Tow hitch rusting after only 4K miles

After only 4K miles, my 2022 is already showing rust on the surface of the tow hitch mount. Any suggestions? Worth contacting the dealer? Anything I can apply to slow it down and reduce how ugly it looks?

 

I put fluid film on mine when it was new and reapply it every few months. Not sure what you could try now with rust.

With my old Explorer I used to have a body shop spray on black undercoating once it got bad. Most guys seem to care less but a rusty hitch bothered me big time.

Undercoating it may work well but to do a nice job need to remove bumper etal I am sure. My old Explorer had a non factory hitch fully visible unlike 4r.

I would maybe try sanding that area and lightly brushing some black rust oleum Or better yet some POR 15. Then apply fluid film on a wax applicator pad.

See if anybody else knows more about applying por 15 here. I never used it myself but had a body guy apply it to seams on my new frame that had surface rust before putting on fluid film on frame

 

Same with mine. I sanded it down, repainted it and put fluid film on it. It’s been good since.

 

If you use it often the metal on metal from the hitch receiver rubbing on the tongue makes it hard to control. It will almost always have some surface rust. That's why you just use a hitch cover to hide the surface rust. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B18DVCHK?smid=A2WZZAE1SI7K3Q&th=1

 

Or just get one of these and leave it and fluid film everything except the ball

 

I use wool wax on all the hidden areas, but just touch up the rust inside the receiver where the receiver gets contact wear, and the face of the square opening.

I have a pint of rustoleum for stuff like this. Last year I brushed rustoleum where rust showed. This year I let the rust build a bit then applied rust reformer and then rustoleum.

 

I noticed this is very common with 5th gen 4runners. The e-coat paint they coat the frame in with the hitch attached just doesn't have much thickness on those Sharpe edges so the paint flakes off easily especially in winter conditions. I was able to avoid by applying fluid film to the hitch in the winter months.

I would sand it down and apply some black paint OR throw a hitch plug in it and forget about it haha.

 

On my '16, it started in short order, and I don't tow anything.

 

yup. wire brush...clean it. prime and rust oleum the bleep out of it...ye be cool

 

Mine has so much wool wax on it it gets on the whole family’s cloths every time we use it

 

Take a cardboard box cut a square hole. Slide it on the hitch & hit it with some black rust prevention spray paint, then add a trailer hitch. Give it a little TLC every year with fluid film.

Fluid Film (3 Aerosol Cans) Rust & Corrosion Protection; Metal Surface Penetrant & Lubricant, Marine, Automotive, Industrial, Home, 11.75 Oz

$37 Fluid Film (3 Aerosol Cans) Rust & Corrosion Protection; Metal Surface Penetrant & Lubricant, Marine, Automotive, Industrial, Home, 11.75 Oz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B93ZXGS?_encoding=UTF8

 

Sacrificial anode

 

Fluid film so far works great for all the cheaply made shizzo these days. Who would guess I would use it on a $45k vehicle.

First hinges on shed, pad locks and now SUV frames and trailer hitches.

Amazing how much less quality we get for more money each year. Welcome to the new normal. This what you get and you’ll like it.

 

Good advice. I bought a used vehicle that the ball mount was rusted into the hitch. I couldn't hammer it out with a 10lb sledge after weeks of spraying it every few days with penetrating oil. Ended up rigging a soaker bucket with Evaporust and let it soak for a couple of weeks.

Most people I know grease them, fluid film would be less messy.

 

Skip Fluid Film. I used it for years on all my trucks. Just switched to Wool Wax, much better product. Smell, longevity, application.