Metal Restoration?

[iBrent]

So the explorer I bought recently came with a class II 3500lb trailer hitch and a 4-pin wire harness. Being an Eddie Bauer edition it came with the trailer package, which includes the tranny cooler, brake controller wire harness, and all the capabilities of a class III/IV trailer package, except the receiver. Linders Junk yard in Worcester had an '02 explorer with the OEM class III trailer hitch receiver which is a direct bolt on to my rear frame. I decided to buy it (75 bucks versus 500 new). The problem is it's all rusted on the surface. So I need recommendations to get it cleaned up. Is this something that can be sand blasted and powder coated? Or just painted with a corrosion resistant paint?

Basically I want it to be strong enough to pull the rated weight (7500lbs) and last through New England winters.

Here's the pictures:

This is a close up of where the wire harness bracket connects to the hitch receiver. Buying a new bracket would not break the bank if it can't be salvaged.

This is where it bolts the the frame, so I feel this is the most important part:

 

[BrApple]

yeah its needs to be taken down to the bear metal so that the rust is gone. then use a rust inhibitor and then go from there. powder coat should hold up pretty good.

 

[loc0gring0]

try coke on it and a scrubby pad. the coke eats the rust..

 

[ElKy]

i agree with brian, have it sand blasted and powder coated.
the inside of the receiver should get a good coat of rust inhibitive paint, powder on the inside might make inserting the hitch difficult.
no matter what normal use will scrape paint of the inside of the receiver.

 

[iBrent]

thanks for all the replies guys. Any recommendations on local sandblasting/powdercoating places?

 

[royalblue]

google washing soda rust removal

 

[iBrent]

google washing soda rust removal

I think my part may be too big for this process.

 

[iBrent]

I found a place in Clinton. Here's their estimate:

Sand blast w/ fine media
Acid wash
Bake out moisture and contaminates
Powdercoat w/ zink rich primer
Powdercoat w/ satin black
Cost $ 175.00
Time 1 to 2 weeks max

That puts the total price to $250 for a powder coated hitch, versus 500 new (painted).
Sound reasonable?

 

[BrApple]

seems pretty good to me, but is it reasonable to you is the better question. you might be able to do the same yourself with some time and effort....

 

[loc0gring0]

get a job at a plating place and u can just stick it in a tank for 2 min and itll strip everything off.

 

[2000ZxT]

I would just sand the rust down, and spray it with rubberized undercoating.

www.eastwood.com is a good place to look rust removal products/kits.

 

[iBrent]

Well, I dropped it off at Central MA Powder Coating, Inc. in Clinton. He told me 2 weeks. 2 days later he gave me a call saying it was done. So I picked it up on Friday and wow, it looks better than new.

I'm quite happy with the result. The original plastic plate for the wire harness is all that detracts.

Bumper off, old hitch still on:

New hitch on:

 

[frenchblueC2]

shiny!

 

[zorrex]

Dayum! Looks good!

And, just to get it out of my system: Every time I glance at the title of this thread, I can't help but read "Mental Retardation"

I'm terrible, LOL :laugh:

 

[ctmystique]

Are you thinkin someone is talking about you? :shrug: