brebar wrote:
Hello I use an Equalizer WD hitch. This winter I painted the hitch head and noticed some wear on the shank that was rubbing on the receiver. I also notice that when installed in the receiver there's some play side to side and up and down. The Road Master Quiet Hitch looks flimsy to me.
What has been your experience with any type of "quiet hitch" product?
Would it reduce the wear on the shank?
Or should I not be concerned at all?
BTW i'm towing a 28ft #4000 TT.
Thanks.
Something not totally adding up just yet or I missed it and may have.
You said you are using a weight distributing hitch. "Normally" when they are adjusted properly they exert extreme pressure on the shank in the receiver pin box and take up any play that is there. The constant WD forces do not allow the shank to move in the receiver pin box. The only way that extreme pressure is lost is if you go over the top of a very steep hump, like a high up RR track crossing and a large angle exists in the direction of towing between the TT and the truck OR if your WD hitch is not setup correctly an the WD bars become loose on minor road variation.
Why are you thinking you need one of the anti rattle devices which are intended for weight carrying drawbars on a weight distributing hitch?
Up and down play is common in a WD hitch before the WD bars are tightened up. In fact I use to have a Putnam aftermarket receiver on my 2500 Suburban that had almost 1/8" of up and down play before I engaged the WD bars. Once the bars are under pressure, all of that play it totally gone.
Are you just seeing a paint burnish being removed on the hitch shank or are you seeing actual metal loss, wear you can see, feel or measure? If you are seeing metal loss or hear a clunking of the shank when stopping or starting, there may be a setup issue with the WD hitch.
Tell us some more about your concern. Or ideally some pics of the shank wear you are seeing.
Hope this helps
John
PS What brand WD hitch do you have? The actual Equal-I-lizer made by Progress Mfg or another brand of equalizing WD hitch.
2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10 RA, 21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR, upgraded 2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver. Hitched with a 1,700# Reese HP WD, HP Dual Cam to a 2004 Sunline Solaris T310R travel trailer.
