I'd like to see the tree fall over

would suck if the whole hitch ripped of the truck

With my luck, the chain would snap and come thru my rear window :\

With my luck, the chain would snap and come thru my rear window :\
exactly why i said to have a video camera on hand ;) :p

might wanna wear a helmet :eek:

Theres a shop I was at today with my brothers 99 S10 getting some front end work done on -- good guys, Okemos Auto... They help me out quite a bit ever since my dad sold their owner a truck ;) He said he could torch it out of there for me, clean it all up, grease it up, rust proof it, and make it useable again. I might take him up on that offer!

Well, I had to do that on my truck. I first used a tow strap tied to a utility pole....the strap broke, and so will your rope.
I thin moved to a chain and wrapped it around a very large cement and steel reinforced pole. Soaked it with wd40 and did a little 1 foot, on the gas yanking. Did that for about 30 minutes. Then started doing that with someone using a hammer. Eventually it came out. I think your best bet is a chain, a large hammer and when its wrapped around the pole, sit in it with your foor on the gas at like 2000 rpm roughyl so it has a bit of pressure pulling on it.