Is my trailer ball welded in?

Uncalled for... If you've never had a hitch before, this could be a unique problem. Plus, if they're really rusted in there, you'd swear it was welded, they can really latch on if left too long.

 

...and slip out like cat poop on a linoleum floor when you don't expect it

 

And in some states it is illegal to not give a chicken the right of way....

OP, pull the ball off. Spray the receiver with pb or wd40. Take a hammer and tap all around the receiver on the outside, this will break up some of the rust on the inside. Take a larger hammer such as a sledge and hit it where the drop down is welded to the tube. I included a picture with a yellow circle showing you where. This should allow it slide back, then you can just pull it out.

 

If you have nothing positive to contribute to the solution why say anything?


If you can find some Kroil or WD-40 and soak the receiver for a few minutes it should break free from either hitting it with a hammer or slowly backing into a tree or solid wall.

 

yes. it is. i know in new york it is.

but OP i say back in to some pice of concrete.

 

i had the same problem there was no tubing in there and i couldnt get one in there. spray it good then get in there with a hammer and achisle or an old screw driver and clean it out. before u put the new hitch in never seize the hell out of it. that worked for me.

 

Huh?
That was not very nice, and not really called for either.

 

Why don't you just unbolt the receiver, and put it on a shop press, and ease it out with some heat? With the proper tools, this is a easy process.

Howard

 

If you happen along a road crew and one of the workers just happens to be operating a jack hammer...couldn't hurt?

 

Wow... some cry babies in this thread.

 

At least there is one really tough guy around ....

 

Concrete! Lets make this a vote thread

 

Swing through Chris4x4's 'hood. I'm sure there is something stored (hidden ) on his property (bunker ) that would work.

 

buddy had this happen on a 2500hd. hooked a winch to it drug the truck then came out after a few smacks and some heat and penetrating lube. his happened due to salt water. im sure yours is from road salt

 

Cool story brosephs

 

Use a slide hammer while hitting the hitch from the side, top, and bottom. Use generous amounts of PB Blaster.
Don't ram it in, it'll just be stuck deeper in the receiver.

Use a small wire wheel on a die grinder to clean it out, or a wire brush and scraper. Coat surface rust with naval jelly to stop the current rust.
Use spray graphite from the same folks who make PB Blaster penetrating oil. It doesn't attract dirt and will not turn things it touches into a shiny mess, and will protect ir from further rust and sticking.

 

I hate to tell you this, but that is a bead weld, and it looks to be all the way around. You can pound forever and it's not going to come out. There may be rust on it, but that's a weld. That's why there's no pin in it - there's no need for a pin.

 

You sure? I can't tell from the OP's pic if it's the hitch receiver sleeve welded into the hitch frame (factory) or if someone welded the ball mount to the receiver sleeve. You could be right, I can't tell from the pic.

 

Of course I can't be positive, because I'm not there looking at it. Sure looks like it to me though, and if it didn't come out when you whacked it, it's likely a weld... look at the front of the receiver in the other pic. Looks like somebody was going crazy with a welder all over the place anyway.