Loose tow bar in receiver

[down_home]

I emailed Roadmaster and got no response.
The Sterling Tow bar where it plugs into the receiver on the Motorhome has an 1/8" to 1/4" clearance top and bottom. It rotates up and down on the pin. 4500 lbs of towd slams it up or down on stopping or starting or braking....and that is not a good thing.
Campign World installed the tow bar years ago.
I have tried to put small rubber washers on top and bottom but of course they didn't stay.
I don't think this was intentionally designed to do this.
Any ideas on how to fix this before it destroys the receiver?

[MDKMDK]

1 or 2 $0.30 flat washers and a cable tie to keep them in place.
Simple and cheap and it works. :B

[The_ugly_duckli]

wa8yxm wrote:
Blue ox makes/made a product one of them is called an "Anti rattle clip" the other Hitch Immobilizer (Same product they changed the name) it's a clamp that locks that hitch solid. Have used one for 14 years now.

The Blue Ox clip is what I use. Easy to install and and eliminates all hitch slop. Well worth it!

[enblethen]

Look at different draw bars.
Some have rounded corners and some have square corners. The rounded corner ones have more slop then the square cornered ones.
Some receivers develope cracks in the corners. Some do not have reinforcing bands around the draw bar face.
The better anti-rattle units strength the receiver.

[Groover]

hornet28 wrote:
Another way if you or a friend have a welder is to run some beads along the top or bottom and grind to the fit you want. I've done this more than once for a nice close fit

X2

I have done this before and it is quick, easy and permanent. I have noticed that some of my newer trailer hitches don't fit as tightly as my older ones. It sure seems to me that the manufacturers are focused on making it easy to put together.

[MDKMDK]

Another "zombie" thread with no resolution from the OP. *sigh*

[hornet28]

Another way if you or a friend have a welder is to run some beads along the top or bottom and grind to the fit you want. I've done this more than once for a nice close fit

[LittleBill]

I use this

i use one of these only downside is you need a wrench to tighten it up

[down_home]

Got a reply from Roadmaster. They no longer make the Sterling Tow bar. I don''t hik he understood the clearance problem. Anyway he said if parts are worn to order parts and than I might have problems getting them. Buy a new tow bar and it may or may not fit better.(my words not theirs)

[down_home]

freetime58 wrote:

down home wrote:
I emailed Roadmaster and got no response.
The Sterling Tow bar where it plugs into the receiver on the Motorhome has an 1/8" to 1/4" clearance top and bottom. It rotates up and down on the pin. 4500 lbs of towd slams it up or down on stopping or starting or braking....and that is not a good thing.
Campign World installed the tow bar years ago.
I have tried to put small rubber washers on top and bottom but of course they didn't stay.
I don't think this was intentionally designed to do this.
Any ideas on how to fix this before it destroys the receiver?

Does it fit more tightly on the sides? If not, and you have a 1/4" play top and bottom and the sides. You don't mention what type or year of motorhome, if you have had it for a while or it's new to you........I suspect you may have a 2" insert in a 2 1/2" receiver???? It's highly unusual that a 2" draw bar have that much play in a 2" receiver. There is some movement in all set ups but I have never seen 1/8 to 1/4 inch play.

Clearance side to side is minimal to none.Excessive Clearance is top to bottom. It's an 05 Revolution.

[IAMICHABOD]

You need a good anti rattle device so you don't get so much play in the receiver,thus magnifying the movement and doing more damage to the receiver.

I have tried almost every Anti Rattle device on the market, most have been no good or so complicated and cumbersome that they are useless. Including the Roadmaster type,totally useless,as is all that have been mentioned here.

Until I found the one at Hitch Rider.

Their Hitch Vice is the best and easiest one I have come across and it really works.

[DFord]

You can find these or similar devices on eBay @ 2 for $20. They work great to take out all the movement in your towbar.

[freetime58]

down home wrote:
I emailed Roadmaster and got no response.
The Sterling Tow bar where it plugs into the receiver on the Motorhome has an 1/8" to 1/4" clearance top and bottom. It rotates up and down on the pin. 4500 lbs of towd slams it up or down on stopping or starting or braking....and that is not a good thing.
Campign World installed the tow bar years ago.
I have tried to put small rubber washers on top and bottom but of course they didn't stay.
I don't think this was intentionally designed to do this.
Any ideas on how to fix this before it destroys the receiver?

Does it fit more tightly on the sides? If not, and you have a 1/4" play top and bottom and the sides. You don't mention what type or year of motorhome, if you have had it for a while or it's new to you........I suspect you may have a 2" insert in a 2 1/2" receiver???? It's highly unusual that a 2" draw bar have that much play in a 2" receiver. There is some movement in all set ups but I have never seen 1/8 to 1/4 inch play.

[enblethen]

This is what I used to fix movement in hitch.
Roadmaster Quiet hitch

[MDKMDK]

Go to Walmart and buy a small packet of flat washers, preferably as close in ouside diameter, to the inside diameter of the receiver tube sides you want to shim. Gently (or not?) tap them into the receiver with a screwdriver and hammer, or similar, until they fill the gaps and shim up the hitch/shank. Helps if you (or a helper) can wiggle the shank a bit while you're inserting the flat washers. Then use a couple of cable/zip ties placed close to the receiver opening around the shank to keep them from escaping.
Total cost, less than $5.