Community Forums

Npkp · 10-17-2022, 12:19 PM

I 2nd the hitch clamp suggestions, completely solves the rattling of the hitch during starting and stopping. Like others said, buy a good one, mine uses 1/2"-13 nuts.

sammi 2769 · 10-17-2022, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer15015

YES on the hitch clamp, and don't go cheap.
Some have real small "U" bolts ,and you don't want that one.
Ask me how I know.

Mike in Colorado

I've had good luck using the TRIMAX, anti-rattle hitch clamp products. Very well made and have taken care of any movement with the 2" and 2 1/2" receiver tube // ball mount issues. Check out model #'s: THC200 and THC 250.

Flyer15015 · 10-17-2022, 03:37 PM

I use 2 of the Rhino brand hitch tighteners when I haul the bike.
I have to use a 12" extension to get the bike past the ladder, so 2 tighteners are needed. Twenty five bucks each on evilbay.
Two trips to Florida and back have convinced me they work well.
The Bike rail does not wallow around when I watch it on the camera.

Parafango · 10-18-2022, 08:31 PM

Yesterday, the new 2.5 shank and the straight pin have arrived. Its actually a Blue OX shank but not at the cost I first saw. I tried to get it locally, but they were still real close to $250. I found an OEM Blue OX shank for $157 on Amazon

, and installed the WD Head on in this afternoon.

I checked the trailer tongue weight, still about 880 lbs, before I towed it to the sewer dump station for the last trip of the year. I didn't notice any real difference in towing experience with the new shank. There is still a fair amount of movement, both up and down as well as sideways when it's not connected to the trailer.

I had to knock the 2" to 2.5 " adapter out with a punch, it was jammed in with the bent metal from the deformed hole in the receiver. The holes in the adapter, looked as normal as they did when I purchased the truck, no deformation at all. They were sort of oblong to start with.

I haven't purchased the anti rattle item yet, but will probably get the Trimax version. I've talked with another person that has the same truck as I do, and he has had good luck with it so far. I chatted with a mechanical engineer friend and he explained where the forces were going with that anti-rattle device.

No word back from the dealer yet about their decisions about warrantying weak metal or???

Thanks again for sharing your information and experiences.

Parafango · 10-27-2022, 10:52 PM

Update:
Drove to the dealer to chat about the hitch. The service manager mentioned that there were other folks with trucks that tow a lot, that are experiencing the same type of defect. He didn't relay whether they were using the adapter or not..
The service manager has sent an email to the RAM gods, to determine if there is some sort of issue with the hitches in general.
The TRIMAX THC250 arrived and I swapped the Blue Ox head to the 2.5" shank and added the anti-rattle clamp. A short tow of about 8 miles, didn't tell me anything except, I didn't hear any cluck at the railroad tracks.
Still waiting on the final word from the $tealer.

garywilson · 10-28-2022, 10:50 PM

Good on the 2 1/2" shank.
My Chev manual says don't use the adapter for heavy trailers.
I switched out my shank as soon as I got the truck.
The curved pin wallows out the hole a little on the curved end. It happened pretty quick the first year, then stopped getting any bigger. Doesn't seem to be an issue.