Receiver Hitch Rattle

[eliask08]

Just picked up a boat and trailer, and noticed an incredible amount of rattling coming from the receiver hitch. Come to think about it, I do occasionally get the same rattling with my receiver hitch bike rack, but not to this extent as the rack floats and is heavy enough to counter most of the upwards gravity caused by bumps. The boat trailer, on the other hand, creates a pivot point at the hitch as it has an axle, and make a rattle for every slight bump, crack or dent in the road.

For fishing trips in the past, we've always taken my buddy's Trailblazer, which has a tightly-fitting hitch and does not rattle.

Does anyone know of a shim-like product I can put around the hitch, or in the receiver, that will tighten up the connection?

Thanks, Elias

 

[Qjake]

Something like This
Even with an anti-rattle if you have your trailer in tow its gonna make some noise in the cabin

 

[fourwd1]

I sometimes flat tow my rock crawling rig, and had a similar problem. I ran a weld bead down both sides of the hitch to eliminate the slop when it slid inside the receiver, same principle as the shim.

 

[eliask08]

Something like This
Even with an anti-rattle if you have your trailer in tow its gonna make some noise in the cabin

Interesting QJake, but I would have to replace my hitch as I have a solid bar, not hollow. I would also be worried about stripping the threads on the bolt. It would be a pain to remove if that were to happen.

 

[eliask08]

I sometimes flat tow my rock crawling rig, and had a similar problem. I ran a weld bead down both sides of the hitch to eliminate the slop when it slid inside the receiver, same principle as the shim.

Did you ever find that it would seize, or be a pain to remove? I do have an ARC, and never thought about doing that, but it is quick, cheap, and much stronger.

Thanks fourwd1

 

[fourwd1]

No, I filed the beads down as needed so it fit nice.
The trick with any receiver hitch is to keep it lubed so it doesn't rust in.