How to eliminate hitch rattle with the Hitch Clamp

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An easy inexpensive way to eliminate hitch rattle and wiggle
using the Hitch Clamp. Stabilize look bike racks, quiet down your hitch, secure your cargo box and more!
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[@woohunter1]

If you live in the northeast, try this trick. Leave draw bar in receiver from December to March without removing, no more rattle and no one can steal it.

[@rodbagley]

woohunter1 did that. Hitch went with the car. I couldn't get it out and I tried everything I could think of.

[@aldee3018]

rust.lol

[@evandickson19]

Angle grinder.

[@ryanh1222]

Never to be removed again.

[@fredmertz6480]

Left mine in for 2 yrs in Michigan. Tried many things. What did work I think was a combination of white vinegar and heat. Took a 2 gal zip lock bag, put it over the hitch assembly. Taped and zip tied it all up to the hitch. filled it with white vinegar and then zip tied the bottom up towards the top until the hitch was completely covered with vinegar. Let it set for two weeks. When I took it off I used a 3 pounds sledge to try and move it and it barely moved. I asked a mechanic at work what he recommended and he said lots of heat. Used a torch with map gas for about a half an hour while still using the 3 pounds sledge and it finally came out. Had to get a new insert but at least I can use my receiver now.

[@Jim_Briggs]

There’s actually a sleeve that goes in that receiver. I have a 2 1/4” to 2” sleeve in mine and I don’t ever have any rattle

[@alanbarbour5185]

Such a simple solution to an annoying problem. Great presentation, huge thanks .

[@gorp27]

I just ran a couple beads of weld near the corners of the draw bar than ground them down with an angle grinder till the slop was gone.

[@ElonMuskX]

I fixed this problem years ago by sliding a piece of shrink tubing over the bar and heating it up. Shrink wrap from an Hobbies shop used for making batteries for RC cars. Lasted forever, prevented rusted bar and stayed firm.

[@ryanh1222]

That is a brilliant idea!

[@markej4801]

Excellent vid! You've explained what it does, how it does it and how to make it work. Teaching at its best! And then you even showed where to purchase it!!!

[@TX_BigSpit]

For starters, use a 5/8” pin in a 5/8” hole. You have a 1/2” pin in the beginning of the video.

[@DIRTDIVER882]

Nice. I did the exact same thing by taking a paint stick & tapping it into the gap between hitch & receiver and i believe home depot even gave me the paint stick 👍👍👍

[@garywallin5030]

I have been doing this for many years.Drill hole in bottom of receiver then weld a nut over the hole then slide in stinger & then simply screw a bolt into nut to take out the play

[@agger838]

But then the load is riding on that bolt...

[@ryanh1222]

@@agger838 then drill hole on the top and proceed with same instructions. No longer riding on the bolt.

[@TobyMuirson]

The bolt is behind the pin... Most modern towbars have this already built in..

[@20stubby]

I would just put the right hitch on

[@20stubby]

When you buy a Chevy or GMC brand new 3/4 ton truck comes the larger hole than the 1/2 ton

[@WilliamNguyen]

Great info! I never thought of this. This will definitely help the t-bone I used to hold my kayak.

[@passipassi100]

I like how simple it is! This is starting to be a great channel. Keep up the good work ;)

[@heted1]

I've had trouble with this for years. Will give it a try. Thanks for the video.

[@DoItYourselfDad]

+heted1 I still use it every time I take my dirtbike out, still love it!

[@BAHRAMCR]

Fantastic idea, thank you for sharing.

[@JakR4bbit]

Got something similar on Amazon. One of my favorite purchases.

[@michaellawrie903]

Such a simple and great solution. Thank you.

[@belaidout]

I learned something today 🤔 Thank you ☺️

[@keithg4441]

Great idea! I wish I had seen this years ago when I needed it.

[@Nathan-gi9mm]

Good video. Answered my questions and was well made. Thank you

[@thomasdipaolo2349]

Awesome video review. Just what ive neen looking for. Thank you

[@randyautrand5950]

Nice! Looks great. I hate hitch rattle. Going to get one. Thanks again for the video

[@DoItYourselfDad]

Glad to hear it! I've been very happy with mine, still use it a lot.

[@averyalexander2303]

That's pretty cleaver. What I did is I replaced my hitch pin with a grade 8 bolt and nut and torqued it down hard so it squeezes the receiver tube a bit to keep the hitch tight. Works perfectly! No more play at all anymore and it can't be stolen nearly as easily as pulling a pin out. And at least in my situation, removing the bolt allowed me to remove the hitch no problem, so the receiver tube wasn't damaged or permanently deformed. Win win!

[@mikelopez7462]

Thanks for the info and review

[@katherinegonzales1555]

You had the right answer and explained it is a very easy way to understand, thanks so much

[@camperking5224]

Thanks a lot for your simple anti rattle trick.

[@marksmith5994]

I use two on my hitch set up, love them.

[@shawavsqk]

I’ve had trouble with my hitch loose for quite some time. I’ve tried the wood jammed in. That didn’t work for long. I’ve spot welded it but that wears smooth. I just watched your video and I went right to amazon and ordered the same one you have. I’m hoping this will cure my problem. Thanks.

[@es47]

Made one about 20 years ago and its been on 3 different trucks still works gerat

[@winstonreid169]

Thank you found this video very helpful!!

[@davidyeager3700]

I went to ace hardware and bought a 3inch ushape u bolt with the flat metal bar it works good

[@endtimeswriter]

Finally something i hoped to do, keep the hitch from wobbling. Never herd of these but so simple to use.

[@tronaboron2064]

That is exactly what I need! Thanx for posting!✌🏼

[@DoItYourselfDad]

Thanks! Hope the clamp helps you out!

[@110americalovingpatriot2]

Awesome 👍 thanks for sharing, I knew there was something that fixed that annoying as hell rattling. Thanks again

[@brandonvillalobos8008]

Great hack! Saves a lot of money too!

[@fishinginpa4716]

you are a moron

[@williams7384]

I use two plastic shims. One vertical and one horizontal. Works great. Jam one In & snap it off flush. Haven't had one fall out. Got em at ace. Comes in a pack of like 20

[@MasteringMayhem]

I appreciate that info.

[@Vulcaneer900]

That trick makes it harder for someone to steal your ball and hitch.

[@goprenow]

I have this unit n it works great

[@LifewithKenandJane]

Those work great. We use two cause we put a lift on the carry cage. They are great. 🤠👍

[@madometal]

Awesome gadget .quick and simple fix ...satisfaction was accomplished here that's for sure

[@fivevenomstyle6337]

I had that rattle while pulling a small u-haul trailer. I wrapped a couple layers of electrical tape around right inside where it met the receiver just to tighten it up. This is a cool little clamp idea though.

[@razr199]

Thanks for the video bud. I bought a truck extended kit and a hitch clamp come with it but no instructions as usual.

[@bunburysbigbogan5778]

That’s a great idea we be buying one soon

[@dmc4795]

I'm a carpenter I use a wood shim they don't last forever but I change my hitch pretty often and I just drive another shim in no big deal

[@kxf250rf]

Been doing that for years. Works great.

[@bendejo9235]

Ditto here. I like the wedge shape of the shim: Just stick one in the gap...and then pound it in until it can't go no more. Yeah, the wood shim will be like crap after a summer of rain. But hey, no problem: Just use a another shim! What are they...like, $3.99 for a bundle of 12?

[@laffilmfest3759]

Thank u...i will give it a try!

[@shyecjj]

I always shimmed it with thin metal inside the hitch. Worked perfect.

[@radiostuff1026]

Good information. Thanks. 👍

[@tighematthew]

Awesome and so simple

[@charlesrinehart5759]

Get a hitch with propper size shaft no more issues.

[@vh3531]

I wedged a plastic spacer that came in a laminate flooring kit into my receiver. No more rattle. I can even remove the draw bar, replace and tap the wedge back in.

[@irving8284]

Look like a great idea

[@Trykan360]

Helpful, thank you💪🏼🇺🇸

[@juliosdiy3206]

Awesome dude!

[@sshaw4429]

Great idea.

[@racerzx84AE]

I own an Avalanche and I hear all of the hitch noise. Totally going try this!

[@riconaka]

The "play" was driving me nuts with our bicycles in the back. Tried metal shims but they fall out... I will give this a try! Thanks for posting!

[@artlife6210]

It works get one nuff said

[@Love4titan]

thanks very informative I wouldn't never known had I not watched your video. :)

[@crazy-_-Beard]

very nice. I'll buy one of these soon +

[@rootvalley2]

Never had this issue with my old hitch why don’t they just make them the correct size? Think I might try shims.

[@FollowTheGoodShepherd]

Or you can just wrap the entire hitch sleeve in electrical tape. Just put enough so that it slips in snug. Cut a hole where the pin goes. No noise or vibration at all. Pretty much free

[@kyleybarra1830]

Did the same with duct tape. Snug as a bug 👍🏻

[@shocker14369]

Thanks man!! Great review video!!!

[@DoItYourselfDad]

Thanks for watching!

[@twilightroach4274]

We have the same style of receiver hitch in Australia, & they come from the factory with a nut welded over a hole on one of the top corners, with a bolt that you tighten to achieve the same result.

[@RedboneUnincorporated]

smart design

[@nrich5127]

I solved this issue by taking a simple L shaped metal bracket , using a file to narrow the thickness of one end and then hammering it into the gap between the receiver and the hitch. Then I just wrapped some electrical tape around it so it couldn't vibrate out. I lasted the entire ride from Florida to NY State with no problem. My cost ... $1.00 ...

[@DoItYourselfDad]

I did something similar beforeI picked this up. When we take the bikes out, my daughters ATV goes in the bed, my bike goes on the carrier. It’s a lot easier when you have to take the rack on and off multiple times a day to have something purpose built.

[@abdallahabouda6339]

Thank you

[@clintsmith7063]

A couple of wraps of electric tape will make it fit tighter as well.

[@barnaclebill1615]

Nice and a different approach but I’d definitely apply some lock washers!

[@Texaca]

Clever as hell! 🤘

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

You have a very ill fitting draw bar on that hitch !!! I have never seen a hitch that loose !!!!

[@roberttrull2525]

Walmart crap

[@51WCDodge]

@@roberttrull2525 Nast dangerous crap. The movement up and down back and forward, it'll wear and fail.

[@refzz1259]

Its the infomercial frustrating hitch. It doesn't exist in real life

[@donaldshimkus539]

3rd world countries have a very different idea precision. I think that's called a "universal" fit. Eh, close enough.

[@chrisclark5204]

Looks like a class 3 draw bar in a class 4 receiver.

[@ChicanoPhotographer]

Nice gizmo.

[@HP.Customs]

Saw this last week and went to amazon and found it for 28.50. I made one yesterday for around 2 bucks I guess. Some round stock, welder and a tap and die set.

[@deankruse8751]

H&P Customs yeah all you need is 2000 bucks in tools you have had for 30 years. Saves so much money

[@JM-yx1lm]

H&P Customs what was the welder for?

[@austinmurphy6045]

exactly

[@stantutak5579]

@@JM-yx1lm I made one no welder req .

[@toby621]

here in australia we have a bolt with a lock nut under neath simple tighten bolt lock nut no rattle

[@oldguysrock2170]

I put a small piece of RV roof repair tape on the hitch iteself to cushion it. Don’t use a lot of it, 1/2” at most. Stuff is really tough.

[@robmclaughlin420]

I had no idea why the previous owner put those things on the Jeep. Then again, I don’t leave the hitch in the receiver when it’s not in use. Thanks for teaching me something today.

[@dw4940]

GENIUS

[@9carcottrell246]

Great 👍

[@islanderson691]

Hey good idea, have you tried the boss anti rattle hitch support it actually goes inside the hitch. Thanks for the vid.

[@cubpak89]

I don't notice hitch rattle maybe my diesel is too loud or I've gotten used to having my hitch in. Or is it becuase I have the right sized hitch in the receiver. IDK I just tow everyday

[@timphillian8963]

lol exactly!! If the raddle is louder than my 5.9 then I pull over and fix it 'immediately' !

[@johnnybeanz1296]

Very informative. I am using an ultra-tow hitch carrier. The hitch clamp they sell looks terrible. I’ll try this guy. Thanks.

[@edparnell3009]

Thanks for the advice on the hitch clamp. I'll be looking for one. My trailer wobbles from side to side with a middle to light load . Thank you again.

[@BackFortyTV]

Ed Parnell if it’s swaying down the road, your trailer is either poorly built or your load is wrong on the trailer. The hitch “slop” shouldn’t cause this.

[@edparnell3009]

@@BackFortyTV maybe I have a bent wheel. It doesn't do this when I pull from the bumper. Thanks for the advice. I'll have the trailer checked out.

[@BackFortyTV]

Ed Parnell yes sir. Only trying to help, not being an internet troll.

[@mattsmith6824]

In australia not surein america our reece hitch style like yours in video always has a nut welded to bottom corner of steel and a bolt with a safety lock nut is bolted thru and pushes hitch to corner and lockes it and stops rattle

[@cetyl2626]

My bike rack came with a special pin to put in the receiver that had threads also. The rack has a nut on the inside so it pulled it to one side stopping the rattling.

[@MrDelco1970]

Muffler clamp will do the same thing a lot cheaper

[@veteranheavyequipmechanic4990]

Yuppie problems!! Turn your premium sound system up a few notches.

[@John-fz3ij]

Haha! The guy has a point though with real trucks and unibody manvans. I did drive a newer Grand Cherokee down unmaintained roads with a trailer for a living a few summers back and the wood wedges always came out, by the end of the day I was never happier to hear silence.

[@M.Miller262]

unibody type vehicles (blazer, tahoe, jeep,etc.) rattle like hell, trucks not so bad

[@veteranheavyequipmechanic4990]

@@M.Miller262 all the blazers k5 and S10 even trailblazers were body on frame, Tahoe's were body on frame as well. Depends what Jeep you're talking about wranglers are still body on frame everything else Jeep is unibody

[@M.Miller262]

@@veteranheavyequipmechanic4990 i meant uni body as in one single body together, not a seperate cab and bed, but yes im aware those are all body on full frame considering i own a blazer and worked at the GM dealership for some time.

[@veteranheavyequipmechanic4990]

@@M.Miller262 then why did you use them as an example of unibody vehicles in your last post Considering that in a full frame vehicle the hitch isn't attached to the body there's not much difference in noise compared to a pickup. I towed with a 2500 Suburban for years before I got my truck and theres no difference in ride or noise

[@QANGOR]

Thx

[@bradpennington4778]

Where did you get the 2 1/2” hold down and a link?

[@mikelong9638]

Very nice but I'd add couple of lock washers so that it doesn't come loose.

[@bg5561742]

Nice bike I have one just like it 👍🏼👍🏼

[@DoItYourselfDad]

TTRs are practically indescribable!

[@rfmonkey4942]

nice

[@gearshaw2058]

l use a piece of cedar shingle as a wedge found in a campsite.

[@ItzThatOneMatt]

My question is would this work with RV type hitches? Would this be applicable for RVs? Or is this made mainly for bike racks, or racks in general.

[@DoItYourselfDad]

I used this with the hitch for my trailer, I haven't had the need with my larger trailer, the tongue in snug and doesn't wobble with the load distribution bars in place so I can't answer to that.

[@thebridgeplayers]

How does it do with any side shimmy? This is a great idea! I have a 2.5 receiver with a sleeve for a 2" bicycle rack. The rack has an anti-move internal wedge that tightens up, but because of the sleeve, the wedge clamps the sleeve but the sleeve wobbles.

[@DoItYourselfDad]

Pretty well, . I really don’t have any side to side wobble with my motorcycle carrier on it.

[@SuperHOGGA]

My towball on my vehicle is permanent. I had a slight rattle. I drove a thick galv washer into the gap on the top side with a hammer and steel bar. Been there for years . Hasn't fallen out. Never a rattle since.

[@kevsgonefishing]

That’s awesome, I HATE that rattling

[@mykehunt2430]

One way to make sure you have his rattle is to go get one from Harbor freight and they’re like a quarter inch smaller all the way around. Took me two days to figure out that was what was going on the back of my truck after I got one

[@jamesstewart3121]

There is a sleeve that usually comes from the factory try using that. Gm15923277

[@tantrobusb9]

Yeah he has a 2in hitch in a 21/4 reciever

[@coypatton3160]

Add some lock washers or locktite or your little addition is going to be in pieces on the road. Vibration will loosen those nuts rather quickly on a rough bouncy road.

[@chuckvitale1751]

I tow every day I never had that problem you need a better hitch mount on you truck my don’t have that play

[@akbychoice]

Lock washers don’t work. Loctite or nylock does.

[@RCman9291]

akbychoice if u know how to use the lock washers they do work lmao u most not work on anything ever 😑

[@akbychoice]

RCman look up AvE on KZbin, he has a video that will show it. Think what you want your opinion means nothing to me.

[@jjr007]

Or a second set of nuts locked against the first ones.

[@gregoryheim9781]

I see how that device eliminates wobble up & down, but what about side-to-side?

[@cadolf3]

I wish this design would work for those who use a 3 way hitch. I use all 3 sizes as well as the tow hook on my hitch on a daily basis and don't have time to screw with unbolting this, then rebolting it after I switch my hitch size

[@jjr007]

Impact driver with a socket adapter, and a deep well socket, makes very short work of this.

[@60viking]

Remove the hitch when not in use so I don't bag it to it. Are they really that lose? I never noticed. I do like the clamp though.

[@leskobrandon538]

Old trick I do is that I drill & tap a 1/2 hole on the bottom backside of the receiver. Then I use a 1/2 bolt in the tapped hole.. keeps the hitch nice and tight... 3/4 wrench is needed to lossen the bolt to remove the hitch... Been doing this trick for years