Today I picked up my new mountain bike
A north shore 4 bike rack.
I noticed even with a threaded anti rattle hitch pin there is still vertical play between my hitch extension and receiver hitch.
I eye balled the gap and cut a piece of 2.5mm aluminum scrap I had into a shim.

I greased the heck out of it and the receiver and slid the extension in, it fit great in there with still some room to move not jammed in.
So now my extension (7inch) sits flat to the receiver.

I tried the same thing with bike racks 2 inch bar but there was not much slop in the connection , I would have needed 1 mm piece. Possibly some stainless sheet from hobby store would have worked.
Here's the rack extended.

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2002 E250 5.4 4R70W 2wd 3.5 inch lift Pleasure-Way Traverse on 16x8 with 265/75/16's

This is what I use, works really well to tighten things up, no more slop or rattle
2" Hitch Receiver Tube Stabilizer Reverse Anti-Tilt Locking Collar https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002M9XMNY/re ... Yvb6TVAKXV

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'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top

I used a similar anti-rattle devise as the one REF posted but it eventually just mushroomed the bolt heads and chewed up the end of the receiver. Mind you, I've been using it on a motorcycle rack with anywhere from 180-350lbs on it with thousands of miles of offroad use. This is the one I use now and it seems more effective and hopefully more reliable: http://roadmasterinc.com/products/acces ... quiet.html

The shim looks slick.

I use this "Draw-Tite J-pin Stabilization Pin" on my front-hitch mounted spare-tire bracket. Works very well. The hitch does have to have an extra hole for the bottom of the "J" to go into. (The Draw-Tite spare tire bracket had the hole stock.)

http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessori ... 63201.html



I like that there is a nut holding it on in addition to the lock (I've seen some locking hitch pins that are *just* the lock, and they make me nervous).

I'm with you, I don't like a loose hitch. I did something a little different, I drilled and tapped the insert for 5/8" bolt. I use a 5/8" socket head(Allen head) screw and make it really tight. No rattles, even on big bumps. It is also sort of an anti theft device 'cause not many midnight auto suppliers carry a 1/2" Allen wrench to undo it.

Mike

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Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper

That's a great idea!

Thank you viva.
I am also using this anti rattle locking pin!
I found even with a bolted pin there is up and down movement . With it shimmed it is solid and no droop .

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2002 E250 5.4 4R70W 2wd 3.5 inch lift Pleasure-Way Traverse on 16x8 with 265/75/16's

Had to add a Blue Ox Hitch Receiver Immobilizer II to eliminate what was a significant amount of play when my bike rack was inserted into a hitch extension. Worked really well and took all the play out of the rack. Purchased at Etrailer.

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2014 Ford RB-50

Cut up (carefully, with a knife, the metal will be sharp as well) and folded soda cans make good shims. In particular, they can be stacked to get just the right thickness.

Nicer, forged ball mounts never seem to require them, so I've moved to those for actual towing.

I did order a big u-bolt and plate a while ago for a bike rack. However, the built in screw down on that rack has been sufficient, ever since I bolted both ends of my rear shocks to be vehicle. So I have not tried it yet.

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'99 EB ex ENG KSWB news van, low rent 4x4 conversion (mostly fixed by now), home built interior.

Awesome Awesome thank you!!!
Free thin aluminum...
The anti rattle hitch pins Im using are great quality do a great job of side to side sway but up and down is a different story, that annoying clunk over bumps drives me mad . Shims really work well with the pin i use.
Pop cans, beers cans, lots of free shims if you don't get it right just drink another..and voila
I will be trying this next for sure,

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2002 E250 5.4 4R70W 2wd 3.5 inch lift Pleasure-Way Traverse on 16x8 with 265/75/16's