I have a 16k Reese 5th wheel hitch that needs refurbishing.Would it be better to repowdercoat everything, or rattle can the hitch with Rust-Oleum primer and paint?I just want it not only to work good and look good too rather than having a rusted hitch in the bed?What would you do?Repaint or repowdercoat?

Mickey G wrote:I have a 16k Reese 5th wheel hitch that needs refurbishing.Would it be better to repowdercoat everything, or rattle can the hitch with Rust-Oleum primer and paint?I just want it not only to work good and look good too rather than having a rusted hitch in the bed?What would you do?Repaint or repowdercoat?Put in on Craigslist and buy a new B&W. :BLyle

Powdercoat- will last a long time-expensiveRattlecan- will chip and peel easily needs repainted every year- inexpensiveIt's up to you, me, I would powdercoat and spend the extra bucks.

Clean/sand it up some, rust & chips. Spray bare spots with the rusty metal primer. After it's good a dry, spray it with Rust-Oleum Truck Bedliner. I've used it on my boat trailer and it's holding up real good.

WE-C-USA wrote:Clean/sand it up some, rust & chips. Spray bare spots with the rusty metal primer. After it's good a dry, spray it with Rust-Oleum Truck Bedliner. I've used it on my boat trailer and it's holding up real good.Interesting idea

I might hit it lightly with sand paper before painting it with Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer paint. That will not require yearly repaint. But if it is a really old hitch, I would buy a new one.

Refurbishing a 5th wheel reese hitch | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 15, 2017
"Replacing with a Curt Q20. "

Curious why you would go from one Chinese made hitch to another? With Curt's head pivot being several inches below the kingpin attachment can lead to chucking as reported by many.
BBworkdog
Explorer
Oct 14, 2017
I agree with boat anchor. I had a Reese 16K slider installed in my 2004 GMC but did not use it excessively. Recently on a trip to Colorado and then to California I noticed the bolts on the horizontal axis were crooked. Upon disassembly I saw the nylock nuts were backing off. Even after tightening them as much as I could the bolts were still canted downward. I had to retighten them about every 500 miles. I had regularly cleaned the old grease out and re-lubed everything before major trips yet the metal on the yokes wore out because the high tensile bolts did not appear to be worn. The hitch was always noisy and banged with chucking. Replacing with a Curt Q20.
RAS43
Explorer III
Oct 05, 2017
bpounds wrote:
That Reese is as good as anything else you can buy, other than one of the cushioned models. Might as well clean it up and keep using it. Personally I would just get a rattle can of gloss black Rustoleum and go at it. You're not refinishing a piece of furniture, and Rustoleum will keep it looking decent for another decade.

More importantly, clean all the old dried up grease out of the mech, lube it up with fresh grease (I like chain and cable spray in a can). Consider getting a new set of springs from Reese. It'll be like a new hitch again.

X2 That is all I've done to my 21 year old Reese Classic hitch and it is still good, with no play or noise.
bpounds
Nomad
Oct 05, 2017
That Reese is as good as anything else you can buy, other than one of the cushioned models. Might as well clean it up and keep using it. Personally I would just get a rattle can of gloss black Rustoleum and go at it. You're not refinishing a piece of furniture, and Rustoleum will keep it looking decent for another decade.

More importantly, clean all the old dried up grease out of the mech, lube it up with fresh grease (I like chain and cable spray in a can). Consider getting a new set of springs from Reese. It'll be like a new hitch again.
buc1980
Explorer
Oct 05, 2017
Send it and use automotive paint is more expensive but it last a lot longer.I did mine 2 years ago and it looks like new.
lee_worsdell
Explorer
Oct 04, 2017
Ya just bought brand new 20k reese with my truck. Putting my b w back in sell it for 500 lol
cummins2014
Explorer
Oct 04, 2017
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Boat Anchor!

Yes, tie it to some failed goodyear trailer tires, and have a real boat anchor. :B
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 04, 2017
Boat Anchor!
kmbelt
Explorer
Oct 04, 2017
Don't do the hitch head mating surface with the truck bed liner. Obviously it would leave a rough texture that would not be desired.
SteveB
Explorer
Oct 04, 2017
Paint it with Krylon or Rustoleum. It will last for years and can be re-painted when it needs it again. I have a 20K Reese that came in my old truck and I replaced the springs, sanded, painted black Rustoleum brush-on, good as new! I am not a fan of powder coat . If it chips rust will form under the surface and it will start to peel off.