Tips for removing a stuck hitch attachment (and destroying a RakAttach)

We've been pretty stoked with our 'ultimate bike and ski rack setup', but when it came time to do something different with our receiver hitch, like tow a trailer, our RakAttach hitch attachment failed us. Over the course of a few years it had completed rusted and cold welded itself to the receiver.

This is the story of all the different methods we used to remove a stuck hitch attachment (the RakAttach swingarm) that ultimately ended in the destruction of the hitch accessory. Our assessment: RakAttach fail - complete coating performance disaster. :(

Our original video on our full bike and ski rack setup (including the RakAttach):

And the accompanying blog posts:

[joshfinkler]

i've had a rakattach on and off but mostly on my van for about four years now. the unit is obviously powdercoated and the powdercoating has held up just fine, despite living outside in the colorado mountains at 7500' year round. all i do to maintain the hitch bar is wipe it off before reinserting it, haven't bothered greasing, and i do use a stowaway hitch tightener to keep things from wobbling. the rakattach unit can clearly carry considerably more weight than it is rated for. no issues with it yet.

[bigpapaporsche]

You made some valid points! BTW, we just bought the same Swing Arm with the 1UP Bike Rack.
The way I see it, you have two complaints, first the Swing Arm's Stinger getting seized in the Vehicle's Hitch and secondly the overall corrosion on the rest of the RakAttach Assy. The first is easily fixed, spread grease on the Stinger/remove it periodically to clean. The second problem is another story. Obviously 1Up needs to improve their Painting process! Logically, if the vehicle's Hitch isn't corroded and has survived the environment and the 1Up Rakattach hasn't this proves where the problem is. Have you ask 1Up for Warranty assistance?

[obazaar]

so lesson here is dont leave your hitches in place. Stow it away please after use. And put some anti seize all over the hitch

[Ttnorth]

Lots of grease would fixed that. Especially if driven in snow and salted roads. I guess it was left in there a long time.

[winklertribe]

This has been an interesting video! Thank you for sharing! Did you end up replacing the rack attach with a different brand swing arm hitch? What did you get? Have you been happy with the new swing arm hitch?

[lonnieclemens]

I have a hitch to work on this weekend.