Removal of tow hitch

Lady’s and gents, the time is coming for me to oil underneath my 2005 110 defender (more like gear oil and waxoyl mixed with a splash of derv) any how I want to remove the tow hitch so I can get all of the crap out of the chassis, at the back where the chassis bends because it seems where the 2 tow bar brackets bolts through the chassis it collects all the poop where the bolts go through... is there any horrors with me removing these bolts so I can properly clean out the back end? Sorry it’s a bit of a random silly post but I’m scared I’ll mess something up or am I just being a scaredy-cat?

They should be straight forward bolts with nuts. it all depends whether you can get a spanner or socket on them and how rusty they are.

You’ll want new bolts to put it back on. The old ones may be rusted and a pain in the arse to get off... a fractured finger is how I know that bit. As for what’s underneath give it a good prod with a screwdriver, if it seems solid then hopefully you won’t get any shocks. Even if it does reveal more rust than you thought you had it’s better to find it now rather than be shocked at a later date when it’s got worse.

Oh, and if they’re anything like the disco ones they’re flipping heavy!!

Thanks chaps, just had a look the bolts, they don’t look rusty but the nuts are at fuel tank end of the chassis, with next to no access for me to turn the nut, so that means I’ll have to wedge a spanner in on the nut and release from the other end is anything wrong with me doing that?

Power washer will get it out and then the oily mix will creep into every crevice. I would remove if painting but not to fire in your preferred mix.

Thanks mate, I was thinking I could remove the bolt and give it a good hoovering inside the chassis again but perhaps I’m just creating work lol

Discodevon said:

Thanks chaps, just had a look the bolts, they don’t look rusty but the nuts are at fuel tank end of the chassis, with next to no access for me to turn the nut, so that means I’ll have to wedge a spanner in on the nut and release from the other end is anything wrong with me doing that?

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That will be fine, that is how i do mine, not enough clearance between the nut and the tank to get a ring or socket on.

dag019 said:

That will be fine, that is how i do mine, not enough clearance between the nut and the tank to get a ring or socket on.

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Thank you so much dag!! Will get onto that when the weather permits