HELP I have a Wobbly Hitchola.

[Danimal]

I need help from the mechanically gifted.

Ok, so yesterday I installed my hitch and bike rack and there is a wobble in the receiver. The bike rack originally had a bolt to tighten down the rack to the receiver and no way to lock it to the hitch. Since the bolt position had the rack sticking out past my bumper by a mile, I drilled a hole through the rack to bring the rack closer to the bumper.

I am using a lockable hitch pin to secure the rack to the hitch. Everything looks and works perfect except there is a wobble where the rack sits in the receiver, my question is, is there any way to rig this to eliminate the wobble? Anyone know what I can use to shim the gap inside the receiver?

Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

[bigwheel]

Just a thought... Drill a second hole in your receiver. Then drill and thread a slightly smaller hole in your rack (or add a backing nut). When you don't want your rack to wobble, run a bolt into the hole and tighten it up.

[soupboy]

http://www.tomraperrvparts.com/parts/product.php?productid=8349

Terrible last name, yikes. Good luck!

[lostboy]

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0009871520365a.shtml
This is what I currently use. I had to pop off the nut that is attached to the bracket and move it (not sure which side to which side because I can't see it right now) but it was hitting my hitch. I also, because of my hitch, had to turn this upside down. However, it holds and doesn't move a bit. I can grab my rack and shake the whole vehicle now.


I almost got this when I was looking
http://www.hitchrider.com/nowobble.htm
This seems like a good idea for anything you are towing that wobbles. Works as a clamp and shouldn't need any mods to make it work. I haven't used this though and don't know anybody with it.

[Danimal]

Anyone have any luck with a mechanism like this to stop the wobbles? I am thinking on picking one of these up. Any engineers out there know if this might work?

[soupboy]

Looks inexpensive, give it a shot. Just be sure that it is pulling the rack down - not trying to pull it up - against the receiver. Should provide better results.

Anyone have any luck with a mechanism like this to stop the wobbles? I am thinking on picking one of these up. Any engineers out there know if this might work?

[Stonehenge]

Looks inexpensive, give it a shot. Just be sure that it is pulling the rack down - not trying to pull it up - against the receiver. Should provide better results.

I agree....why fight gravity on this. To make it pull down -make sure the moving part (bolt/handle) are under side of hitch. Caution that this should fit snug in order to offer best clamping for sway. The Horizontal is most at risk of non sway compliance. Would be nice to have bolt for both axis.

Maybe let gravity pull down and the bolt on the horizontal axis for best sway result.

trial and error time!

[lostboy]

Anyone have any luck with a mechanism like this to stop the wobbles? I am thinking on picking one of these up. Any engineers out there know if this might work?

That is very similar to my set up. I think it works great. See the first one I linked below. the only real difference I can see is the one you showed has a handle on the bolt.

[Kingbozo]

Wrap it in duct tape.

[bigwheel]

Looks inexpensive, give it a shot. Just be sure that it is pulling the rack down - not trying to pull it up - against the receiver. Should provide better results.

+1 xxxxx

[Ish]

Wrap it in duct tape.

best advice yet!

Does it wobble while driving or just when you shake it? Maybe it's OK as is.

[Danimal]

It wobbles when the wind blows.

I just have a lot of play in the receiver I need to cinch up.

[manual63]

Dan, you are a Marine! You should be able to drive with one hand and reach back and hold the rack steady with the other........sheeeesh!......and I thought you guys were tough!

[Danimal]

Wobbly hitchola problemo is solved. The gizmo pictured earlier did the trick, installed it with the knob facing the side vs beneath. Worked like a charm.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Now if we can just get this snow slop to go away...

[batjerk]

It'll be a while, but we are coming up on "not-winter" very quickly, which is my favorite season. Unfortunately, we have to go through abounding sloppiness to get to the good weather.

Good deal that your glorified ring worked for you.