Rear Xmember Removal

I’m trying to remove the rear fuel tank crossmember on my 2001 Tacoma but can’t slide it out of the frame rails.

All hardware has been removed and most of the rust inside the rails have been removed but no luck getting it out.

Any ideas/ lessons learned?
Thank you!

 

Are you trying to salvage it? If not, just sawzall it.

 

Yes, I’m trying to salvage it.

 

It will come out. I struggled with it as well. I ended up using a rubber mallet and scratched some paint but I worked it out. I had the rear crossmember out at the same time, so that may have helped a little.

 

Dont try too hard

 

I built a spreader and stretched the back a little and it fell right out.

 

This is what it looks like.

 

Now I appriciated the xrunnners x brace a littlebit more. A frame hitch may be a good stiffer upper.