Hitch rails on used TV

[hyattjlbb]

Upgraded the TV and it already had the rails for the hitch mounted in the bed. Here is the problem:

I attempted to drop my hitch in to get it out of my garage and the rails do not line up perfectly. I can get the front or rear dropped in the rail but the other "pegs" are off by about a 1/4".

Can I loosen the bolts on one of the rails to adjust it? Would there be enough "play" to move it? Maybe you guys have a different solution? Figured I am no the first guy this has happened to.

[hyattjlbb]

Anti-Theft, Love it!

[DennisG9]

Your hitch isn't stuck. It's one of those undocumented features, an anti theft device for your hitch!

[TheAmRheins]

After towing a few times the rails will probably relax and reset themselves to your hitch.

[Bill1374]

You might be better off slotting the rail bolt holes.

Bill

[hyattjlbb]

Well, good news, bad news. They were RBW rails as I went to the RV repair shop here in town to get another opinion. We loosened both rail bolt sets and each rail moved about 1/4".

Good news is that we got plenty of play to allow for the roughly 1/16th of an inch that I needed. Hitch is now seated!

Bad news is that after the hitch was seated we tightened the bolts back up and they snugged back to where they were. Hitch is now permanently mounted unless I were to pry it back out. But hey, I can tow now!

So new question, would I dare grind about 1/32nd off the two trouble feet or would this hurt the hitch? Not much more than grinding the paint off.

[Old-Biscuit]

Are those rails the right ones for your hitch?

Were those rails installed in proper position/spread for your hitch?

Hitch may fit the rails but that doesn't mean when they were installed that the spread for the hitch used was the same as your hitch.

Nothing to lose by loosening the hold down bolts on both rails....but they may still be off.

[2-MTnesters]

Please keep us updated on this. I hope it works out for you. Tim

[hyattjlbb]

Ahh yes, both rails to get double the play. I will give it go this afternoon, thanks!

[2-MTnesters]

After looking at These instructions for your hitch it doesn't look like there is any adjustment in the feet on your hitch. You might try loosening the bolts in BOTH rails, install the hitch, then retighten all bolts. there should be enough 'play' in the bolt holes to allow the hitch to properly fit into the rail slots. Hope this helps. Tim

[hyattjlbb]

Sorry, some hitch info could have helped. Non-Slide RBW X-16.

[2-MTnesters]

Which hitch do you have? If you have a slider hitch there is adjustment for the feet that go into the slots in the rails. At lease there is on my Reese 16K slider. Tim