Has anyone re painted their 5er hitch?

[SmittysRV]

I am in the process of cleaning up / re painting my 5er hitch. I have the Air Safe Hitch and it is getting pretty chipped up and needs a face lift. Damn this thing is heavy!!! I have started to sand it down and will be looking to prime and paint soon. Any suggestions on primer and paint that work good with rust and will last in this application? I will post a few pictures of the Hitch as I go. Thank you!!

This was when I removed it from the truck



I broke it down into three sections for sanding

[Desert185]

I've had reasonably good luck with ACE Hardware brand of rattle can paint. Rustoleum is another good brand. If you have a compressor and spray outfit there are better options.

Edit: just get rid of the rough rust and spray the remainder with rust killer and paint.

[JRTJH]

I agree, on mild steel, wire brush the rust scales, clean it up, treat with a rust inhibitor, let it dry, prime and paint with a good quality rust inhibitor paint like Rustoleum. There's no need to go overboard making it look like new, it's just going to get chipped, scuffed, scraped and banged up again. The objective, at least for me, would be to keep it functional and prevent corrosion from making things weak/unserviceable.

[SmittysRV]

Originally Posted by Desert185

I've had reasonably good luck with ACE Hardware brand of rattle can paint. Rustoleum is another good brand. If you have a compressor and spray outfit there are better options.

Edit: just get rid of the rough rust and spray the remainder with rust killer and paint.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by JRTJH

I agree, on mild steel, wire brush the rust scales, clean it up, treat with a rust inhibitor, let it dry, prime and paint with a good quality rust inhibitor paint like Rustoleum. There's no need to go overboard making it look like new, it's just going to get chipped, scuffed, scraped and banged up again. The objective, at least for me, would be to keep it functional and prevent corrosion from making things weak/unserviceable.

Yes!! Exactly what I want to do. Im not trying to make it look new, just wanna make it last as long as possible. Now that I have recently made a cover for it while in the truck I think this time around it will stay in better shape.

[SmittysRV]

So far I have it one section sanded down to about where I think its ready to be cleaned and prepped for paint.....

[hankaye]

SmittysRV, Howdy;

Nice cover you got yourself, how well will it allow any trapped moisture to
evaporate?
As for treating the metal, personally, I'd sand/wire-wheel what I could and
use some Navel Jelly for all the exposed metal. It contains an inhibitor, is
quick to use and cleans up with water. Then use Rust-o-ileum (sp?), primer
and topcoat. Maybe a step or two more but it should last a long time.
Just how I'd go about it...

hankaye

[carwheel_09]

Purdy, nothing like the feeling on a job well done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Larry1013]

FYI

One product I used years ago that seemed to a good job to prevent rust from coming back through is the Loctite Extend Rust Neutralizer. It neutralizes the rust and acts as a primer also.

Also, Phosphoric acid wash, found at automotive paint stores help neutralize the rust and etches the metal for paint adhesion.

Phosphoric acid is one of the ingredients in Navel Jelly.

[SmittysRV]

Thank You!!