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02-07-2010, 05:03 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Hitch Rattle
Keath pointed out that there was a lot of play between the receiver and the cargo carrier I got recently. He had the same problem in the past and warned me against using duct tape to make a tighter fit.
I may have found my solution. I picked up Garant Elgin tool handle wedges ( two for six bucks ) at my local Rona hardware. These are made of steel and come in various sizes and shapes. I got wedges that are 2" wide ( perfect ).
I drove the wedge in between the hitch receiver and cargo carrier and nothing moves now. Not sure how easy it will be to remove, but the one I got does have a lip I can grab on to. I also haven't tested it to see if it stays in place on a rough road.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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02-07-2010, 05:16 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
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Re: Hitch Rattle
Pretty cool solution. I'm betting it'll stay put, but if not, you might grind a very shallow trough on the upper edge of the hitch where the top lip of the wedge meets it. If you don't have a grinder, this gives you an excuse to buy a new tool!
Bruce
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02-07-2010, 05:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: Hitch Rattle
As you can see from the second picture, if I use a little more muscle I could drive the wedge a tad further and it would be held in place by the cargo carrier. I didn't since I don't want to commit.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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02-07-2010, 07:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,547
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Re: Hitch Rattle
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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02-07-2010, 08:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: Hitch Rattle
Yah, but the price is right for my anti-rattle device, assuming it works and if you don't need to remove it.....
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-23-2010, 10:09 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2010 Escape 13
Posts: 431
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Re: Hitch Rattle
Here is a relatively simple device I have been considering
http://www.etrailer.com/p-93347.html
Not as cheap as Glenn's solution, but much less expensive than the specialized ball mounts.
Another solution I found in searching fiberglassrv.com is to cut a shim from a piece of plastic and jam it between the ball mount and the receiver tube. I used this solution on the first trip with our new trailer and it seems to reduce hitch rattle quite a bit. I made the shim from the plastic lid of a margarine container. You can't get much cheaper than that!
Brian
__________________
Brian
2003 Subaru Forester
2012 Toyota Highlander V6
2010 Escape 13 "Ladybug" Feb 2010
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03-23-2010, 10:13 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: Hitch Rattle
Ya, but can you plug your hair dryer into it
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-23-2010, 10:26 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2010 Escape 13
Posts: 431
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Re: Hitch Rattle
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Ya, but can you plug your hair dryer into it
baglo
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Glenn:
I'm an air dryer type of guy.
__________________
Brian
2003 Subaru Forester
2012 Toyota Highlander V6
2010 Escape 13 "Ladybug" Feb 2010
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03-24-2010, 08:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,547
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Re: Hitch Rattle
That is a neat simple idea, but I have to wonder if if would stop all the up and down movement being wedged only in the side. Would not be too expensive to fine out though.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-24-2010, 08:40 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2010 Escape 13
Posts: 431
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Re: Hitch Rattle
Jim:
If you put the piece of plastic under the ball mount while pushing the ball mount into the receiver it seems to prevent most up and down movement, and there is enough friction it doesn't move side to side much either.
Here is the link where I found this idea:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/in...dpost&p=301407
__________________
Brian
2003 Subaru Forester
2012 Toyota Highlander V6
2010 Escape 13 "Ladybug" Feb 2010
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