Loosy Hitch Receiver

[salmonee]

Is there suppose to be some play with the hitch receiver?

I got mine at walmart and am now wondering if I should have went to a trailer store to get a high quality hitch receiver. After locking down the trailer, I check to make sure the trailer is on the ball by lifting the trailer tongue. There is some play in the hitch receiver. Is this normal?

 

[rbh]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

the thing with hitches "you get what you pay for"
some have tight tolerances and others are just plain sloppy, the mount and the hitch are from the same mfg?
and you have the right rating?
rob

 

[salmonee]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

No the mount and receiver is not from the same manufacturer. The ratings on both items are somewhat similar. I don't recall off the top of my head. My hitch is a hidden hitch. I forget the walmart brand receiver.

I figure if you buy a 2" receiver for a 2" mount. It should fit w/ the correct amount of tolerance. Like I said, I bought the the receiver from Walmart. They must sell thousands of these things.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

Do you mean rattle play when it's inserted? If you find a tight one.... they become impossible to remove w/o a big lump hammer. I use the walmart drop receivers and they work fine. I also have a heavy duty solid steel hitch for my 3/4 ton that is tight and a PITA to remove.

 

[salmonee]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

Do you mean rattle play when it's inserted? If you find a tight one.... they become impossible to remove w/o a big lump hammer. I use the walmart drop receivers and they work fine. I also have a heavy duty solid steel hitch for my 3/4 ton that is tight and a PITA to remove.

Yes. I mean rattle play. I just don't know if it was suppose to be snug fit tight. That's all.

After my trailer is hitched up to my boat, I think the play is ~1/4" up and down though? May not be that much but there is some play.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

You are fine. That is common. Some places sell a rubber collar so it will not make noise......... don't worry...... go boating!

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

Yes. I mean rattle play. I just don't know if it was suppose to be snug fit tight. That's all.

After my trailer is hitched up to my boat, I think the play is ~1/4" up and down though? May not be that much but there is some play.

Check the threads in the trailering section. Lots of discussion there.But as far as an answer- There should be some slop in there, 1/4 " play is a bit loose if measuring at the gap. But if is just rattling for a total of 1/4" measured at the ball , no big deal. My CURT receiver and Drawtite hitch moves up and down 3/8" plus measured at the ball 7" from the receiver. Strong 1/8" gap at the joint. Normal.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

Walmart usually carries Reese which is what you would get a trailer place anyway...

I don't think a little play is out of the ordinary... you have a receiver going into a square tube (thats not tight) then held in with a pin (that also has a bit of clearance) so all told a 1/4" movement around isnt that much at all...

You would be surprised how strong those hitches are... I use mine, (with my 4x4), to pull huge stumps out of the ground all the time hehe.

 

[rbh]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

the reason I said you get what you pay for is because a couple of years ago we were hauling a small cable trailer with an 1.7/8 inch ball and the piece of @##$$%%$#@$% broke, the ball separated from the shaft.
trailer tongue/reach shot up, then down, chains were crossed thank god and we got it under control.
scared the hell out of me
rob

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

Purchase one of those Anti-Rattle Devices from www.hitchrider.com because it will completely remove ALL slop within your hitch drawbar. I just installed mine 20 minutes ago and it's rock solid as ever. It costs about $30. Well worth it!!!

I also have a Walmart special but it works just fine and dandy with the above device.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Loosy Hitch Receiver

ive found that the lighter the load the more "clunk". when i tow my utility trailer with garbage it clunks over every bump. when i tow the boat, it doesnt happen except for bigger bumps.