My hitch has developed some play at the point where it is pinned to the bed rails. It clunks when you stop and clunks when accelerating. Not bad, but enough to bother someone as anal as me. It seems like I saw on this forum a rubber gasket that goes between the hitch and the rails to quiet this noise. I tried internet searches with no luck. Any recollections or will I have to fabricate on my own?

Mine began to do that. I tried a wood wedge, broke; tried a metal washer, slipped out; tried rubber piece carved from a tire casing, slips out.I welded a bead - a ridge of metal - onto the hitch base, just enough to fill the gap, and the annoying clunk is gone.

My thought would be to fix the movement in the pinned area, not try to mask the noise. The more it moves, the more it beats that area up and the more it will move. Pretty soon you could have some serious movement. Fix it while it's small.

I know this sounds crazy but each time my hitch would start clunking I would grease the hitch plate with a teflon hitch lube or wheel bearing grease.The clunk would stop. An old timer 5th wheel RV'er suggested I try it. He said the grease acts like a shock absorber due to the hydro static properties of the grease under compression.It worked everytime.

The pads you are looking for were made by Curt. You can look on their website. I think they are called silencers.

12th Man Fan wrote:The pads you are looking for were made by Curt. You can look on their website. I think they are called silencers.Thanks 12 Man Fan (figured you would be from Seattle). I found them on Amazon Prime $3.99, they are called CURT 5TH WHEEL SOUND DAMPENING PADS 16900. One review said they are worthless unless you have a 1/4" of play. I don't have any where near that. If I can't get them in I'll use them as a template on thinner material.

Hitch clunking | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

goducks10
Explorer
Jun 24, 2016
I used some old bicycle inner tube. Just cut to fit. Works perfect. In fact almost too perfect, I have to lightly tap two of the pins in. But it's super quite when towing.
ORbiker
Explorer
Jun 24, 2016
Durb wrote:
12th Man Fan wrote:
The pads you are looking for were made by Curt. You can look on their website. I think they are called silencers.

Thanks 12 Man Fan (figured you would be from Seattle). I found them on Amazon Prime $3.99, they are called CURT 5TH WHEEL SOUND DAMPENING PADS 16900. One review said they are worthless unless you have a 1/4" of play. I don't have any where near that. If I can't get them in I'll use them as a template on thinner material.

I did the pads and it worked. It's much quieter.
Goostoff
Explorer
Jun 24, 2016
Is there a chance you have a pin or two that have a slight bend in them, or wearing a groove in them?
Durb
Explorer
Jun 24, 2016
12th Man Fan wrote:
The pads you are looking for were made by Curt. You can look on their website. I think they are called silencers.

Thanks 12 Man Fan (figured you would be from Seattle). I found them on Amazon Prime $3.99, they are called CURT 5TH WHEEL SOUND DAMPENING PADS 16900. One review said they are worthless unless you have a 1/4" of play. I don't have any where near that. If I can't get them in I'll use them as a template on thinner material.
12th_Man_Fan
Explorer
Jun 24, 2016
The pads you are looking for were made by Curt. You can look on their website. I think they are called silencers.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jun 23, 2016
I know this sounds crazy but each time my hitch would start clunking I would grease the hitch plate with a teflon hitch lube or wheel bearing grease.

The clunk would stop. An old timer 5th wheel RV'er suggested I try it. He said the grease acts like a shock absorber due to the hydro static properties of the grease under compression.

It worked everytime.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 23, 2016
My thought would be to fix the movement in the pinned area, not try to mask the noise. The more it moves, the more it beats that area up and the more it will move. Pretty soon you could have some serious movement. Fix it while it's small.
SailingOn
Explorer
Jun 23, 2016
Mine began to do that. I tried a wood wedge, broke; tried a metal washer, slipped out; tried rubber piece carved from a tire casing, slips out.
I welded a bead - a ridge of metal - onto the hitch base, just enough to fill the gap, and the annoying clunk is gone.

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Hitch clunking

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