Thread: D4 2" square trailer receiver hitch..

I was having some feedback issues with the van attached. So the father in-law and I had a bit of a play packing some shims into the receiver this solved the loose fit problem and the thump from the van.

But just packing with shims seemed like a bit of a short cut. In my father in-laws case if it worth doing its worth over doing.

Given that any hitch fitted will pivot on the center locking pin we went for 3 bolts on the under side of the receiver. There is enough thickness to drill and tap the holes for the bolts.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I have just returned from Griffith where I visited a Caravan/Trailer specialist to get their view. I left the receiver hitch & tow hitch with them to play around with. Basically they weren't prepared to drill into the receiver hitch due to its cast construction. I understand this, but would like to do this all the same. They put some welds on the receiver and filed until there was a tight fit. Obviously this doesn't solve the overall issue.

I also purchased a u-bolt large enough and a fish plate from a trailer to have a fiddle with.

If you look at the receiver it has already been drilled and machined. It isn't fragile cast iron.

I bought a few of these for another application.


They cost me a little over $10 each. I bought a few spare.

After stopping the gooseneck from rattling in its receiver, I now find that the tow attachment isn't quite tight in its socket. It doesn't look as though its going to fall out but its certainly going to wear the contact surfaces and get worse the more its used. Do others have this loosness? I'm inclined to add a brace between the top of the new anti-rattle bracket and the recovery hole but that's going to make removal even more work. I use the trailer regularly and it was quick and easy to remove the pin.

Does anyone know if the reverse sensors are meant to know if something's on the hitch? It's no fun reversing with a constant beep when the bike rack's on!

Originally Posted by Stuart02

Does anyone know if the reverse sensors are meant to know if something's on the hitch? It's no fun reversing with a constant beep when the bike rack's on!

This happens to me as well with the bike rack. It is normal.
Cheers, Craig

Originally Posted by Stuart02

? It's no fun reversing with a constant beep when the bike rack's on!

You can just turn them off when the bike rack is on