Select your vehicle to confirm the Trailer Hitch fit
Rust is formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture. Left unprotected, your hitch, ball mount, hitch ball or accessory will pit and corrode over time, which can make towing a trailer a safety concern. When these products are used around water, they are at increased risk for rust and corrosion. You can extend the life of your towing products and keep rust and corrosion from beginning with these tips.
Start With Rust-Resistant Products
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a material that is very strong and very resistant to rust, corrosion and staining. Stainless steel towing products are perfect for applications
in high humidity or with watercraft trailers.
Many of our tow bars,
exhaust systems,
hitch receiver locks,
coupler locks and
tube steps are made of stainless steel.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a lightweight metal that naturally stays free of rust. An
aluminum ball mount slides into the hitch receiver and provides a rust-resistant platform for the hitch ball.
Zinc-Plated or Galvanized Steel
Zinc plating or galvanizing is a process that makes a product resistant to the elements. Steel or iron is dipped in zinc, which then forms a physical barrier
against corrosion. Zinc-plated hitch balls are available. And many of the
following towing products are made with corrosion-resistant materials:
hand winches,
jacks, and
couplers.
Powder Coated Steel
Most trailer hitches are black powder coated steel. The powder coating offers some resistance, but does break down over time.
The best way to inhibit rust formation is to touch up scratches with a good rust-inhibiting spray paint.
Look for Scratches and Pitting - Hitches are pieces of steel bolted to the bottom of the vehicle. Dents and dings will break through the powder coating and
leave the bare metal open to the elements. Routinely check hitch for scratches or missing paint. When bare metal is showing, it is essential to touch up the hitch to prevent rust from
forming. If you notice rust, you can lightly sand the hitch and touch it up with paint to stop the rust from growing.
The ball mount slides into the hitch receiver and provides a platform for the hitch ball to sit on. In some extreme cases, if it is left inside the hitch, the ball
mount can rust or weld inside the receiver tube and may take extra effort to remove. You can prevent this by removing the ball mount when it is not in use. If you store the ball mount
in your vehicle, a ball mount bag will protect the inside of the vehicle and keep all equipment together. You will also want to routinely
touch up scratches on the ball mount.
A hitch ball sits atop the ball mount platform and within the coupler during towing. The hitch ball is subjected to road debris, road salt and harsh weather even when
you are not towing a trailer. Liberally apply ball grease to ensure a smooth pivot with the coupler. This will also protect the hitch ball when it is not in use. If your hitch ball is
rusty, you can use WD-40 to loosen the rust and then you will need to scrub the hitch ball with a wire brush. You can keep rust from reoccurring by lubricating and protecting the ball with
ball grease and covering it with a hitch ball cover. We recommend removing the ball mount from the hitch receiver and storing it until ready to use it.
Keeps ball grease from rubbing off when hitch ball is not towing or while it is in storage
Jj
12/14/2020
I installed my CURT HITCH on my 2004 Lexus ES 330. Since the hitch goes under the exhaust, I already scratched the hitch. What is the best method to protect the scratched area? I can see chrome metal on some spots.
Scratches are bound to happen on a trailer hitch whether it's during the install or from road debris later on. It's best to touch up any scratches with rust-inhibiting spray paint. If you're fresh out or can't find any then the next best thing is to just use regular black spray paint.
Of all of the hitches we carry for your 2024 Subaru Forester the best option is the Curt #C47HR as it is only option that only has it's hitch opening that hangs below the rear bumper so it's mostly hidden and has best ground clearance. For…
The best hitch for your 2023 Honda Passport is going to be the Curt Hitch item #C13421. This hitch is custom fit and bolts to your Honda with included hardware. I really like the Curt hitch because it tucks up underneath your rear bumper cover nicely…
You can definitely send in a picture for me to verify a tow mirror fit for your 2003 Ford E-350. If you have manual mirrors then you should be able to use the K-Source part #KS61202F for the driver side and part #KS61201F for the passenger side. If…
The Loadstar ST205/75D14 Bias Trailer Tire with 14" Galvanized Wheel #AM3S450 that you were looking at all have a manufacturers date within the last 18 months.
The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…
Both the Curt #C13382 and the etrailer #e98912 hitch are a 2" Class III hitch receiver that will provide a maximum gross trailer weight of 3,500 lbs and a maximum tongue weight of 525 lbs. You are correct, they are an identical hitch but our…
For a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE you'll need the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e75ZR. This hitch has a 500lb tongue weight capacity to hold your Thule bike rack and bikes. This hitch does prevent the storage of any spare tires larger…
According to the owner's manual for your 2012 Toyota Prius V, "Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair,…
It is fairly common for this to happen, so don't worry! Sometimes the hitch can get bent or slightly warped during shipment, and it's not usually a cause for concern. I attached one of our help articles on this very topic which should help…
We haven't had the opportunity to install the #EH97FR EcoHitch as of yet, but hen we installed the Curt #C13416 on a 2021 RAV4, we found that the inside top edge of the receiver tube sat about 12 inches above the ground, which would place the…
The main difference between the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part #C13416 and the EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver part #EH97FR is that the EcoHitch has a completely hidden cross tube whereas the Curt cross tube will be visible from the rear of…
Thanks for the photo and there is absolutely a hitch you can install on your 2012 Toyota Prius v, the EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch #306-X7192, which will allow you to use your Thule bike rack with a 2" shank. This is the only hitch that fits…
Jj
12/14/2020
I installed my CURT HITCH on my 2004 Lexus ES 330. Since the hitch goes under the exhaust, I already scratched the hitch. What is the best method to protect the scratched area? I can see chrome metal on some spots.