After 22K miles with 1000-1200# tongue weight, and maybe the same number of miles with only 650# tongue weight, things are getting pretty loose at the hitch receiver.The welds on the F150 MaxTow hitch receiver all seem good, but it's stretched up at the front and worn down at the rear. And the WDH shank (Equal-I-Zer 1400#) is showing wear at the same places. The pin hole is also getting elongated. When I lift up the extended tension bars by hand, the ends of the bars move about 2". This affects my WDH settings; it looks like I now need to add another washer or two to get back to my original settings. And it seems to be getting worse more quickly now. Maybe as it gets looser it wears more quickly.- Is this normal wear and tear for these things ??Anyway, guess it's time to replace the hitch receiver.Or, another possibility would be to have a competent shop put together a 2.5" receiver, possibly just welding onto the old crossbar. And getting a new 2.5" shank from Equal-I-Zer.- A 2.5" system should last longer, right ?? One worry about the 2.5" shank is it's weight.I can barely handle the hitch head with 2" shank now.- So any suggestions for getting a 2" system to last longer ??

My Excursion had the same wear. I replaced mine due to rust issues. The new Curt is better, but I expect after thousands more miles it will start to show wear also.

What some of the problem is that they bounce a lot and if the hitch is not tight in the receiver that added movement only amplifies that bounce wearing out the receiver. I have tried almost every Anti Rattle device on the market, most have been no good or so complicated and cumbersome that they are useless. I have a whole tool box full of them.Until I found the one at Hitch Rider. This will keep everything tight.Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works,nothing moves.

I think I will store that one away and pick one up in the spring, mine is not too bad yet but as it loosens up I figure the looseness will begin to go exponential and I've got some long trips planned next year .....thanks.

IAMICHABOD wrote:...Until I found the one at Hitch Rider. This will keep everything tight.Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works,nothing moves.Thanks for the info. That does look solid.Can't tell from the pictures, how does it limit up/down movement?Do the two bolts stop it?Or is it just the side clamping force that stops it?If it works, one of these and maybe some shims could allow me to keep my existing setup for a while. For $30+ship it would be worth it.

It isn't something that has worn in, they come like that new. There have been a few posts in the past that address the issue. My understanding is that the receiver is 54mm and the shank is 2". Provides for a loose fit. I fixed the issue by welding a bead across the shank at the front and back, then grinding down the welds till the fit was snug. You'll also find you'll need side welds as well.The hole being elongated is from using a pin with a bent shank on one end. If you use a pin with a straight shank on both sides (more expensive to make I'm sure) the hole won't elongate. Learned that lesson the hard way myself. :-(

Worn hitch receiver/shank | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

brulaz
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
dupe
brulaz
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
hohenwald48 wrote:
I made a couple of these and they really work well to prevent movement and wear.

http://littleguy.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1051/roadmaster-quiet-hitch-for-2-trailer-hitches

You mean the Heavy Duty Hitch Clamp?
HD Hitch Clamp

Or the Roadmaster Quiet Hitch?
Roadmaster

Both of these can be configured to hold down the top of the hitch which is what I would prefer. Guess the Hitch Vise only grips from the side (thanks tll).

That HD Hitch Clamp looks quite solid.
Wonder how it would work with the upward forces of a 1200# WDH?
tll
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
I have a tool box full of the anti rattle/movement devices too. I last tried the Hitch Vice, it works on friction between the side plates and the hitch. There is no way you can tighten the bolts enough to stop the movement, especially with all the force a weight distribution hitch puts on it. Works OK for light tongue loads. Sorry, but I give it a "fail" for heavy loads. I'm still looking for a good one.
hohenwald48
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
I made a couple of these and they really work well to prevent movement and wear.

http://littleguy.vanillaforums.com/discussion/1051/roadmaster-quiet-hitch-for-2-trailer-hitches
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
It isn't something that has worn in, they come like that new. There have been a few posts in the past that address the issue. My understanding is that the receiver is 54mm and the shank is 2". Provides for a loose fit.

I fixed the issue by welding a bead across the shank at the front and back, then grinding down the welds till the fit was snug. You'll also find you'll need side welds as well.

The hole being elongated is from using a pin with a bent shank on one end. If you use a pin with a straight shank on both sides (more expensive to make I'm sure) the hole won't elongate. Learned that lesson the hard way myself. :-(
brulaz
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
IAMICHABOD wrote:

...
Until I found the one at Hitch Rider. This will keep everything tight.

Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works,nothing moves.

Thanks for the info. That does look solid.
Can't tell from the pictures, how does it limit up/down movement?
Do the two bolts stop it?
Or is it just the side clamping force that stops it?

If it works, one of these and maybe some shims could allow me to keep my existing setup for a while. For $30+ship it would be worth it.
horton333
Explorer
Dec 22, 2015
I think I will store that one away and pick one up in the spring, mine is not too bad yet but as it loosens up I figure the looseness will begin to go exponential and I've got some long trips planned next year .....thanks.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Dec 22, 2015
What some of the problem is that they bounce a lot and if the hitch is not tight in the receiver that added movement only amplifies that bounce wearing out the receiver.

I have tried almost every Anti Rattle device on the market, most have been no good or so complicated and cumbersome that they are useless. I have a whole tool box full of them.

Until I found the one at Hitch Rider. This will keep everything tight.

Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works,nothing moves.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Dec 22, 2015
My Excursion had the same wear. I replaced mine due to rust issues. The new Curt is better, but I expect after thousands more miles it will start to show wear also.

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Worn hitch receiver/shank

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