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Old 08-14-2020, 12:11 PM   #1
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Hitch pin hole deforming

Hi I have a 2019 2500 Chevy Silverado. The hole where the pin enters the hitch is deforming. I am running a 2.5 inch receiver and a 2.5 inch shank on the equalizer hitch. Towing a 30 foot International. The hitch pin looks fine no wear on the pin I have towed this about a dozen times. Not sure why this is happening or if it something I need to be concerned about. I spoke to equalizer and not really any help. The hitch is a factory hitch.
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Old 08-14-2020, 12:28 PM   #2
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Years ago with our Safari I was using the same bent end pin and had the same problem.

I now use a straight locking pin...17yrs. SFSG

This one for the boat.

Bob
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Old 08-14-2020, 12:40 PM   #3
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I had the same issue with the pin and the 45 degree angle end. I took a rubber washer and slid it to the end of the straight piece and then epoxied it in place. works great!
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Old 08-14-2020, 01:24 PM   #4
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What they said and yes you should be concerned, it will eventually increase movement in the hitch system which degrades performance so it should be avoided.
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Old 08-14-2020, 01:33 PM   #5
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Loose shank to receiver fit. Burr looks like it’s on the bottom of hitch pin hole, mostly.

Put shank in receiver, try to lift or pry hitch head up.

Moves? Loose fit. Going over bumps etc hitch is beating and banging. Other worth checking is trailer brake performance. No brakes trailer hitch slams into pin to receiver.

Ideas but not hands on insp.

Gary
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Old 08-14-2020, 01:36 PM   #6
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+1 What Gary said. I was headed down the same road and Gary to the rescue with two nominal SS full length shims. The shims tightened up the hitch to receiver interface to remove any wobble.
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Old 08-14-2020, 01:43 PM   #7
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What Gary said, too. You can order a hitch tightener / stabilizer. They're no longer expensive. Here's one on Amazon. I don't think it's any better than any other of the same general design on the market.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


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Old 08-14-2020, 08:06 PM   #8
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I use a straight pin from the farm store and a hitch tightener.
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Old 08-14-2020, 08:56 PM   #9
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Hitch pin hole deforming

Same issue as on my 2017 GMC 2500 towing my 30’ international with propride hitch. Set in and really has not gotten worse over time (3 years / 40k miles).

Meh. Receiver is rated for 1500 lbs dead weight and constructed with super heavy guage steel. Inconsequential. These are commercial vehicles for all intensive purposes.

I do now turn the inside curve of the pin downwards facing so that it does not promote the issue. But again: meh.
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Old 08-14-2020, 09:00 PM   #10
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Old 08-15-2020, 03:24 AM   #11
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Bent pins cause this problem to happen. The solution is a straight pin.
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Old 08-15-2020, 07:00 AM   #12
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So, there should be little to no play where the hitch shank slides into the truck receiver? Mine has some play up, down and sideways. I have a straight pin and no visible wear or hole elongation.
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Old 08-15-2020, 07:57 AM   #13
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Bubba

No pin hole wear? Good thing.

But divide your rig into two halves, TV has radial tires, good suspension etc to make it a no problem TV.

Now pretend to install complete tuned hitch onto AS. WD and sway control assumed. Could be a $500-1000 or more hitch right?

Now marry that tuned TV to the primo hitch and AS and the last connection stinger to receiver is loose and sloppy. Could the combo be just a bit better w/o the sloppy fit?

My opinion, yes it could. I made custom fitted SS shims that slide in on three sides. The stinger slides in with minimal slop and has stayed that way since I added the shins. Driving just felt tighter less minor steering corrections to maintain highway cruse. No loosening still smooth controlled fit.

YMMV

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Old 08-15-2020, 07:59 AM   #14
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I had three wide beads welded to three sides of my shank, I then ground them down to get a good fit.
With a 1200lb TW it never really moved when hitched but rattled a lot unhitched.
The TowTector was also moving quite a bit.

On the boat with a light TW, I use a shank clamp.

A press fit pin alone would not remove all 'slop' on a shank that's loosey goosie in the receiver.


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Old 08-15-2020, 08:29 AM   #15
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The receiver on a Tundra is beefy enough that a 2" pin doesn't work and a 2 1/2" is too long. I sourced a US made locking pin 2 1/2" and added a couple hose washers to take up the slack. Hose washers are 5/8" !
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Old 08-15-2020, 08:29 AM   #16
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Mine does the same thing...and am using a straight pin.soft metal..mild steel..
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Old 08-15-2020, 08:36 AM   #17
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A bent end hitch pin will do that to the pin hole in the receiver. Both my 2011 and 2018 Silverados got that elongated hole. It never created any real problem and we do a lot of towing. We just got got a new 2020 Silverado. I think that I will put a rubber stopper on the pin like Richard suggested.

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Old 08-15-2020, 08:47 AM   #18
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If you have a bent pin, put it in without the hitch shank. Slide it in as far as it will go. Try to wiggle it. Mine would move between 1/16” and 1/8”. Now pull it out a little and try again - minimal movement. Another clue - I always put my pin in with the bent end on the road side to make it easier to unlock as I am right-handed. The hole in the receiver was only elongated on the road side.

I used a 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 adapter. Ultimately the burr in the receiver got so bad as to make it really hard pull the adapter out or put it in. I had to get a grinder stone for my drill to remove the burr.

I ultimately bough a hitch lock. Other than it seems to reduce porpoising I really can’t tell much difference in towing due to the ProPride but it is definitely quieter.
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Old 08-15-2020, 09:19 AM   #19
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Thanks Bob and Gary. Sounds like for me to have an optimum hookup I need to address the slop. If I put a hitch clamp I’ll need to adjust the Rock Tamers a bit on the stinger to allow room for the clamping bracket. Whether I go that route or run a weld bead and grind, anything would be better than what it is now. I just never realized that slop is not a beautiful thing. Thanks
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Old 08-15-2020, 11:26 AM   #20
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Look for the proper size hitch pin for a 2.5 inch receiver. The diameter of the pin is a little larger I believe (5/8 instead of 1/2). The 2 inch pin will fit.
I had the same issues. I deburred the receiver and went with the larger pin. Three years now with no further issues.
Etrailer or the Hitch Store stock the lager pins.
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