Hitch and receiver rattle

Devoman · 03-14-2008, 09:20 PM

Sorry about that.I must have said it wrong.What I meant to say was that I was thinking of getting the equalizer hitch welded with a bead down the shaft.I would not do any welding to the vehicle at all.
I would think that by putting a couple of beads down it would be more permanent than shoving a thin piece of metal into it all the time.

Westfalia?This is what you were talking about With the grounding?

Westfalia · 03-14-2008, 09:25 PM

Got it. Cool!

Actually, I'm surprised that you get some rattling. With a lower tongue weight but the same hitch setup, I don't get ANY noise. Are you using the stock pin from the VW hitch?

Devoman · 03-14-2008, 09:29 PM

No ...I dont use it.Is that what you have been using.I have not even tried that yet.If it is working out for you I will get mine and try it when I get a chance to.
That would be great if it worked out with just that.

Westfalia · 03-14-2008, 09:39 PM

Nope, I am using a plain jane pin that came with the Equalizer, but like I said, I don't have any rattle or thunk. I do have just enough tension on the WD bars to keep friction for sway prevention. Maybe that is the difference.

Try different pins, use a dial caliper to determine if the pin is slightly thicker than another one.

2airishuman · 03-14-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uwe

...I haven't a clue what to do about it.

uve, you and dwight, with the 31 classic need to replace the stock gm receiver...

with a better made receiver from one of the aftermarket vendors...

it should only be 2-300$ tops.

class 4 for you and class 5 for dwight.

shimming is lousy way to deal with box/pin slop.

cheers
2air'

**overlander63** · 03-15-2008, 05:16 AM

Every late model GM receiver that comes in with a head in it, is ridiculously loose. Best thing is to take the Burb to a hitch/trailer place, and have them fit a good new receiver in place.

uwe · 03-15-2008, 07:28 AM

I tried before, and can not find an after market hitch for my 2007 Suburban. I appears that the hitch actually doubles as the rear most cross member of the frame. I don't remember if it is bolted or welded, but it is also very high up, just under the cargo floor. It exits through the bumper cover, not underneath it. None of the usual suspects carry a replacement, and the 2007-later Suburban doesn't show up on the list of replacement hitches. My local welding shop has no listings either. (Yet)
The hitch is rated to 10000lbs, with a 1000lb tongue weight ( with weight distribution).
I tow 5200lbs, with 600lbs tongue weight ( Overlander) or 3000lbs with 300lbs tongue weight ( Flying Cloud)
I can see the side to side movement of the trailer tongue through my rear view mirror. I can not feel it while towing. It was unnerving at first, but now I am used to it. What I can't get used to is the idea that GM would make such a loose fitting trailer hitch.

ROBERT CROSS · 03-15-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

Every late model GM receiver that comes in with a head in it, is ridiculously loose. Best thing is to take the Burb to a hitch/trailer place, and have them fit a good new receiver in place.

There are quite a few threads on the concerns with the GM recievers,

bending and cracked welds. IMHO, replace the oem reciever.

Silvertwinkie · 03-15-2008, 08:25 AM

I have the same issue with a loose fitting OEM GM hitch. From what I was told, the issue is more pronounced with the non-fully square hitch bars. For example I have a Reese hitch bar that looks like photo #1 (left) below. It has some manufac indentations along the side of the bar.

It's been suggested that if you have a solid square hitch bar like in photo #2(right), the slack in the GM OEM hitch is nearly non-existent.

It was told to me that the hitch bar in the right photo is slightly wider and is what GM's OEM hitch provider built the hitch specs from.

Anyone confirm or find this is not the case?

uwe · 03-15-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

I have the same issue. From what I was told, the issue is more pronounced with the non-fully square hitch bars. For example I have a Reese hitch bar that looks like photo #1 (left) below. It has some manufac indentations along the side of the bar.

It's been suggested that if you have a solid square hitch bar like in photo #2(right), the slack in the GM OEM hitch is nearly non-existent.

Anyone confirm or find this is not the case?

I can confirm that that's not the case. My drop shank is like #2 in your photo, only it has a deeper drop. It is perfectly square. I now wonder if the bar stock on the drop shank is properly sized.

Silvertwinkie · 03-15-2008, 08:43 AM

Thanks Uwe.

Then the simple answer that seems to be correct, is that we need to replace the GM OEM hitch if we want this to go away.

I had installed a Reese receiver hitch on my Impala SS back when I first got the Bambi. My hitch bar (left picture) did fit and still does fit snug in that receiver.

Same hitch bar inserted into my Suburban's OEM hitch has play.

I did happen to look at a new 3/4 ton Suburban (post 2006 model) a few days ago...it appears GM has gone back to the receiver area not being outside the rest of the hitch as found in our gen OEM hitches.

safari57 · 03-15-2008, 08:54 AM

You may want to consider having a qualified hitch welder replace the receiver of the TV. These folks often have to build hitches from scratch or modify them and should have the receiver in stock.

Just a thought but it's what I'd be doing if I had this problem.

Barry

uwe · 03-15-2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

Thanks Uwe.

Then the simple answer that seems to be correct, is that we need to replace the GM OEM hitch if we want this to go away.

I had installed a Reese receiver hitch on my Impala SS back when I first got the Bambi. My hitch bar (left picture) did fit and still does fit snug in that receiver.

Same hitch bar inserted into my Suburban's OEM hitch has play.

I did happen to look at a new 3/4 ton Suburban (post 2006 model) a few days ago...it appears GM has gone back to the receiver area not being outside the rest of the hitch as found in our gen OEM hitches.

It's a bit of a bummer. The Suburban tows really nice, but what where they thinking when they put on this strangely sized receiver?

uwe · 03-15-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safari57

You may want to consider having a qualified hitch welder replace the receiver of the TV. These folks often have to build hitches from scratch or modify them and should have the receiver in stock.

Just a thought but it's what I'd be doing if I had this problem.

Barry

That might be the solution. It urks me to have to screw around with a brand new vehicle, but that's the way it goes, I guess.
I am going to take a fw pictures of it today, time permitting, and post them later on.