Draw bar and receiver pin size

[Jerry_NJ]

I have had a 2" receiver on two trucks over the past 25 years and have used many different draw bars. All have been latched together with a 5/8" pin.

The receiver has two holes for pinning the draw bar. The one to the rear (forward) is a 5/8" (by my measure) and the first (nearest the opening of the receiver) is a 1/2" hole.

I purchased a new draw bar with a 6" drop, 4" rise to get a needed ball height. This draw bar, like all I've seen, looks more like a drop bar which can be mounted upside down to raise the bar. This particular bar included a brace along the back of the drop/rise that when in the rise position hits the bumper before the 5/8" holes can align. If I pull the draw bar out a couple of inches the 5/8" hole in the draw bar lines up with the 1/2" hole in the receiver.

Can I use this draw bar with a 1/2" pin (is one made?) ? Clearly the pin is "locked" in position by the 1/2" hole in the receiver, but the draw bar can slip fore and aft 1/16" which seems to me to be unimportant other than possible additional wear on the draw bar and pin. I do not use the trailer more than 10 times a year, so the wear would likely not be critical for 100 years I estimate.

What am I missing here?

 

[colbyt]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Probably fine but I think I would increase the receiver hole size to 5/8 and use the 5/8 pin. I've never seen a 2 pin model so your old systems must have been 5K packages.

I had a very similar problem and a receiver that hung so low it scraped everything. After 2 years of misery I flipped the thing and cut a mouse hole in the bumper behind the license plate.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

delete

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

In addition to having the proper equipment, the noise from having a rattling draw bar in the receiver will drive you up a wall. Every bump and start/stop will have the draw bar clanging/clunking with that little bit of play.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Thanks, it didn't seem right to me either. I have to look at my other draw bars, but I think they have more than one hole in them...maybe that's why my new draw bar was so cheap..the extra hole would have cost the factory another 5 cents.

Drilling hard steel will cost me another $2 and way more time than I want to estimate.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Hitch Extender ?

Hitch Extender For 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver 7" Brophy Hitch Accessories HE06

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Thanks, it didn't seem right to me either. I have to look at my other draw bars, but I think they have more than one hole in them...maybe that's why my new draw bar was so cheap..the extra hole would have cost the factory another 5 cents.

Drilling hard steel will cost me another $2 and way more time than I want to estimate.

The only drawbar I've ever had with more than one hole in it is my Anderson Mfg aluminum setup. All of my steel stuff only has a single hole in it.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

If it were me, that would be too much slack. The constant clanking is going to get annoying, and its going to oval out the larger hole surprisingly quickly.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

I suggest that you find a different drawbar that doesn't hit your bumper

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

a good drill bit would take care of the hole pretty easily, hitches and so on are NOT hardened steel.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

What vehicle is this on? Is it the factory tow package?

 

[I`mNotMe]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

I too would either find a different Draw Bar or drill a larger hole. If draw bar was perfect measurement / shape except for its existing small hole, I'd drill a larger size hole. Buy the proper size drill bit, then store the bit in your tool box. Nice low cost tool to use in future years. Or, get your buddy across the street to drill the hole larger. Beer is good payment as well. (giant smile).

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Right, right and right

I like the receiver extension, that pushes the trailer back too I like that. I don't like the $50+ cost (adding in tax and shipping)

Good to know the receiver is "drill able" not hardened steel. I'm sure I have at least two or three drills in the 5/8" size, none great quality drills, but if the receiver is just "regular" steel they may be able to drill it.

The receiver hitch was purchased by me from NAPA (I think) and was installed by me... back when the truck was new in 2005.

Interesting, the new draw bar with a 4" rise puts the ball at about the same height as the ball would be if I used the step bumper..should have thought of that sooner. I put the receiver on mainly because I didn't want to beat up my new bumper. I do not do any heavy trailer pulling

Checking the two other receivers I have, both have only one 5/8" hole in them, the only two hole involved is the receiver, and it has one of them in the 1/2" size.

Thanks,

 

[ToemanDoug]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

I think your receiver may be intended to be compatible with this anti-rattle hitch pin.

Hitch Accessories - Reese

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Interesting, I have a one-man canoe loader that uses my receiver and it really rattles. I use two ratchet belts to pull the loader to tie downs in the pickup. That works, suppose one could do the same to a roof rack say.

My problem hasn't been a rattle when towing my boat, but I never tow more than 30 miles one way, usually less than 10 miles. But it was suggested, and makes sense to me, that using the 1/2" hole in my receiver to attach a draw bar with only a 5/8" hole will rattle, and I may notice that even with my short hauls.

I think the take-away I get so far is "drill to enlarge the 1/2" to a 5/8". I'm not sure if that is problematic but I know it is always better to drill a pilot hole before drilling with a larger bit (size not specified, suppose useful for an bit over 1/4"). But, I also know enlarging a hole by a fraction results in the enlargement bit being difficult to control. I also have the ramp bits (don't recall what they are called, look like cones rather than twist drills) that are designed specifically for enlarging existing holes... "step drill" is the name that comes to mind while typing here. The receiver is too thick, I think, for using a step drill as it leaves a slight slope on the hole side.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

Step drills are useful when frequently drilling different size holes in thinner material. A think chunk of steel isn't the material to be using a step drill for. The low surface area of the step drill bit will dull out quickly when using it for long durations. A standard bit will be fine.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

I have used step bits hundreds of times on thick material... they actually hold up better than they look like they would.

If you are going to drill it, use the step bit to start the hole and then use a regular bit to finish it.... best of both worlds

the step bit will start smooth and controlled keeping the hole perfectly round and the regular bit will finish the depth..... Be careful when finishing the hole... if you pop through hard enough to hit the other side of the receiver you may break your bit

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

I have used step bits hundreds of times on thick material... they actually hold up better than they look like they would.

If you are going to drill it, use the step bit to start the hole and then use a regular bit to finish it.... best of both worlds

the step bit will start smooth and controlled keeping the hole perfectly round and the regular bit will finish the depth..... Be careful when finishing the hole... if you pop through hard enough to hit the other side of the receiver you may break your bit

Agreed. The step bits are good, but not really ideal to "bore" through several inches of metal with in my experience. The step bit is definitely a good bit to start the hole with to keep the bit from walking.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

yep.. "several inches" is WAY out of it's league... I've done 1/2" with a step bit a handful of times but 1/4" is as about as thick as I usually use em for... drilling from both sides doubles the depth that they can reach per step btw

 

[gtochris]

Re: Draw bar and receiver pin size

I suggest that you find a different drawbar that doesn't hit your bumper

Agreed,
That 2nd smaller hole is for accessories like bike racks that come with a smaller size bolt, not hitch receivers.