Will Draw-Tite 2 Inch Ball Mount Rattle Around in Hitch Receiver Opening

Products Featured in This Question

Draw-Tite Ball Mount w/ 2" Ball for 2" Hitches - 3/4" Rise, 2" Drop - 7,500 lbs

(3333)

$35.87

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class IV - 2"

(228)

$231.06

Anti-Rattle Trailer Hitch Receiver Lock for 2" Hitches - 3-1/2" Span

(1638)

$43.19

etrailer Anti-Rattle Hitch Stabilizer for 2" Hitches - Vinyl Coated Steel

(807)

$34.67

Question:

is there to be play between the receiver hitch and the shank?

asked by: Freda L

Expert Reply:

Every hitch and drawbar will have some movement between them, it's unavoidable.

Any manufactured product like a receiver hitch will have variances in its size. For instance, the Curt # 14090 Class IV hitch has a 2 inch receiver. The actual measurement of the inside of the receiver tube is usually a little larger than 2 inches. The outside dimension of the shank of a ball mount like the # DT49MR you'd looked like is typically a tiny bit smaller than 2 inches. If the inside dimension of the hitch receiver tube was exactly 2 inches square, and the outside dimension of the ball mount's shank were exactly 2 inches square you'd be unable to fit them together, or they'd fit so tightly that you'd have difficulty getting them apart.

There are various anti rattle devices available that will snug up that connection to reduce or eliminate the movement of the ball mount in the receiver. The # e99007 Hitch Stabilizer works very well, but it can be a little inconvenient to loosen and remove the 2 nuts and washers each time you need to remove the ball mount (although a wrench is included).

For a locking anti-rattle device that works with hollow ball mounts like the # DT49MR you'd looked at, the # 63232 would be a great choice. There's one bolt that would need to be loosened each time, but this option is very effective in eliminating the movement and helping to prevent your ball mount or other hitch mounted accessory from being stolen.

I'll link to some videos that show exactly how each of the anti-rattle devices I recommended work.