"Clunky" hitch

[Andy in NY]

I am pretty new to towing, so excuse me if I don't have the termonology right...


Where the ball mount slides into the reciever its pretty loose, to the point where it sort of pivots on the pin that holds it in place, making a clunk when I hit a bump, accelerate or stop. When I say loose, I don't mean like 1/4", really the gap is very small... but enough to "clunk". The ball mount slides in and out REALLY easily. Is there anything I can do to tighten it up, like maybe put some kind of tape to on the ball mount to reduce the clearence?

I remember my brother in laws dodge truck, it was so tight that it took some strength to get it out! If there was no pin in mine it would slide out when I hit the gas!


Any suggestions?

 

[fishmen111]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

Have tried the tape trick and it wears off fairly quick. I run a narrow bead of JB Weld on the receiver tube front and back. Grind it down for a tight fit and you're good to go. If you have surge trailer brakes, make sure your fluid is full.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

Andy it may not be the receiver and drawbar, it could be the trailer portion of the hitch is not adjusted correctly. it has a nut on the bottom side, to tighten to take the play out of it. also are you sure you have the correct ball for the hitch. a 2 inch hitch will work on a 1 7/8 ball but will slop around, and can eventually come off.

 

[scipper77]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

When I got my first boat I had the same issue. It was the trailer part of the hitch as TD suggested. Also make sure that you wet the bunks on your trailer so the winch can pull the boat up all the way. I found that the bow of my boat actually was lifting off of the roller by 1/2". Try lifting on the bow just to make sure that there is no movement there. also as TD said tighten the coupler on the trailer, there should be an adjustment nut. I like to grease the ball of my hitch and coupler a little too. You will always have some slop in the hitch connection so just do what you can to control the other factors.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

You could have a couple spot welds put on the hitch portion and grind them down so that that the hitch makes a tight fit. I would put them right at the edge of the receiver.

 

[cranksbait]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

My receiver in my truck has some play as well. I thought about getting this product http://www.swagman.net/product_rackaccess4.html when I had my old boat to reduce the play.

Instead of buying the hitch stabilizer I bought a heavier boat and trailer package, problem solved.

 

[Splat]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

One trick I used to use for hitch mount salt spreaders.

Drill a hole in the bottom of the truck receiver. Then have someone weld a 5/16 nut over the hole. Now when you install the drawbar insert a 5/15 bolt into the nut and crank her down, er up. It's good to take out the excess play, and also helps with anti-theft.

Bill

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

Andy it may not be the receiver and drawbar, it could be the trailer portion of the hitch is not adjusted correctly. it has a nut on the bottom side, to tighten to take the play out of it. also are you sure you have the correct ball for the hitch. a 2 inch hitch will work on a 1 7/8 ball but will slop around, and can eventually come off.

My thoughts exactly...check the nut on the under side of the trailer end.
Turn it a little at a time until the latch is snug when you lock it to the ball..

 

[mthieme]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

Between the less than perfect fit of the receiver in the hitch and the pin having just a little play, mine does it to a small degree. But that's the design. I don't travel far or fast, so it's not a big deal to me. Any other 'unusual' noises manage to catch my attention though.

 

[109jb]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

As long as you are using the right size pin (5/8" for a 2" receiver), operationally there is nothing to worry about. I tow 10,000 pounds of skid steer/trailer/equipement regularly and mine is loose too. Every one I have ever used or seen is the same by design. If it is just annoying you, then the suggestions above will solve the clunk.

 

[scipper77]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

You will always have some slop in the hitch connection so just do what you can to control the other factors.

what more can I say.

I do like the devices to clamp the slop out of the reciever but for me this is just not worth the effort. The noise is just a normal part of towing for me.

 

[ne7800]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

just leave it in there for about a year and a half you'll need a sledge hammer to get it out lol

 

[mthieme]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

Ain't that the truth!
If nothing else, the rust will take all the slop out.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: "Clunky" hitch

Ain't that the truth!
If nothing else, the rust will take all the slop out.

That's part of the reason a hitch isn't a super tight fit. Even a loose one will rust solid with a season of saltwater exposure if not well lubed.

If you are constantly hearing the trailer banging around, and it's not from a loose coupler or ball, then I'd have to check for both proper tongue weight, and then for excessive wear in the hitch, hitch pin or receiver. I've seen some get pretty well worn over time. On all of mine, there is very little front to back movement at the pin, but about 1/8" of movement up and down or side to side but I rarely hear any noise when towing. A worn draw bar is easy, just find a new one, if the hitch is worn, you could re-drill a new, tighter hole farther back or ahead of the original one. My one hitch has three holes with allows some adjustment of hitch length and tongue weight too. The farther the hitch is in the receiver, the less it will move around too.