Combating rust on the hitch receiver and accessories

I use this Kuat extender in my receiver for my bike rack, so that I can put my tailgate down without it hitting anything. It's been in there for almost a year. Recently replaced my rack, and noticed that the receiver was rusting inside (coating was worn through) and this extender is rusting.

Any way to clean this up and prevent it from rusting even further?

 

Wire brush and a can of Krylon.

 

I bought an aluminum one for my new truck with a stainless steel ball. We'll see how it holds up.

 

That's the plan for now.

 

I’m not sure if it works but spray down metal parts with wd40 and wipe smooth.

 

I sand and repaint my hitch every year before winter. If you use it at all, the paint will get worn off.

 

Not really a way to stop it, you use it, it will rust. All you can do is keep knocking it down.

 

Watch out for the aluminum and stainless combo. I attached my AL plates with stainless hardware and the plate corroded to the point where I lost it. Galvanic corrosion.

 

Gotta put fluid film or some other anti corrosion compound between the ss and aluminum to help combat that.

 

My concern with that is that I would have a sticky mess to deal with that is as worse or worse than the surface rust. And I still lose my paint. CAVEAT: I only attach my ball hitch when towing, thus I’m touching it a lot.

 

I'm just talking about the stainless and aluminum problem.

 

I keep the receiver/with ball in a box in the rear cab until i need it. I bought a nice polished stainless steel hitch plug to match the chrome bumper ends. In the meantime i cosmolined the trucks hitch real good a couple years back....still looks like new.

 

Spray Cosmoline in the hitch receiver tube.
Put a rubber plug (like the OEM plug) on the front end of the receiver tube (facing the spare tire) if you have room.

 

I have used a can of Rustolium BBQ paint I had laying around on my Sequoia’s hitch. Came out alright. Has not rusted again.

 

If you're only using it once in a while, there is no issue. Some people leave the draw bar in the receiver all the time and there's your problem with corrosion.

 

Wire brush and Steel It.

 

Hit it with a wire brush and some muriatic acid. Wash soap and water , let dry. Then some rusty metal primer and paint. Muriatic acid can be found at home depot. Wear gloves and eye protection. Its mild as far as acids are concerned but it kills rust.

 

Clean it up. Scrape all loose paint/powder coating off. Use a self-etching primer followed by a quality top coat.
Repeat annually as needed.
OR
Keep it parked in a weatherproof garage.

 

Rust Check undercoat spray in the green can is my favourite thing for this. I was turned onto it by my John Deere dealer and anywhere I see rust on my tractor or implements it gets greased. I do the same with trailer stuff. I'd knock the loose paint off that hitch and grease it. Done.