Tow Hitch Caught a Rock

Hey y'all. Did a bit of 4 wheelin' this past weekend in the woods by a campground with some friends. Ran a trail a couple times without issue but then on one of the last runs ended up going through a dip at an odd angle and caught my tow hitch on a rock it seems. The wing on the one side of the hitch (where you would attach a chain) appears to be bent and there are no visible cracks. You can see in the attached pictures that the black paint on it flaked off slightly. Crawled under the car and there was no other visible damage and it drove perfectly normal on the ride back which was a few hours.

Do I need to worry about rust now with the paint flaking off? Is the tow hitch itself a bolt-on that could be easily replaced if it did start rusting? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have a 21' TRD Off-Road.

 

@WarFab Armor Sheridan Hitch Skid needed STAT!

 

Flake off the paint flakes and rattle can gloss black. You'll be fine. That is an area that will need touched up many times during ownership.

 

hey welcome to the forum! I would forget it.

 

Welcome and yes, they are bolt on. Sand it & hit it with some rattle can.

 

Get a mallet and a blow torch, maybe some thick steel forming plates. Take off the hitch. Heat up the area, hammer it back into shape, let it cool then sand it and spray it.

Or just let it be.

 

Yes to both questions.

Good news is a bit of rattle canning and you'll be good as new.

 

LOL, my tow hitch always takes the beating. So do what this guy says. Touch up paint or rattle can.

 

If you use your hitch receiver at all, you need to “worry” about surface rust. I sand and repaint mine (as well as my rock sliders) each fall before the snow flies.

 

You may be right...from the looks of that extensive frame damage, it's probably totaled.

 

it's fine. but new receiver hitches are cheap if you want to replace it.

 

Are you thinking of the ball hitch perhaps, because the hitch receiver assembly doesn't seem cheap?

 

they are typically $150-250 for a new receiver hitch

 

You don't have to buy the whole hitch assembly? I'm not sure that the receiver tube is separate, but I've never actually inspected it closely either.

 

Went wheeling and is worried about rust

Ditto to what everyone else said

 

Nice battle scar. Rattle can it if it bothers you, then move on brother!

 

2x4 and large hammer if needed to straighten. Get some farm vehicle black paint and don’t worry about it. I’ve got paint missing from mine from towing and chains. Hard to keep the black paint perfect. A little paint here and there on receiver hitch and side steps does the trick. No biggie.

 

The receiver is a complete unit that bolts to the frame. A used one is cheap. I think I sold mine for 100. Some scrapes, but better shape than OPs when sold.