Quiet Hitch anti-rattle ball mount

[John E Davies]

It's a Class 4 (!) so it must be pretty beefy. The 2 inch drop model is US$70.

"When the lever is rotated to the upright position four lifters extend from within the ball mount walls. The four lifters then engage the inner walls of your receiver hitch locking the ball mount in place stopping all movement and related noise."

Products

I think it's way cool.....though I wonder how it will hold up long term.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Why not just lay weld beads on the surface of the hitch tubing and grind for minimal clearance?

 

[John E Davies]

Why not just lay weld beads on the surface of the hitch tubing and grind for minimal clearance?

Because that isn't (easily) adjustable as it and the receiver opening wear.

Because it would be really hard to obtain a "no rattle"fit, and still be able to insert a welded up mount without having to beat it in and out with a mallet.

And..... just because.... because.... I dunno. Don't shoot the messenger!

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[titanpat57]

Why not just lay weld beads on the surface of the hitch tubing and grind for minimal clearance?

Damn you and your logic Mr. Spock!!




Nice find Mr. Davies...kinda of interesting...

 

[Waorani]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem!

 

[sirenmoses]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem!

x2. tween the truck, the dog, and the trailer, hitch rattle is the last thing I'm gonna hear.

 

[John E Davies]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem!

My RAV4 hitch rattles like loose rocks in a trash can if the trailer is empty. I made a stainless shim because the noise was so bad.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[shotgun]

just drill a hole in the reciever and weld a nut over the hole. insert bolt into nut and snug it down. use anti sieze on the threads and a jamb nut if you want.

 

[boctor12]

They make silent hitch pins that eliminate any noise at the reciever. Here is one: Off Road Tent Trailers by Adventure Trailers

 

[Brian in Oregon]

My RAV4 hitch rattles like loose rocks in a trash can if the trailer is empty. I made a stainless shim because the noise was so bad.

John Davies
Spokane WA

My wife has a RAV4. I'd like to tow my M100 trailer with it, but I have not found a hitch setup that allows me to open the back door. Unless it's one of those little tiny micro-trailers. What did you install?

 

[John E Davies]

My wife has a RAV4. I'd like to tow my M100 trailer with it, but I have not found a hitch setup that allows me to open the back door. Unless it's one of those little tiny micro-trailers. What did you install?

You have to extend the tongue way out there:

I have an aluminum trailer, so it was a little different challenge to mount the receiver onto the tongue. I have a straight Treg coupler bar for the LX, and the drop ball coupler for the RAV4. Both are drilled and can extend up to 30 inches from fully retracted. This makes winter storage nice, because I can pull the tongue and leave both of them stored inside, or under, the trailer.

When hooked to the RAV4, you still have to be careful how you park to make sure there is door clearance.... a minor issue.

More trailer stuff here:
Soft Road Trailer

The RAV4 V6 tows my dinky trailer without any problems with tons of power, but the trucklet sure is light (3600 pounds) and you can feel trailer movements that are simply not apparent with a Series 80.

I have the OEM receiver, which is VASTLY stronger and better engineered than the aftermarket ones. With a unibody, I think it's important to go as strong as possible on the receiver design.
RAV4 Hitch

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[kim]

My RAV4 hitch rattles like loose rocks in a trash can if the trailer is empty. I made a stainless shim because the noise was so bad.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Hitch clunking drives me nuts as well. I have found that the pintle hitches are much quieter than the ball variety.

I still like the 'anti-rattle' idea. My buddy could use it except he was so pissed off at the noise, he welded his tow insert in place.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Ah, your RAV4 is quite different from mine in the rear.

On the 2004 models the rear bumper is integral with the back door.

The door on your later RAV4 stops short, and it has a separate bumper under it.

So, on mine, no matter how you do the hitch setup, you cannot open the door without disconnecting the trailer and likely pulling the stinger. A real PITA. We never thought we'd pull a trailer with it, so it wasn't an issue when we bought it.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

BTW, that's a NICE aluminum trailer. Got more pics of it?

 

[titanpat57]

Thank you Mr. Davies for the Unibody tow rig pix...I too will be using a uni body vehicle to tow, so it's nice to see a guinea pig....I mean a trailblazer, setting the pace for others to follow

Sweet trailer BTW.......I'm thinking thats my next project (aluminum trailer)

 

[John E Davies]

BTW, that's a NICE aluminum trailer. Got more pics of it?

Brian, I posted a link a couple of posts up, but here it is again:
Soft Road Trailer

There are more pics scattered around my website, but most of the extras are here:
LX450 Pics

and a few here (various camping vacation pics):
Davies Family Home Page

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[FJ-Dave]

x2. tween the truck, the dog, and the trailer, hitch rattle is the last thing I'm gonna hear.

Easier solution TURN THE STEREO UP noise ???? what noise

Cheers - Dave

 

[ntsqd]

I had a loose socket on my '79 Suburban that allowed the couplers to rattle badly. B4 taking it to Baja one year I laid a thick bead of silicone down each corner of the coupler's tube, then slid it in place. No more rattles!