Anti rattle shims

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Anti rattle shims

Brodie Allen · Guru

What are these things and their location when installed.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Not knowing either Brodie I did a little homework and came up with this. Could be them or similar.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Dougwe wrote:
Not knowing either Brodie I did a little homework and came up with this. Could be them or similar.

Yes Dougwe,

100% correct. I hate the movement in our hitch. Saw these on Y Tube. Quick and easy to install / Remove.

IMO $30 worth a try. Can't see why Mr Toyo and others could not do better. My old Toyo Parado fitted like a glove for 15 years.

Grey

Brodie Allen · Guru

Ah! got that!

Made some up for myself years ago out of an old hacksaw blade slid into the gap.
An old hand mentioned to me that I might not have correct downforce on the towball.
he was partly correct - did ease the rattle hugely.

Don't need them now since the Anderson hitch makes them unnecessary.

How come the tolerances are so great anyway?

ps - Check the bolt that goes thru the tongue and receiver - some are a very loose
fit and shims won't fix this.

Craig1 · Guru

Landcruiser 200 comes with them prefitted to standard shank. Why? who knows, maybe to leave tolerance for aftermarket WDH

Gundog · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Ah! got that!

Made some up for myself years ago out of an old hacksaw blade slid into the gap.
An old hand mentioned to me that I might not have correct downforce on the towball.
he was partly correct - did ease the rattle hugely.

Don't need them now since the Anderson hitch makes them unnecessary.

How come the tolerances are so great anyway?

ps - Check the bolt that goes thru the tongue and receiver - some are a very loose
fit and shims won't fix this.

That bolt is ment to be loose when there is load on the towball, and you are ment to tighten the bolt when there is no load to stop the rattle.

All the solutions like shims are a waste of money as you already have the anti rattle bolt.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The fits are poor because these are standard tube sizes.
The hitch should be removed when not in use and when in use you can't hear it anyway.
Cheers,
Peter

Aussie1 · Guru

Always leave our hitch on when not in use. Got hit from behind some years back resulting in approx $5000 damage to their vehicle, nil damage to ours.

oldbloke · Guru

Gundog wrote:
Brodie Allen wrote:
Ah! got that!

Made some up for myself years ago out of an old hacksaw blade slid into the gap.
An old hand mentioned to me that I might not have correct downforce on the towball.
he was partly correct - did ease the rattle hugely.

Don't need them now since the Anderson hitch makes them unnecessary.

How come the tolerances are so great anyway?

ps - Check the bolt that goes thru the tongue and receiver - some are a very loose
fit and shims won't fix this.
That bolt is ment to be loose when there is load on the towball, and you are ment to tighten the bolt when there is no load to stop the rattle.
All the solutions like shims are a waste of money as you already have the anti rattle bolt.

Agree 100%. And any ball with 250kg down load won't rattle much. Lol

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
Always leave our hitch on when not in use.

Just be aware that if it sticks out at all, it is considered a danger and it is illegal.

Cheers,

Peter

Dick0 · Guru

Hitch clamps work better...simple, easy fit and cheap on Ebay.

Eliminate Hitch Rattle With A Hitch Clamp - YouTube

Bobdown · Guru

Gundog wrote:
Brodie Allen wrote:

ps - Check the bolt that goes thru the tongue and receiver - some are a very loose
fit and shims won't fix this.
That bolt is ment to be loose when there is load on the towball, and you are ment to tighten the bolt when there is no load to stop the rattle.
All the solutions like shims are a waste of money as you already have the anti rattle bolt.

Gundog, the anti rattle bolt is not to be used when towing, only to secure a tow hitch tongue when not towing, according to Toyota anyway.

Just as easy to remove tow hitch if not towing though.

Cheers Bob

Aussie1 · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Always leave our hitch on when not in use.
Just be aware that if it sticks out at all, it is considered a danger and it is illegal.
Cheers,

On this occasion, it certainly ended up a danger to the idiot that ran into our rear

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
On this occasion, it certainly ended up a danger to the idiot that ran into our rear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That "idiot" can still sue you for everything you are worth and some.
I have a BinL who had a kidney removed by the ambos right where he lay on the road after running into the back of a ute on a motorcycle due entirely to a tow hitch.
I hope you could live with that?
Even the pedestrian in the shopping centre that whacks his/her shin and finishes up in hospital. A little consideration for others would not go astray.
Cheers,
Peter

Whenarewethere · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
Always leave our hitch on when not in use. Got hit from behind some years back resulting in approx $5000 damage to their vehicle, nil damage to ours.

I walk past behind a car with the towbar sticking out what I considered too far.

I almost fainted from the pain. A shop brought me out some ice.

I have hit a thumb or 3 with a hammer over the years. That's enjoyable by comparison to hitting your shin.

Still got the mark & 30 years later it gives me the occasional twinge.

My view, if you have a long towbar you have a short ....!

Aussie1 · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Always leave our hitch on when not in use. Got hit from behind some years back resulting in approx $5000 damage to their vehicle, nil damage to ours.
I walk past behind a car with the towbar sticking out what I considered too far.
I almost fainted from the pain. A shop brought me out some ice.
I have hit a thumb or 3 with a hammer over the years. That's enjoyable by comparison to hitting your shin.
Still got the mark & 30 years later it gives me the occasional twinge.

My view, if you have a long towbar you have a short ....!

OUCH !

Aussie1 · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
On this occasion, it certainly ended up a danger to the idiot that ran into our rear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That "idiot" can still sue you for everything you are worth and some.
I have a BinL who had a kidney removed by the ambos right where he lay on the road after running into the back of a ute on a motorcycle due entirely to a tow hitch.
I hope you could live with that?
Even the pedestrian in the shopping centre that whacks his/her shin and finishes up in hospital. A little consideration for others would not go astray.
Cheers,
Peter

True, but then again, given the "litigate" society we live in today, you could be sued for blowing your nose in public or even running a generator after 4pm

Hylife · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Always leave our hitch on when not in use.
Just be aware that if it sticks out at all, it is considered a danger and it is illegal.
Cheers,
Peter

Absolute rubbish, just another old wives tale.

Rear overhang can legally project up to the lesser of 3.7M or 60% of the wheel base (measured from the rear overhang line (which is the centre of the axel group)), and up to 1.2M ahead of a vehicle.

Any object permanently fitted to a vehicle (eg bull bar, tow bar, winch or equipment/tool box) is considered part of the vehicle and must be included within the applicable dimension limit.

Trailers have different limits depending on type, eg, pig, dog or semi (fifth wheeler).

yobarr · Guru

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
On this occasion, it certainly ended up a danger to the idiot that ran into our rear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That "idiot" can still sue you for everything you are worth and some.
I have a BinL who had a kidney removed by the ambos right where he lay on the road after running into the back of a ute on a motorcycle due entirely to a tow hitch.
I hope you could live with that?
Even the pedestrian in the shopping centre that whacks his/her shin and finishes up in hospital. A little consideration for others would not go astray.
Cheers,
Peter
Hi Peter,
This rider who collided with the rear of the said ute with a tow hitch get charged with failing to keep a safe and proper distance in the first instance.
If the rider is to run up the ass of any vehicle, then the rider failed to keep a proper distance IMO.
I am a motorcycle rider for 46years, and I ride to live. What was he doing or not doing to end up in this case.
I to leave my hitch attached. The number of times dicks trying to park behind me and hit the rear over and over. I would end up paying to have it fixed without the hitch there. They never leave a note or phone number.
Grey

.

Mamil · Senior Member

My hitch is slightly loose too, and used to clunk annoyingly when towing the caravan. I bought this Hayman Reese silent hitch pin from Repco for $40 which solved the problem.

Hayman reese silent hitch pin.jpg

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Old and Grey wrote:
This rider who collided with the rear of the said ute with a tow hitch get charged with failing to keep a safe and proper distance in the first instance.
If the rider is to run up the ass of any vehicle, then the rider failed to keep a proper distance IMO.
I am a motorcycle rider for 46years, and I ride to live. What was he doing or not doing to end up in this case.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may have heard of the saying "Two wrongs don't make a right" and it is still illegal to leave your hitch on if not towing because of the danger to others. If that is not enough for you to do the right thing, that says more about you than it says about others.
Sad.
Cheers,
Peter

Mike196 · Senior Member

Some scrap sheet metal does the job and is easy to shape. I have also put a couple of lines of weld along the top and sides of the hitch tube and ground them to a sliding fit with a flap wheel. No more rattles. Which reminds me, the new one I got a couple of weeks ago needs attention.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Old and Grey wrote:
This rider who collided with the rear of the said ute with a tow hitch get charged with failing to keep a safe and proper distance in the first instance.
If the rider is to run up the ass of any vehicle, then the rider failed to keep a proper distance IMO.
I am a motorcycle rider for 46years, and I ride to live. What was he doing or not doing to end up in this case.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may have heard of the saying "Two wrongs don't make a right" and it is still illegal to leave your hitch on if not towing because of the danger to others. If that is not enough for you to do the right thing, that says more about you than it says about others.
Sad.
Cheers,
Peter

Hi Peter,

Here in NSW we have an annual road worthy E Check each and every year and costs about $40 if your vehicle is over 5 years old.

This is a State Fee. Never have we been failed for having our hitch attached.

Now every emergency vehicle in every STATE /Rural area's drive every day with hitches attached. This includes The Police 4 X 4, Tow Trucks are a prime example. They are on day and night.

Is this legal then. Or is it one rule for one and not the other.

So how about we all get back to my OP, and stop the %$#@!.

Cheers Grey

Whenarewethere · Guru

Another towbar story.

I once worked in North Sydney. There was a recording studio opposite. A hire car was there to pick up Belinda Carlisle, parking was tight being North Sydney. The hire car backed up forgetting it had a towbar & put it through my car's air conditioning condenser & radiator.

The hire car then drove forward & the towball got stuck on the underside of the bumper bar & towed my car about 50 metres down the street as it would not come off.

A tow truck had to back 100m up the narrow one way street, which was a busy one way thoroughfare to get out of the back streets. Traffic jam until my car was towed away.

There were about a 100 witnesses & it was all fixed up without any issues.

oldbloke · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Always leave our hitch on when not in use. Got hit from behind some years back resulting in approx $5000 damage to their vehicle, nil damage to ours.
I walk past behind a car with the towbar sticking out what I considered too far.
I almost fainted from the pain. A shop brought me out some ice.
I have hit a thumb or 3 with a hammer over the years. That's enjoyable by comparison to hitting your shin.
Still got the mark & 30 years later it gives me the occasional twinge.

My view, if you have a long towbar you have a short ....!

When traveling with the van I leave my HR hitch attached. What do people expect, I remove it everytime I park for a couple of nights? Ridiculous.

I to have hit my shin on my hitch. I painted part of my hitch and the van coupling bright red. No more hit shin. Lol

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I wonder if those who leave their hitch attached when not towing are also the same ones who leave their towing mirrors fitted when not towing?
Cheers,
Peter

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I wonder if those who leave their hitch attached when not towing are also the same ones who leave their towing mirrors fitted when not towing?
Cheers,
Peter

Hi Peter,

Yep I do. Whats more, They meet the Federal Governments ADR rules. I never extend mine because they are so big.

I came back to our truck one time while out shopping, to fine this old girl doing her hair in the left side mirror. I told her that she had missed a bit.

Old thumped me one. cry