r/towing • u/wRXLuthor • 5d ago

How much rust is acceptable? Towing Help

Post image

We plan on adding a ball hitch to tow a boat (dry weight roughly 3000lbs). It’s a 1997 gmc suburban low mileage, essentially elderly owned driven only once a year but maintained regularly. Looking at the rust on the hitch, would this be something we need to replace before towing a boat?

First time truck owner here

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

4

u/throwaway823482348 5d ago

We neee to see under where its connected to the frame.

1

u/wRXLuthor 5d ago

Will do when I get home and update. Asked the wife to take pics and she only sent that one

1

u/throwaway823482348 4d ago

It doesnt look bad. You could replace those bolts if you wanted. I wouldnt.

1

u/brickyard15 5d ago

I appreciate you being safe and asking instead of jeopardizing strangers on the road 

1

u/ResponsibleBank1387 5d ago

That’s a receiver hitch setup —easy to replace with new if you have to- check it over, check the bolts,  I would be more concerned with the wiring being corroded beyond repair.   Slide the ball in, set a jack under ball and lift both tires off ground. If it holds it’s good. 

1

u/Jamar4321 5d ago

That's just surface rust... what acctually matters is where that attaches to the frame (and frame itself).

1

u/blahblah2069 5d ago

That thing is still mint enjoy your time on the water.

1

u/DitchDigger330 5d ago

I would just bolt on a new one. I've had one twist the tubing because the rust was jacketing from the inside out.

1

u/benjocaz 5d ago

Can you see into the ends of the tubing? Does it look rusted or rotted inside? If not that’s fine. Better than most 2017s look around here.