Anti-rattle device for hitch

I installed the Blue Ox Immobilizer and to me, it helps and am happy with it. I also installed a shim between our Reese hitch head and shank. Both together remove as much lateral play as possible and I think every little bit you can do helps.

The only downside to the Immobilizer is that it bolts in place and you can't simply pull a pin and take your hitch off when not using your trailer.

^ this. or swing buy a local shop and let them weld on a nut for you. most likely can be had for a 6 pack

I put some silicone rubber in the gap and let it cure, no drilling , no tapping , no modifying, no rattle

nineoaks2004 wrote:
Looks like it would be easy to make something like this...

Absolutely could! And wish I had before I spent the money. It does seem to work pretty well.

Years ago I drilled and tapped a hole for a 1/2" bolt just forward of the pin. Run a grade 8 bolt in and tighten with a 24" breaker bar. Ain't gonna rattle!

Heck, I could loose the pin and everyhing will still stay in place.

I've done the driving of a piece of metal in to stop the rattle but I am looking for something that doesn't require a 2 lb hammer.

I found that if you place anything in the receiver that takes up the space between the hitch opening and the ball mount it will stop the rattle for awhile.

I made a shim by cutting 2 pieces of "L" 1/16" metal and drilled a hole for the hitch pin to pass through. I had to bump it in with a hammer, after lubing it, but if stops the rattle.

I will have to bump out the hitch mount when the time comes.
The slop is gone, noise is gone.

I ordered the vise a good while back (used it for two winters) based on Larry's advise, and have been totally satisfied with the results. Use it to stabilize the bike rack on the back of the fifth wheel which plugs into a 2 inch receiver.

Another vote for the Hitch Vise and I've been using it on my 7500lb trailer since around 2008 and wouldn't leave home without it. Not only does it COMPLELETY ELIMINATE any movement, but IMO it prevents the long term wallowing out of the hitch pin holes in the receiver over time since it dampens/softens up the push/pull - wobble of the drawbar in the receiver tube. This is something that takes years to happen, but I have had it happen after about 10 or 15 years of towing fairly heavy TTs.

IIRC the directions say it's limited to trailers under 5K, but even with my heavier trailer I have seen ZERO downsides to it's use. I did upgrade the bolts to grade 8 for better "clamping" force and use a torque wrench for tightening to get proper and even torque on the bolts.

Larry

Looks like it would be easy to make something like this...