Painted my hitch

[JohnnyEgo]

This is admittedly a very small thing, and my only regret is that I waited so long to do it. My receiver hitch looked like total crap. Surface rust and flaking paint all over the place. This picture is from last year, and while it doesn't look terrible, the rust really bloomed this year.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/hitch/hitchpaint04.JPG

I hit it with a wire wheel to strip the loose paint and the bulk rust, followed by a flap wheel to clean up the more stubborn paint and rust. Still some rust that was either hard to get at, or in pits that I couldn't sand flush, so I hit it with some Krud Kutter Rust Remover, which did a remarkable job cleaning out what remained, and burned my exposed flesh so I knew it was quality. Then three coats of rust converting primer, followed by three coats of 'Tractor Implement' spray paint. I don't know if it is magical or any different then anything else Rustoleum has to offer, but I like it because it goes on thick and has stood up to the abuse of my son when I used it on his wagon.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/hitch/hitchpaint05.JPG

The frame mounts weren't painted, but the Tractor paint matched fairly close to the factory. I have no doubt the paint isn't as durable as the baked on factory finish, but it is easy to touch up if it gets scratched.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/hitch/hitchpaint06.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/hitch/hitchpaint07.JPG

Now, my trailer hitch is the best looking part of my vehicle.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/hitch/hitchpaint09.JPG

I also greased the receiver mounted shackle and the inside of the receiver to hopefully isolate them a bit from any accumulated water. I took it on a 3000 mile trip to and around Glacier National Park last week, and it still looks great with no scratches or chips. So if you have a rusty hitch, $30, and a few hours over a weekend, don't hesitate to clean it up.

[hurley842002]

I've got the same thing going on (also Nissan), not a speck of rust on my Xterra, but the reciever looks terrible. I've been meaning to do the same thing, perhaps your thread will motivate me.

[JohnnyEgo]

It's funny; after I painted mine, I felt like I started noticing a rusted out receiver on every Titan I saw on the road. Don't know if it's a Nissan thing in particular, or if I am just sensitive to it now that I got off my ass and did it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Too bad you don't know anyone with a blast cabinet .

[BladesNBarrels]

Had a boat trailer in the late 80's that I would tow with a Suburban. I greased the receiver and hitch to keep them looking nice.
The grease isolated the electrical ground connection from the trailer to the vehicle and the lights wouldn't work.
My neighbor was a retired engineer from Martin and spotted the problem pretty quick.
I think today's electrical connectors include a ground wire instead of relying on the frames to provide ground.

[JohnnyEgo]

Too bad you don't know anyone with a blast cabinet .

Figured it got sold at Hamid's market!

[Colorado Osprey]

I think today's electrical connectors include a ground wire instead of relying on the frames to provide ground.

True, trailer wiring connectors on vehicles since 1987 require a ground wire. Without it power will back feed through the tow vehicle and make all kinds of funky things happen.
I have seen new vehicles hooked up to old trailers without a ground wire and turning on a turn signal made the windshield wipers come on in a new truck. Others would turn on opposite turn signals and other anomalies.

[gnihcraes]

look at putting on Chassis Saver after cleaning it. Tough stuff and seals it all up. Should outlast regular paints.

http://www.monstaliner.com/monstaliner_how_to_stop_rust.htm

Can pick it up locally down in Englewood at the paint supply store. One Quart goes a long ways, best to have multiple projects lined up if you can to use it all at once.