Forum Discussion

wowens79's avatar
wowens79
Explorer III
Jul 16, 2017

Blue Ox Sway Pro rusting

I've been loving my swap pro, but the brackets that moun on my trailer are really beginning to rust. The edges of one of the rotating pieces has rusted so bad that the rust/paint is standing up an 1/8th of an inch tall.

The hitch is only a year old. You'd think the paint would last longer than that. I live in GA, so I don't deal with salt on the roads. It's been to the beach twice, but both times we got caught in torrential rains for much of the drive home so I feel the salt air got washed off on the highway.

Anyone else had a problem with rust???

6 Replies

  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Nomad
    Jul 17, 2017
    3oaks wrote:
    Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    Get them power coated. End of problem.
    I believe that is the root of the problem, being powder coated. Without absolutely clean metal preparation, the powder coating will lift off the surface of the steel and it begins rusting, exasperating the problem. Have seen it many times.

    Yep, just ask us Hensley hitch owners! :R
    Barney
  • Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
    Turtle_n_Peeps
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2017
    3oaks wrote:
    Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    Get them power coated. End of problem.
    I believe that is the root of the problem, being powder coated. Without absolutely clean metal preparation, the powder coating will lift off the surface of the steel and it begins rusting, exasperating the problem. Have seen it many times.



    Interesting, the OP said his were painted.

    I do know if power coated correctly they won't rust, chip or peel.
  • 3oaks's avatar
    3oaks
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2017
    Turtle n Peeps wrote:
    Get them power coated. End of problem.
    I believe that is the root of the problem, being powder coated. Without absolutely clean metal preparation, the powder coating will lift off the surface of the steel and it begins rusting, exasperating the problem. Have seen it many times.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Jul 17, 2017
    Contact Blue Ox about it. The hitch has a lifetime warranty on it. Blue Ox replaced my latches because the powder coating flaked off and started to rust.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2017
    I like our Blue Ox SwapyPro also...really good hitch.

    I have not experienced the level of rust you are describing. I do have some very slight surface rust around the bolt where the wrench attaches....I just squirt a little bit of silicone spray on a rag and wipe it down every once in awhile. That seems to have stopped it.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,179 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 08, 2026