Repainting my hitch.

[Utopia]

So yesterday I noticed my hitch is getting a bit rusty and probably needs a good wire brushing and a repaint. Should I try to remove it to do said work or just work around the bumper, etc and leave it on? Never have had one off so I have no idea what I would be in for

 

[Elan_]

I just had mine powder coated. It's not hard to take off. I had 12 bolts, 4 on each frame rail and 4 right in the center over the receiver.

Once I get a spare moment I'm going to take the bumper fascia off and take some more of it off to get it powder coated. I have access to free black powder coating but I'd do the same if I were just painting it.

 

[Utopia]

If I remove it, does anyone have the torque specs for the bolts for when it goes back on?

 

[truckhigh]

if your hitch is rusted then your bolts are very likely rusty too. those frame nuts like to snap so be careful. Soak it over night and prepare to replace some bolts. if you don't use it for real towing just touch it up on the vehicle.

 

[Utopia]

I never use it. I'll probably just mask off the bumper and brush and spray it

 

[S4TA]

I took mine off to repaint with chassis paint and looks much better. I had to buy new bolts from the hardware store. I also bought some taps to clean up the threads.


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[PaulB-2006 T4R]

I never use it. I'll probably just mask off the bumper and brush and spray it

Yes I did this about 6 years ago. Just sand some of the rust off, clean it up a little and use Rust-Oleum. I was planning to retouch my hitch this weekend.

 

[Nervo19]

Yes I did this about 6 years ago. Just sand some of the rust off, clean it up a little and use Rust-Oleum. I was planning to retouch my hitch this weekend.

Exactly. I did this on my 3rd gen about four years ago and it still looks great. Rustoleum satin black.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

i took my bumper skin off and wire brushed and sanded down everything, then hit it with a couple coats of rustoleum, took me about 2 hours start to finish.

 

[emoore924]

Just a comment for posterity:

IF YOU REMOVE THE HITCH MOUNT BOLTS TO REMOVE THE HITCH RECEIVER, BUY ANY REQUIRED NUTS, BOLTS AND ACCOMPANYING HARDWARE FROM TOYOTA AND REPLACE WHATEVER YOU REMOVED WITH NEW PARTS.

The mounting hardware is hardened and of certain tensile strength (8.8? 10.8? 12.8?) and must be properly torqued, or you (or the NEXT owner) risk having a catastrophic failure of the hitch while towing. That's a really bad, bad thing. Do NOT half-ass hitch or towing hardware.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

 

[Utopia]

Ok. Stupid question time. I bought some rust primer but it says not to use on painted surfaces. Part of my hitch is fine and did not need to be sanded and the other and rusted part I wire brushed. Should I use two types of primer, the regular primer and the rust primer or forget it all together and just paint it? Just trying to get a good coat so I won't have to do it again for a few years.

 

[lcbjr77]

Looking good Ethan, now I may have a new project on my hands

i took my bumper skin off and wire brushed and sanded down everything, then hit it with a couple coats of rustoleum, took me about 2 hours start to finish.

 

[Boardmember]

Ok, skewer me but I've done this a number of times to various Toyota truck hitches. Note the rust I wire brushed and wiped was generally cosmetic surface rust. In the corners, at the welds.

Mask it off. Rust oleum satin black. Looks like new. For a long time. Again, I don't live where they salt the roads and I recognize what a bad solution this would be if the rust were anything besides surface.

 

[Utopia]

Ok, skewer me but I've done this a number of times to various Toyota truck hitches. Note the rust I wire brushed and wiped was generally cosmetic surface rust. In the corners, at the welds.

Mask it off. Rust oleum satin black. Looks like new. For a long time. Again, I don't live where they salt the roads and I recognize what a bad solution this would be if the rust were anything besides surface.

Ok. Good to know. I am thinking I will rust primer the rusty spots. Primer the rest and then spray it flat black.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Looking good Ethan, now I may have a new project on my hands

it was so simple and quick, good preventative maintenance if you don't have rust issues