Can I Use Washers As Shims To Eliminate Play At WD Hitch Head And Shank?

Updated 03/04/2026 | Published 02/02/2026

Question:

I purchased this system and attached it to a husky branded shank that appears to be slightly under width for the head of this system and Ive got some lateral movement in the hitch head even after tightening. Is there a shim or washer that can be ed where the hitch head meets the shank to take out that play in the system?

asked by: Nathan V

Expert Reply:

Hi Nathan, thanks for reaching out. Yes, it’s perfectly fine to use flat washers as shims to take up that side-to-side play between the hitch head and the shank. That’s actually a pretty common situation when mixing brands, especially if the shank runs just a hair undersized. Adding washers where the head meets the shank is an accepted fix and won’t hurt anything as long as everything is tightened back down properly.

Once you shim it so the head sits tight and torque the hardware to spec, that movement should be gone and the setup will feel much more solid.

expert reply by: Jesse M

Jesse M.

3/4/2026

Hey Nathan, how did things turn out after adding the flat washers to your Equal-i-zer setup with the Husky shank? Did that take care of the side-to-side play you were seeing? Your results could really help others mixing brands like that.