This might be a dumb question, but I got rear-ended in Phoenix a few months back. No major damage except my bike rack got bent. The guy who hit me wrote me a check for a new one, so I didn’t report a claim. Everything’s fine except now the old bike rack arm is bent into my hitch, and I can’t pull it out to install the new one. Do you think the Toyota dealership would help remove it if I brought my car in?
You’d be better off taking it to an independent body shop. They’ll probably charge you for an hour of labor to knock it out with a hammer. A dealership will likely charge way more than a local shop or mechanic.
Honestly, you might have better luck offering a 12-pack to a guy with a 4x4 and a winch.
Charlotte said:
Honestly, you might have better luck offering a 12-pack to a guy with a 4x4 and a winch.
Or use a high-lift jack sideways to force it out. If all else fails, a welding shop can cut it out for you.
If you’re okay with overpaying, go to the dealership. But a body shop would be better equipped to pull it out, and they’d probably check your frame to make sure there’s no hidden damage.
At my dealership, we would definitely help.
We’d probably charge an hour of labor, so around $170. But I’d try a local gas station with a garage first. For $50, they can hit it with a hammer, use some penetrant, maybe a bit of heat, and it’ll come right out.
Please don’t pay dealership prices for this. If you’re even a little handy, you could probably get it out yourself.
Fingers crossed that your receiver and frame didn’t take any damage.
Local Harbor Freight can sell you a cheap sawzall if it comes to that.
Yes, we would! I’ve helped customers with stuck hitches plenty of times. Just ask—they’ll be happy to help.
Remove the pin holding the rack in place, spray some WD-40 or PB Blaster, then use a ratchet strap attached to a tree or sturdy object. Put your car in drive, and it should slide out.