Try some Mopar Rust Penetrant. They sell it at the dealer part counter. I've seen it melt rust away. Not sure what's in it, but it appears that the rust liquifies, and runs off the part. Probably not safe to drink.

Try that stuff, and then heat, then beat the **** out of it all around with a 4lb sledge. I wouldn't use a big ole 10lbs unless it were right on the end of the hitch. Dent the housing and you'll never get it out.

 

find a big tree and let it rip, just get the strap and bounce it, wont ruin the tranny just gets a little annoying(put a blanket or something to help hold the strap down in case it breaks before the hitch breaks free.

Is this a common thing up north, used to tow a boat all the time and it never got worse than a good yank with my hands, only times really dealing with them rusted in is hitches that have been laying around for years or a buddies mud truck

 

Hitch= 3 ontimeanthony= 0

I just tried most of your suggestions. Got it cherry red and used a 5lb sledge behind it. Used the 10lb sledge as well. Even blocked all 4 tires and wrapped a strap around the receiver and the other around the hitch on my Dakota, 2 good running start pulls and nothing.
There comes a point when you have too much time in a project. I felt I had too much time in this one. Took the torch to the bolts and 15 minutes later the hitch was on the ground. I am going to drop it off at a machine shop near my house and see if they can press it out. If not, I am in the market for another hitch.

Thank you for all your suggestions. Good luck Zman, I hope yours goes smoother.

 

My truck has the same problem, hooked it to a tree after heating it up cherry red, gave it three really good yanks and nothing. I bet all my friends 50 bucks to whoever could get it out without making any noticible changes to the hitch and no ones done it yet lol! I just stopped right then and there it can stay in!

 

Take the hitch off and take it to a machine shop. Have them put it in a press. I know a guy who had the same problem on his Blazer, and thats what he did, and he had tried everything before, too.

Sorry, I didnt realize that you said you were gonna do this.

 

A trick I was taught was to heat the corners of the tube, not the flat. By heating the corners you expand both flat sides. Two torches will be a big help. Mine was stuck too and got it out by heating all the corners and a few shots with a BMF hammer. Don't yank it out, someone will get hurt.

 

Hitch= 4 ontimeanthony= 1

Well, we have been busy at work so I have not had time to run the hitch over to a machine shop. We have a small shop at work that we use to do our own repairs on our trucks. I took the hitch back there on Monday, stood it up on end and started soaking it with PB Blast, I did this 6 times in the course of 2 days. This morning when I came in I noticed the PB Blast had finally worked itself halfway down because it had started seeping out where the hitch pin slides in. Today was a rough day, alot of phone time, putting out fires and aggravation so it was time for me to let off some steam. I went back to the shop and found a piece of thick pipe about 6" long that fit perfectly into the back of the hitch. I then welded a large bolt the diameter of the pipe on one end. I pulled out a tow motor to use as a table and clamped the hitch to the forks, heated up the Hitch with a rosebud tip and started whaling on the pipe I made with a long handled sledge hammer . It took about 1.5 hours on and off between me and the guy that runs the shop beating on this thing but it finally came apart.

 

Let this be a lesson, never leave the ball mount in the hitch.

 

You got that right!! I just bought the truck in November, it's a '98 and I think the receiver has been in there since '98.

On my Dakota, I always lathered up the receiver with bearing grease about once a year and never had a problem.

 

if you want you can do the one on my 91 next. it looks like it has been there since 91. i swear i was lucky to just get the pin out last summer. this summer i'm hoping to get it out because my 81 ether need a tow hitch or a better bumper.