Anyone have experience with draw bar tighteners (anti-rattle) - ?

[kurek]

Like this thing - I'm going to be towing a light (3500lb GVW) cargo box a few thousand miles next month and wouldn't mind if it was a bit smoother and quieter.

Anyone use such a thing before? Problems to look out for?

 

[Gr8bawana]

I've been occasionally towing a couple of different travel trailers with 5 different truck over the last 40 years or so and have NEVER had a ball mount rattle with a trailer of any kind on it.

 

[Quyonmob]

If your trailer is loaded/balanced properly, the drawbar should never rattle in the receiver.

 

[csuder99]

A group of my friends use this style https://www.amazon.com/ELITEWILL-Heavy-Cross-Hitch-Tightener/dp/B07RDKF5D2/ with their T@B trailers. Seems to work fine for them. T@B trailers are fairly short and don't have a lot of tongue weight. Small single axle utility or box trailers tend to rattle quite a bit when they are empty for the same reasons.

 

[JohnnyMac]

I've used similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KZ25Y2...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
on my last 5 vehicles with receiver hitches. More because of the rattle from the hitch being unloaded, but it also has helped with light loads like my jet skis. First time I heard that clunk/clank, I thought something was broken under the truck.

 

[kurek]

I haven't had this particular trailer loaded yet but empty it rattles quite a bit and when I parked the truck/trailer and gave it some violent rocking and shaking by hand I could see the draw bar move when I hear a particular tone of clunk.

You guys are probably right that when it's loaded it might just be silent. For what it's worth, I don't have much experience pulling small utility trailers but I am class A licensed and operate a class 6 truck/trailer nationwide.

Sounds like those tighteners do work when there's a problem for them to solve, I'll give one a spin.

 

[Shiva]

I got 3 of these.
1/2 " stainless steel and 1/2 " plate.
Shop around. I paid like $10 each Canadian shipped from Amazon.
Used 3rd one for cargo carrier on travel trailer rear bumper receiver. No wobbles or rattles.

 

[jasonw]

If your trailer is loaded/balanced properly, the drawbar should never rattle in the receiver.

I have one like Shiva posted, not for rattling going down a smooth highway, but for going over bumps/potholes/snowy streets/etc. Seems to help quite a bit.

 

[Toddbigboytruck]

I got 3 of these.View attachment 188247
1/2 " stainless steel and 1/2 " plate.
Shop around. I paid like $10 each Canadian shipped from Amazon.
Used 3rd one for cargo carrier on travel trailer rear bumper receiver. No wobbles or rattles.

I got mine at princess auto same one needed it on the mini van but don’t get the rattle on the truck they work great

 

[Quyonmob]

I have one like Shiva posted, not for rattling going down a smooth highway, but for going over bumps/potholes/snowy streets/etc. Seems to help quite a bit.

I run logging roads, and the smoothest road around here can mix paint. Never had receiver/drawbar rattle with 10-15% of total load as tongue weight.

 

[jasonw]

I run logging roads, and the smoothest road around here can mix paint. Never had receiver/drawbar rattle with 10-15% of total load as tongue weight.

Wow. Well, then your receiver/hitch fit extremely well, better than 95% that I have ever seen or used.

 

[Jeff Courtney]

Mine rattles when starting/stopping or going over speed bumps loaded or empty. Proper tounge weight or not. If there is play in the ball mount & reciever tube your gonna notice it until its secured in these instances.

 

[kurek]

I just finished a 1300 mile trip with a 3500lb single axle and can report no rattling with the draw bar tightener, even with the rear sliding window open. Good purchase in my view.

 

[Brent L]

Kinda redneck I know, but I have wrapped 1-2 layers of duct tape around the hitch then slid it back into the receiver. Works well for me, much less rattling.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk