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The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / reciever hitch

curtis
User ID: 1968814 Mar 19th 8:58 AM
im just curious if anyone knows why there is a small amount of play in the reciever hitch that slides into the reciever on a tow mount? my reciever that slides into it and locks with a pin thqats included has about 3/8 or so play in it up and down wise.

jd
User ID: 9537533 Mar 19th 9:46 AM
Simply: yes. Went out and tried ours, movemment about the same.

In detail: Your receiver should be made of 2-1/2" Outside Diameter Square Tubing. The drawbar should be 2" OD Square Tubing. I think both are usually Thin Wall.

If that's what you have, the clearance will be what it is. I don't know if 2-1/2" thick wall will allow 2" to fit inside or not. If it does, the drawbar would be tighter. Sometimes a home made receiver will be two pieces of angle welded along the edges. Fit might be tighter or looser.

You can try shimming, try wrapping drawbar in tape, etc. to reduce the movement. Some try do do it by threading the side of the receiver [or better welding a nut to the surface] and take slack up by tightening a bolt agaist the drawbar. This doesn't usually hold up, either the tubing distorts or the bolt gets buggered then you can't back it off.

When we tow the boat with our van, we notice some banging around back there. When we tow the pickup with our coach, we don't.

curtis
User ID: 6939693 Mar 20th 9:56 AM
thanks jd...i actually slipped a small washer between the reciever and the hitch and it took some of the slack away...ill try it next time without the washer and see if it still makes a rattling when im pulling my truck behind my motorhome. another misconception i learned was not to leave the transmission in fifth gear and the transfer case in neautral while towing the truck..it turns the engine when u leave the transmission in high gear even with the transfer case in neautral...they both need to be in neautral.i read it on a blog someplace to do it with ther transmission in high gear and the transfer case in neautral...boy was that wrong information..lol..live and learn i reckon.

jd
User ID: 7253233 Mar 23rd 8:43 AM
Just saw this. From Roadmaster, a credible product line...
http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=E&Category_Code=BMAIII

God Bless, jd

(Mod)

curtis User ID: 1968814	Mar 19th 8:58 AM im just curious if anyone knows why there is a small amount of play in the reciever hitch that slides into the reciever on a tow mount? my reciever that slides into it and locks with a pin thqats included has about 3/8 or so play in it up and down wise.
jd User ID: 9537533	Mar 19th 9:46 AM Simply: yes. Went out and tried ours, movemment about the same. In detail: Your receiver should be made of 2-1/2" Outside Diameter Square Tubing. The drawbar should be 2" OD Square Tubing. I think both are usually Thin Wall. If that's what you have, the clearance will be what it is. I don't know if 2-1/2" thick wall will allow 2" to fit inside or not. If it does, the drawbar would be tighter. Sometimes a home made receiver will be two pieces of angle welded along the edges. Fit might be tighter or looser. You can try shimming, try wrapping drawbar in tape, etc. to reduce the movement. Some try do do it by threading the side of the receiver [or better welding a nut to the surface] and take slack up by tightening a bolt agaist the drawbar. This doesn't usually hold up, either the tubing distorts or the bolt gets buggered then you can't back it off. When we tow the boat with our van, we notice some banging around back there. When we tow the pickup with our coach, we don't.
curtis User ID: 6939693	Mar 20th 9:56 AM thanks jd...i actually slipped a small washer between the reciever and the hitch and it took some of the slack away...ill try it next time without the washer and see if it still makes a rattling when im pulling my truck behind my motorhome. another misconception i learned was not to leave the transmission in fifth gear and the transfer case in neautral while towing the truck..it turns the engine when u leave the transmission in high gear even with the transfer case in neautral...they both need to be in neautral.i read it on a blog someplace to do it with ther transmission in high gear and the transfer case in neautral...boy was that wrong information..lol..live and learn i reckon.
jd User ID: 7253233	Mar 23rd 8:43 AM Just saw this. From Roadmaster, a credible product line... http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=E&Category_Code=BMAIII God Bless, jd (Mod)