Loose Trailer Receiver

cazzicool · November 20, 2008

Can anyone suggest a solution to solve the design problem with the trailer hitches the recent GM products come with? They are too loose. A 2inch coupler just dances inside them and rattles. This not only wears the retainer pin and hole but ratlles my nerves as well. What is with this poor quality receiver anyway? The one on my Z71 was tight, but I guess GM went with a cheaper supplier? I have tried duct tape, shims but nothing works. I did not try spot welds, as I think it may cause the couplers to fail once they are arced. Any ideas out there. Is there a dsb on this one?

Zembonez · November 20, 2008

What does the size of the tubing have to do with a cheaper supplier?

Anyway, I took a punch and indented the sides and bottom of my receiver slightly to make the fit tighter. It's now snug but not so tight that you can't remove it easily. The same sloution might work for you. It wasn't hard to do and the "dent" in the tubing is very slight and almost impossible to see.

redvett · November 20, 2008

When you have a load on the hitch you shouldnt have any play. When you have no trailer on the truck you also shouldnt have anything in the receiver. There is a liability issue there.

pwall · November 20, 2008

When you have a load on the hitch you shouldnt have any play. When you have no trailer on the truck you also shouldnt have anything in the receiver. There is a liability issue there.

Please elaborate....what is the liability issue ?

dietz4ibanez · November 20, 2008

When you have a load on the hitch you shouldnt have any play. When you have no trailer on the truck you also shouldnt have anything in the receiver. There is a liability issue there.

Please elaborate....what is the liability issue ?

I thought having a hitch on your truck was like extra insurance! Thats why I bought the biggest one I could find!

redvett · November 21, 2008

Depending on the state you live in and laws, someone can walk by the rear of your vehicle and hit the hitch bingo a lawsuit. Backing up and hitting something is another case.

Besides it looks bad. Just easier to take it off when not in use your own legs will appreciate it.

When you have a load on the hitch you shouldnt have any play. When you have no trailer on the truck you also shouldnt have anything in the receiver. There is a liability issue there.

Please elaborate....what is the liability issue ?

icecoldtexan · November 21, 2008

Depending on the state you live in and laws, someone can walk by the rear of your vehicle and hit the hitch bingo a lawsuit. Backing up and hitting something is another case.
Besides it looks bad. Just easier to take it off when not in use your own legs will appreciate it.

When you have a load on the hitch you shouldnt have any play. When you have no trailer on the truck you also shouldnt have anything in the receiver. There is a liability issue there.

Please elaborate....what is the liability issue ?

This post brings back a memory....A few years ago I was at a friends house and we were both leaning our backs on the front end or my truck when we heard the the sound of the hitch getting kicked and the whole truck shook. I thought it was a kid just playing around and kicking the hitch. About 2 minutes later an old lady walked from behind my truck and she was limping very badly as she walked doun the street. Found out that she was a "power walker" and walked too close to the back of my truck and kicked the hell out of my hitch. She is probably still hurting from that.

pwall · November 21, 2008

Depending on the state you live in and laws, someone can walk by the rear of your vehicle and hit the hitch bingo a lawsuit. Backing up and hitting something is another case.
Besides it looks bad. Just easier to take it off when not in use your own legs will appreciate it.

When you have a load on the hitch you shouldnt have any play. When you have no trailer on the truck you also shouldnt have anything in the receiver. There is a liability issue there.

Please elaborate....what is the liability issue ?

Ah.....up North, not that we're exempt from silly law suits, they don't seem as common place. Wouldn't have ever thought of that.

Same could be said for the mirrors on my truck.....

cazzicool · November 21, 2008

Good idea about the dents. Hadn't thought about that one. Thank you. Still should not need that if the general was still putting the tight fitting previous model instead of this piece of crap. As for the lawsuits, fortunately here up north we have not let the lawyers take over completely (yet) .

Zembonez · November 21, 2008

Good idea about the dents. Hadn't thought about that one. Thank you. Still should not need that if the general was still putting the tight fitting previous model instead of this piece of crap. As for the lawsuits, fortunately here up north we have not let the lawyers take over completely (yet) .

You'd be surprised. It took very little "tightening" to get it nice and snug. I think all you are seeing in yours is the tolerances in the tubing that they used to make the hitch. All should be good when you get done.

VMax2007 · November 21, 2008

Wow, the things people come up with to bitch about. I think this one is now in the Top 5 all time for the lamest things to bitch about. Behind the "My seat belts rattle" bitch of course, that is still hanging onto the #1 spot.

tobias · November 21, 2008

Jim, can you snap a shot of the "fix" and maybe higlight where you "adjusted" things?

Zembonez · November 21, 2008

Wow, the things people come up with to bitch about. I think this one is now in the Top 5 all time for the lamest things to bitch about. Behind the "My seat belts rattle" bitch of course, that is still hanging onto the #1 spot.

Like lint on seats?

Jim, can you snap a shot of the "fix" and maybe higlight where you "adjusted" things?

Well.. I do realize that you are being facetious, but yes, I can.

Jeff may think it's funny but I hated the clunk from the hitch insert moving when my boat went over bumps. It sounded like something was loose. I took a broad punch to the tubing between the two holes in the sides for a hitch pin and collapsed it slightly. It bent easier than I figured it would and is impossible to tell if you aren't looking for it.

I'll see if a picture shows it. One note. My hitch is not GM but I'd imagine most are pretty similar.

tobias · November 21, 2008

Well.. I do realize that you are being facetious...

I actually wasn't being facetious. I was wondering where you punched it because I'm going to try this. It's not a significant issue for me but if this really does help quell noisy hitch syndrome, why not? I don't have the two hole setup like you do (boy that could be taken wrong ) but I'll give this a shot anyway.

As for the photo... we need to have a little chat about that sticker.

I asked you nicely to take it off last time but now I am starting to get mad.

Oh, and who cut out your bumper, Michael J. Fox?

Zembonez · November 21, 2008

Well.. I do realize that you are being facetious...

I actually wasn't being facetious. I was wondering where you punched it because I'm going to try this. It's not a significant issue for me but if this really does help quell noisy hitch syndrome, why not? I don't have the two hole setup like you do (boy that could be taken wrong ) but I'll give this a shot anyway.

As for the photo... we need to have a little chat about that sticker.

I asked you nicely to take it off last time but now I am starting to get mad.

Oh, and who cut out your bumper, Michael J. Fox?

LOL!

The bumper is factory original... no cutting. In fact, it needs to be trimmed slightly above the hitch receiver. I wanted a hitch that was almost invisible from the rear, which is why I don't have the GM hitch. I knew I was in trouble when I posted the picture (with stickers) I'll have that attended to and get back with updated pictures for you!