asking for you fixes to the super sloppy factory trailer hitch

[keakar]

first let me say i have had receiver hitches for years and they all have a "little" play in them, but that said, this is way way more play then normal in my opinion.

my receiver jerking around back there like the trailer is coming loose is actually driving me nuts, when im puling the boat it is herky jerky loose back there like its not connected right but it is.

im guessing there is a good 1/16" gap on all 4 sides of the receiver so it can move almost 1/8" up down and left and right.

its not the 2" receiver because i have tried several different ones and they all fit with the same loose slop so its definitely the hitch is made too loosely of a fit.

i am just wondering what others out there have done to solve this issue?

at this point im thinking of drilling and tapping for adding a bolt under the bottom and on one side to wedge it tight so it stays tight, because other then welding a bead on it to tighten up the gap, i just dont know a way to make it fit right and not be excessively loose.

 

[BackOff]

I have not towed anything for years but it seems like what your saying is familiar. I used to tap a little wedge in there.

 

[daveherrmann]

have only heard about these and never tried it, but sounds like what you are in need of

https://www.amazon.com/Roadmaster-0...6&sr=1-2-fkmr1&keywords=receiving+hitch+quiet

 

[blackoutt]

Yep, I use one of these style cheap hitch tighteners from amazon. They work great as long as you don't overtighten and occasionally clean and lube the threads so they don't get seized on.

https://www.amazon.com/Tightener-RETECK-Anti-Rattle-Stabilizer-Installation/dp/B01KZ25Y26/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1512063324&sr=1-4&keywords=hitch+tightener

 

[keakar]

Yep, I use one of these style cheap hitch tighteners from amazon. They work great as long as you don't overtighten and occasionally clean and lube the threads so they don't get seized on.

https://www.amazon.com/Tightener-RETECK-Anti-Rattle-Stabilizer-Installation/dp/B01KZ25Y26/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1512063324&sr=1-4&keywords=hitch+tightener

the one you linked looks like it might last longer so i'll get that.

i was thinking of wedges and stuff but i tow all the time so i figured wedges wouldnt stay in place


EDIT - well after looking at those clamp on brackets i just decided to drill a 3/8" hole straight up through the bottom and into the receiver bar. i had planned on threading it and just tighten a bolt in it but the tap didnt work right and the bolt stripped out so i just re-drilled it and used a through bolt and put a lock nut on top inside the receiver tube. had to lower the spare tire to get a wrench on it but its solid now and i never remove it so i didnt have to consider making it easily removable. just wanted to give an update if anyone else is trying to fix the loose hitch issue

 

[keakar]

well a little follow up update

after about a month it started making noise and i noticed the nut must have come loose because the bolt had fallen out.

i switched gears and went have a guy weld a bead about 1" from the back end on the top and on one side of the receiver hitch bar and then i used a side grinder to take it down flat enough to where its just has enough clearance to still slide in, but isnt sloppy loose any more. im guessing maybe 1/16" thickness was all it needed.

this is by far the best solution to fixing the sloppy hitch

 

[jblinga]

I just cut small pieces of an extra license plate and folded them up to fill the gap