Concerns About Corrosion From Road Salt On The etrailer Anti-Rattle Hitch Collar e38FV

Updated 05/28/2026 | Published 05/23/2026

Question:

I read through the reviews for this item, and corrosion is a frequent complaint. Has anything been done to alleviate this problem? My roads see salt a couple of times each year, Im concerned. My dilemma is choosing this expensive item that might get ugly quickly, or getting four U-bolt types, and changing them out as they get nasty.

asked by: Andy

Expert Reply:

Hey Andy, thanks for reaching out. Honestly, I think your concern is pretty reasonable any time you’re talking about steel hardware living under a vehicle in road salt. The etrailer Anti-Rattle Hitch Collar # e38FV does have a pretty solid coating setup with both e-coat and powder coat, and it was designed from the start to stay mounted outside full-time, but nothing design-wise has really changed since we released it. So, if you’ve read reviews mentioning corrosion, that’s the same product people are still buying today. That said, most of the complaints I’ve seen are cosmetic surface rust on the hardware or threads after a few winters, not the unit failing or becoming unusable.

Personally, I’d still lean toward the # e38FV over the typical U-bolt anti-rattle clamps if you’re planning to leave it on long term. The U-bolt styles usually get ugly and seize up faster because the exposed threads just collect every bit of salt and grime underneath the truck. With the # e38FV, if you hit the moving parts and threads with Fluid Film, anti-seize, or some kind of corrosion inhibitor a couple times a year, they tend to hold up pretty well even in rough climates. The big advantage is you’re not fighting rusty nuts and wrenches every time you want to remove a ball mount or accessory.

expert reply by: Jesse M

etrailer Anti-Rattle Hitch Collar for 2" Hitch Receivers
(click to enlarge)

Tom K.

5/27/2026

I have the e38FV on two vehicles - Subaru OBW and a Nissan Frontier Pro 4X. I spritz them once a year to minimize corrosion which is surface. If in a harsh environment probably need to spritz twice a year. I love the ease of tightening down. The orientation of the anti-rattle is different on the two vehicles because of the construction of the hitch. Doesn’t impact on functionality. Ease of use makes it worth the expense.

Jesse M.

5/27/2026

@TomK Nice! Glad to hear the anti-rattle collars have been working out. That's a great tip to clean them off periodically. Thanks for sharing!

Zach

5/27/2026

I had this on my Sierra Denali for about a year and it worked great. Reduced the rattle very well and had no issues with rusting or anything even scratches. But then I got rear ended and it got damaged and I haven’t got around to replacing it still. But I most definitely will be needing another cuz my hitch makes so much noise now without it. Definitely game changer.

Jesse M.

5/27/2026

@Zach Awesome! Glad to hear the anti-rattle collar worked so well for you! Sorry to hear you got rear ended though, that sucks. We still have plenty of collars in stock if you need a new one!

Bill E.

5/28/2026

I've had the e38FV on my pickup for about a year. I'm not happy with it, but it's my own fault. I just failed to read the fine print before purchasing. Overall it's a well designed product with some limitations. 1st: Do NOT order one of these is you tow with a load leveling hitch system. I do. It will not work and will only cause you frustration trying to figure out why. Damage to the anti rattle hitch collar will most likely result. 2nd: The spec sheet states that the load limit is 5000 lbs. I tow well above that. In an answer to a question about load limits, one of the etrailer experts said there was no published limit? I've also experienced some rust, primarily on the screws that tighten the hitch collar to the receiver.

Dan M.

5/28/2026

I live in the Chicago area and road salt and especially liquid de-icer destroys metal quickly. Since the device removes pretty quickly by turning 2 Allen head bolts, I remove it for snow season. I also don't want to risk losing this device by driving around without a hitch in the receiver because our rough roads tend to rattle everything loose. Another option is to spray FluidFilm on the device and your receiver to slow the corrosion. As for cheaper options: In this area, I don't recommend leaving any zinc plated Ubolts exposed for a winter season. You'll have seized nuts and damaged threads very quickly.

Jesse M.

5/28/2026

@DanM Hey Dan, thanks for the feedback. Definitely a good call to remove the collar during snow season. I bet that'll help it last way longer. Good tip about the FluidFilm too. Thanks for taking the time to share!