Great advice. I put some grease on the ball too. Most people don't like that because it can get on things and make a mess, but it reduces the wear, reduces the rust and makes it a bit quieter. Plus, you can tell people you greased your ball. 😆
Great advice and video. Instead of buying a U-bolt assembly, i wrapped duct tape around the male end of the ball part to eliminate extra play in the vehicles receiver. It works well for me. My 2 cents worth. 😊
Just a friendly observation. The suspension u-bolt is a not an ideal solution as you installed it. In this configuration the hitch and it’s load are riding on the u-bolt rather than the bottom of the receiver tube. If you put the plate on the bottom (may require some modification) you are clamping the hitch to the bottom receiver tube. You may also want to add a lock washer under the nuts or replace them with nylock nuts.
As a welder and fabricator long-time mechanic and farmer I could not have said it better myself your tongue weight is now riding on a cheap u bolt even though the square tubing is holding it For Security measure it is not properly loaded
GreenBoy at GA Farms Then enjoy listening to the racket jack. Unbelievable the guy tries to offer some suggestions and you wanna just tell him why he’s wrong. Instead “greenBOY” how bout YOU offer up a suggestion? Hummmm.... I thought so, quick to scoff but no answers of Your own.
YES! Thanks for making and posting this video man. Just bought my first utility trailer today and it rattled so badly all the way home. I’m going to try these tips ASAP!
Great tips, thanks for sharing! 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!
As others said, the U bolt should be mounted so the tension of the nuts hold the draw bar down and not up. That is where it will want to be anyway while under load.
I drilled a 1/2" hole in my hitch welded a nut over the hole and use a bolt to put pressure on the receiver. It works great. I used stainless hardware so I wouldn't have to worry about it rusting and snapping on me after a few winters.
Thats much better Idea. I don’t leave my Hitch on the car when I don’t need it. Ive bashed my shins to many times. I like your idea and plan to use. Thank!
Good video..... wish I seen it last year when my trailer hitch but was loose. I went over some railroad tracks going about 25 mph and she popped off the ball. Thank goodness for chains!!!
Or you can take a washer and a hammer and drive the washer in the gap of the receiver. Then tap the ball with the hammer when you want to take it off. Works for me.
Perfect! Thanks for sharing where to get the clamp. I thought to use a muscle relaxer clamp but was not share it would work since it round. The suspicion clamps works better. Saves me a few dollars from buying the same thing for $35 on etrsiler..
Ive been trying to get properly hitched for years. Apparently, I just need to adjust my tongue and balls. D&E is making happy couplers all across America!! Great video. Thanks!!
The first trailer hitch stabalizer with the ubolt, and nuts that you put on first in the video was upside down when you installed it, i just bought one and looked at the instructions on the back from harbor freight. Just though id share that info. Im sure it worked ok for u either way but i try to follow manufacturers directions anyway when able. Different strokes for different folks though. Thanks for the info on tightening down the coupler hitch on the trailer though, that was information i wasnt familiar with. Thanks for the shared information!
I found a material made for silencing the noise in leaf spring rub. It comes on a roll. I cut a small piece off the roll and wrapped it around my receiver. It acts as a silencing gasket and also prevents the receiver from rust bonding to the hitch.
Thanks. I just got a jeeplet, ok renegade trailhawk. The clamp works rest but now the ball clunk. It is really bad when towing my mini trailer. Gonna try tightening I a bit. Let you know how it works. As far as that clamp. Think $10 at Depot and no clanking. Yeah, had to go upside down as well.
Awesome tips! I always thought trailers were just supposed to rattle! Haha, I’ll be sure to look into this to make my trailering experience much better
good tip. Better tip would be putting it upside down the other way. So it works as designed by the factories. It'll still be quiet, it'll just be stronger. You know to the class of hitch it was designed to be.
I thought about this too. It looks like this will also provide a smoother connection, look better, and put the bolts angled down toward the ground where you're much less likely to hit them when moving around the back of the tow vehicle.
Hopefully you cn help--my Curt hitch rubs and makes noise under my car although it is very sure. Any suggestions? I do not have anything except the hitc on the car. should there be rubber busihing in between both metals? Thank you
I just put a hitch on a jeep cherokee and I never noticed it in my pick up truck but dang when I pull my trailer it sounds like it’s about to come through the trunk.hopefully that clamp fixes it thanks.
It's hilarious that part of his bond agreement is that he is not to build any houses. That would be like getting arrested for drunk driving and your bond agreement stating that you are not allowed to quit drinking 😂
hey dude great video i want to thank you .every time we go camping i take my 5x9 trailer with us and it makes a sound because the hitch has a play in it. so you showed me with that square type bolt it works great no more sound. once again thank you very much.
Well, to each their own, but also people will be surprised how quiet things get when you just keep everything lubed. Also, there needs to be a small(very small) amount of play, and plenty of lube, on the ball connection. You'll see there is a light duty spring on the top of the claw and a heavy duty spring on the bottom of the claw. You don't want that heavy duty spring to completely collapse when the hitch is attached. For those who don't wish to home brew, there are anti-rattle receiver pins and other devices out there. Also, for those with light trailers, you need to match the trailer tire pressure to your load if you want to minimize noise, but too much is better than too little.
I have a enclosed trailer and went to pick up some vinyl plank flooring today 3500# the guy set the pallet of flooring down in the very rear of the trailer and it came off the ball it picked up the back of my f150 quite quite a bit before letting go of the ball is this a adjustment issue a defective hitch or just to much up lift on the ball I don’t know what the guy was thinking I had told him we will have to unload the pallet and distribute the weight through out the trailer the it was to much weight for one spot.
As others have suggested, turn the clamp around and fasten from the bottom with lock washers. Also, I add axle grease to the hitch ball and equalizer brackets to reduce friction and eliminate squeaks.
Fine tips but a few critiques. 1 try flipping the U-bolt over for that particular hitch to wedge the plate between the hitch and the receiver. 2. That's an adjusting NUT on the bottom of the trailer hitch not a bolt.
I agree. Also, EVERYTHING with towing a trailer sits on a ball- steel on steel. Where is the grease on the ball & where is the grease under the tongue when it's shown? Too much friction can cause a failure & premature wear. It all sits on the ball---- lube it up peeps
I've looked all over the place for a u bolt that would work, but can't find one. Can you find me one? Or direct to a place where I can get one or sure? Thank you
I might try this next time in case the receiver tube has no anti-backlash bolt. Here's a tip: Lightly coat the inside of the coupler and hitch ball with motor oil or spray-on WD40 (NOT grease as it becomes a grinding paste when congealed with dust or debris!)
HAHA!.. Well played, sir. The trailer is our "dirty bird ferd" project. Someone had a "free" sign on it so we grabbed it and have been using it as a firewood getter ever since
I think the bolt that adjusts the ball retaining mechanism, is only on the lighter duty, bolt on tongues. I have a 2” yoke A frame coupler and a 2-5/16” A frame coupler and neither of them have any sort of way (that I can observe) to make that adjustment. If anyone knows how/if I can adjust my couplers, please let me know. Thanks.
The hitch clamp you can buy on Amazon for $9. Don't need all the hassle, and safer and better design. BTW, you did not use washer and lock washer, not safe.
Super simple trick ... Imma use it for sure!! Thanks for sharing ... and Im going to do it your way because I see that it works ... amd not the way suggested by all the keyboard experts in the comments who have nothing to show
I have a Ram 2500 with a 2" receiver and a 30' X 8 k lb. travel trailer to much play in the hitch. Thinking about running two each beads of high tensile welds on all four sides of the hitch and grinding the beads down untill I have a better fit to eliminate the sway and rattle.
@@DEInTheGarage It may need a little modding with some washers or just some re-angling or whatever to work the other way, but, yes, it really should be holding the hitch DOWN in the receiver, not UP. The way you installed it in the video makes it so that the entire tongue weight of your trailer, plus much much more over bumps, is resting ALL of that weight on the added U-bolt. Don't fight gravity. Use it to your advantage.
I like it but how about putting the U bolt assembly on the OTHER WAY! Nuts on the bottom and not the top to pull DOWN towards the road, and not up. Also replace the PIN with a GRADE 8 BOLT with washers and a nut, use thread locker.
So anyone uses a Bradley cast non braked coupling, had two brand new ones on a new Bates tow ball and both rattled and annoying you can not adjust them like you can on the cheaper pressed steel types, any help appreciated, if you ring the trailer dealer they say the same thing, must be a worn out ball, Nop, must be trailer not level, Nop, need more trailer nose weight, done that and still rattled on slightly rough roads and when driving slower, the play is there if you grab hold of the handle on coupling and lift up and down, so anoying on long trips
Dude, life saver! I'm getting ready to tow a trailer for 1800 miles and I was already bracing myself for 3 days of rattle, not any more! Thanks!
You will love this trick. It changed the way I tow for sure. good luck!
@@DEInTheGarage just installed it, works great! Let's see if it will hold because the backplate is not the beefiest.
Great advice. I put some grease on the ball too. Most people don't like that because it can get on things and make a mess, but it reduces the wear, reduces the rust and makes it a bit quieter. Plus, you can tell people you greased your ball. 😆
"About one grunt". Best torquing advice ever!
Great advice and video. Instead of buying a U-bolt assembly, i wrapped duct tape around the male end of the ball part to eliminate extra play in the vehicles receiver. It works well for me. My 2 cents worth. 😊
Just a friendly observation. The suspension u-bolt is a not an ideal solution as you installed it. In this configuration the hitch and it’s load are riding on the u-bolt rather than the bottom of the receiver tube. If you put the plate on the bottom (may require some modification) you are clamping the hitch to the bottom receiver tube. You may also want to add a lock washer under the nuts or replace them with nylock nuts.
Those are all good suggestions. I will have to add them to my routine while trailering. Thanks!
Agreed
As a welder and fabricator long-time mechanic and farmer I could not have said it better myself your tongue weight is now riding on a cheap u bolt even though the square tubing is holding it For Security measure it is not properly loaded
Yep 🤙
GreenBoy at GA Farms Then enjoy listening to the racket jack. Unbelievable the guy tries to offer some suggestions and you wanna just tell him why he’s wrong. Instead “greenBOY” how bout YOU offer up a suggestion? Hummmm.... I thought so, quick to scoff but no answers of Your own.
YES! Thanks for making and posting this video man. Just bought my first utility trailer today and it rattled so badly all the way home. I’m going to try these tips ASAP!
Hope it helps bud! Good luck
Great tips, thanks for sharing! 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!
Unless you are in California where a bolt is illegal. Stupid i know but they can tow your trailer +fines.
@@stairgauge Interesting, this is the first time I'm hearing of that. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!!! Just took my new kayak trailer out and it was so loud. I really appreciate you taking time to share your knowledge.
As others said, the U bolt should be mounted so the tension of the nuts hold the draw bar down and not up. That is where it will want to be anyway while under load.
pro tip : watch movies on flixzone. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies these days.
@Yousef Taylor Yup, been watching on Flixzone} for since december myself =)
Thanks for this solution. Cost me $1.89 to fix the rattle. great job
Glad it helped!
I drilled a 1/2" hole in my hitch welded a nut over the hole and use a bolt to put pressure on the receiver. It works great. I used stainless hardware so I wouldn't have to worry about it rusting and snapping on me after a few winters.
Wow! That is a really good idea!
Best way in my book, $4 in parts..Why spend $40 on a fancy U- bolt.
Thats much better Idea. I don’t leave my Hitch on the car when I don’t need it. Ive bashed my shins to many times. I like your idea and plan to use. Thank!
I did the same thing on mine. I also used a fine thread bolt and nut. Less likely to vibrate loose.
Great explanation. Very well shot video with super clear viewing angles. Compliments to you.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you very much-you saved me a bunch of money!!
Glad I could help!
Great for newbie campers, thanks!!
Worked like a charm with plate at the bottom
Glad to hear it!
thanks! I 💙💙💙💙 your "Back The Blue" sticker! very important these days!!
Good video..... wish I seen it last year when my trailer hitch but was loose. I went over some railroad tracks going about 25 mph and she popped off the ball. Thank goodness for chains!!!
Thanks for the Info. I definitely need to tighten ball hitch clamp. There's a little bit of play on the ball even when the hitch is clamped.
Many thanks for that sound advice
Or you can take a washer and a hammer and drive the washer in the gap of the receiver. Then tap the ball with the hammer when you want to take it off. Works for me.
Perfect! Thanks for sharing where to get the clamp. I thought to use a muscle relaxer clamp but was not share it would work since it round. The suspicion clamps works better. Saves me a few dollars from buying the same thing for $35 on etrsiler..
Ive been trying to get properly hitched for years. Apparently, I just need to adjust my tongue and balls. D&E is making happy couplers all across America!! Great video. Thanks!!
Phrasing! haha..
@@DEInTheGarage Hahahaa
This comment hasn't received the love and respect it deserves lol!
The first trailer hitch stabalizer with the ubolt, and nuts that you put on first in the video was upside down when you installed it, i just bought one and looked at the instructions on the back from harbor freight. Just though id share that info. Im sure it worked ok for u either way but i try to follow manufacturers directions anyway when able. Different strokes for different folks though. Thanks for the info on tightening down the coupler hitch on the trailer though, that was information i wasnt familiar with. Thanks for the shared information!
I found a material made for silencing the noise in leaf spring rub. It comes on a roll. I cut a small piece off the roll and wrapped it around my receiver. It acts as a silencing gasket and also prevents the receiver from rust bonding to the hitch.
Wow.. really? This is news to me..
Did this but you must do it the other way around and slide the plate up into place.. It works AMAZING
Thank you for the information!
Mate those Tips are awesome
Thanks. I just got a jeeplet, ok renegade trailhawk. The clamp works rest but now the ball clunk. It is really bad when towing my mini trailer. Gonna try tightening I a bit. Let you know how it works. As far as that clamp. Think $10 at Depot and no clanking. Yeah, had to go upside down as well.
Awesome tips! I always thought trailers were just supposed to rattle! Haha, I’ll be sure to look into this to make my trailering experience much better
Thx bro.. 1st time trailer user god 🙌 you
Good tips, thanks.
Best explanation I found with pictures. Thank you!
good tip. Better tip would be putting it upside down the other way. So it works as designed by the factories. It'll still be quiet, it'll just be stronger. You know to the class of hitch it was designed to be.
I thought about this too. It looks like this will also provide a smoother connection, look better, and put the bolts angled down toward the ground where you're much less likely to hit them when moving around the back of the tow vehicle.
Its all true and I agree. Thanks!
That was very well done!! 😀...
GENIUS ? Thanks Bro!!!
Grease the ball! Light greasing (anti-seize) helps with friction and noise
Hopefully you cn help--my Curt hitch rubs and makes noise under my car although it is very sure. Any suggestions? I do not have anything except the hitc on the car. should there be rubber busihing in between both metals? Thank you
Thanks for filming
Short and sweet,right to the point.Nice vid.
Just did it to mhy new truck,testing it tommorow with my boat.
Thank you so much 👍🏼
You freaking Rock!
I just put a hitch on a jeep cherokee and I never noticed it in my pick up truck but dang when I pull my trailer it sounds like it’s about to come through the trunk.hopefully that clamp fixes it thanks.
Best info out there, quick and to the point, thanks.
You are the BEST!! Thanks!!
THANK YOU...
It's hilarious that part of his bond agreement is that he is not to build any houses. That would be like getting arrested for drunk driving and your bond agreement stating that you are not allowed to quit drinking 😂
Would this also help with trailer sway?
good work, I hated the noise, thanks to you I solved the problem, will recommend your method to all of my friends.
Awesome thank you
You want pull the loose hitch down. You raised it up.
I just turn the radio up louder
Real talk bro. That’s it’s nature
Thats dumb
That's what you said on the other guy's video!
Weres the boat
Efficient! Well explained. A+
hey dude great video i want to thank you .every time we go camping i take my 5x9 trailer with us and it makes a sound because the hitch has a play in it. so you showed me with that square type bolt it works great no more sound. once again thank you very much.
Glad it worked for you!
Well, to each their own, but also people will be surprised how quiet things get when you just keep everything lubed. Also, there needs to be a small(very small) amount of play, and plenty of lube, on the ball connection. You'll see there is a light duty spring on the top of the claw and a heavy duty spring on the bottom of the claw. You don't want that heavy duty spring to completely collapse when the hitch is attached.
For those who don't wish to home brew, there are anti-rattle receiver pins and other devices out there.
Also, for those with light trailers, you need to match the trailer tire pressure to your load if you want to minimize noise, but too much is better than too little.
I have a enclosed trailer and went to pick up some vinyl plank flooring today 3500# the guy set the pallet of flooring down in the very rear of the trailer and it came off the ball it picked up the back of my f150 quite quite a bit before letting go of the ball is this a adjustment issue a defective hitch or just to much up lift on the ball I don’t know what the guy was thinking I had told him we will have to unload the pallet and distribute the weight through out the trailer the it was to much weight for one spot.
Jeez! Glad you are ok! What a story. Don't tell me load weight distribution is another art form me are losing?!
Thank you so much
Good stuff! I bet its much safer now too 👍
As others have suggested, turn the clamp around and fasten from the bottom with lock washers. Also, I add axle grease to the hitch ball and equalizer brackets to reduce friction and eliminate squeaks.
2:32 "Oh Yeah"!!
Fine tips but a few critiques. 1 try flipping the U-bolt over for that particular hitch to wedge the plate between the hitch and the receiver. 2. That's an adjusting NUT on the bottom of the trailer hitch not a bolt.
I agree. Also, EVERYTHING with towing a trailer sits on a ball- steel on steel. Where is the grease on the ball & where is the grease under the tongue when it's shown? Too much friction can cause a failure & premature wear. It all sits on the ball---- lube it up peeps
Lock washers needed to keep the nuts from unscrewing itself while driving!
My trailer doesn't have an adjusting nut under the spring, it's weird I'm still looking for a way to adjust.
I've looked all over the place for a u bolt that would work, but can't find one. Can you find me one? Or direct to a place where I can get one or sure? Thank you
Your the man thank you so much
Turn the u bolt over and use lock washers
Good information. Thanks. 👍
Thank you
I might try this next time in case the receiver tube has no anti-backlash bolt.
Here's a tip:
Lightly coat the inside of the coupler and hitch ball with motor oil or spray-on WD40 (NOT grease as it becomes a grinding paste when congealed with dust or debris!)
That is a good tip. Thanks!
Personally I love all the rattles me XJ makes...... keeps the lady from chatting 😂😂😂😂 Nice trailer fella (project camper) ??
HAHA!.. Well played, sir.
The trailer is our "dirty bird ferd" project. Someone had a "free" sign on it so we grabbed it and have been using it as a firewood getter ever since
omg thanks for showing what happens under the ball hitch mechanism!
Thank you!
Great tips sounds like it helps
It really does. World of difference.
Best and simplest
very helpful thanks man.......
Thanks
I think the bolt that adjusts the ball retaining mechanism, is only on the lighter duty, bolt on tongues. I have a 2” yoke A frame coupler and a 2-5/16” A frame coupler and neither of them have any sort of way (that I can observe) to make that adjustment. If anyone knows how/if I can adjust my couplers, please let me know. Thanks.
You have the U- bolt upside down.
Definitely doing that !!! Thanks !!!
I would install it in revers if physically allowed since the tongue weight will naturally press down.
Can someone fit a 2 inch balls coupler onto a 1 7/8th s ball if they tighten that nut down
All the people saying weld a nut on the bottom of the receiver , very quickly the tongue will destroy the thread and you won’t get the bolt out ,
Merci mec👍
Very helpful
Life saver
Thank u Sir..
Wow thank you so much! I will try that. The noise drives me crazy.
You rock
This helped me. Thank you very much
The hitch clamp you can buy on Amazon for $9. Don't need all the hassle, and safer and better design. BTW, you did not use washer and lock washer, not safe.
Super simple trick ... Imma use it for sure!! Thanks for sharing ... and Im going to do it your way because I see that it works ... amd not the way suggested by all the keyboard experts in the comments who have nothing to show
I need to quite down the ramps on the trailer this is a heavy trailer. Any ideas??
I have a Ram 2500 with a 2" receiver and a 30' X 8 k lb. travel trailer to much play in the hitch. Thinking about running two each beads of high tensile welds on all four sides of the hitch and grinding the beads down untill I have a better fit to eliminate the sway and rattle.
I could MIG WELD my hitch to the receiver NO MORE RATTLING no more lost hitch stolen.
You dah man!!
U bolt is upside down.
Has to be that way to work..
@@DEInTheGarage It may need a little modding with some washers or just some re-angling or whatever to work the other way, but, yes, it really should be holding the hitch DOWN in the receiver, not UP. The way you installed it in the video makes it so that the entire tongue weight of your trailer, plus much much more over bumps, is resting ALL of that weight on the added U-bolt. Don't fight gravity. Use it to your advantage.
You should flip the ubolt around, you got it working against gravity. amateurs.
I like it but how about putting the U bolt assembly on the OTHER WAY! Nuts on the bottom and not the top to pull DOWN towards the road, and not up. Also replace the PIN with a GRADE 8 BOLT with washers and a nut, use thread locker.
And add washer and lock washer
So anyone uses a Bradley cast non braked coupling, had two brand new ones on a new Bates tow ball and both rattled and annoying you can not adjust them like you can on the cheaper pressed steel types, any help appreciated, if you ring the trailer dealer they say the same thing, must be a worn out ball, Nop, must be trailer not level, Nop, need more trailer nose weight, done that and still rattled on slightly rough roads and when driving slower, the play is there if you grab hold of the handle on coupling and lift up and down, so anoying on long trips
What if the trailer thing isn't adjustable?