Forum Discussion

down_home's avatar
down_home
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2019

Loose tow bar in receiver

I emailed Roadmaster and got no response.
The Sterling Tow bar where it plugs into the receiver on the Motorhome has an 1/8" to 1/4" clearance top and bottom. It rotates up and down on the pin. 4500 lbs of towd slams it up or down on stopping or starting or braking....and that is not a good thing.
Campign World installed the tow bar years ago.
I have tried to put small rubber washers on top and bottom but of course they didn't stay.
I don't think this was intentionally designed to do this.
Any ideas on how to fix this before it destroys the receiver?

17 Replies

  • You can find these or similar devices on eBay @ 2 for $20. They work great to take out all the movement in your towbar.
  • down home wrote:
    I emailed Roadmaster and got no response.
    The Sterling Tow bar where it plugs into the receiver on the Motorhome has an 1/8" to 1/4" clearance top and bottom. It rotates up and down on the pin. 4500 lbs of towd slams it up or down on stopping or starting or braking....and that is not a good thing.
    Campign World installed the tow bar years ago.
    I have tried to put small rubber washers on top and bottom but of course they didn't stay.
    I don't think this was intentionally designed to do this.
    Any ideas on how to fix this before it destroys the receiver?


    Does it fit more tightly on the sides? If not, and you have a 1/4" play top and bottom and the sides. You don't mention what type or year of motorhome, if you have had it for a while or it's new to you........I suspect you may have a 2" insert in a 2 1/2" receiver???? It's highly unusual that a 2" draw bar have that much play in a 2" receiver. There is some movement in all set ups but I have never seen 1/8 to 1/4 inch play.
  • Go to Walmart and buy a small packet of flat washers, preferably as close in ouside diameter, to the inside diameter of the receiver tube sides you want to shim. Gently (or not?) tap them into the receiver with a screwdriver and hammer, or similar, until they fill the gaps and shim up the hitch/shank. Helps if you (or a helper) can wiggle the shank a bit while you're inserting the flat washers. Then use a couple of cable/zip ties placed close to the receiver opening around the shank to keep them from escaping.
    Total cost, less than $5.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Blue ox makes/made a product one of them is called an "Anti rattle clip" the other Hitch Immobilizer (Same product they changed the name) it's a clamp that locks that hitch solid. Have used one for 14 years now.
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Have a welding/fabrication shop attach thin plates to the top and bottom or just run weld beads to thicken the bar.

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