I've heard it described on 5th wheels as chucking, or longitudinal shunting, basically, even though my hitch doesn't waggle around, it can move in and out of the receiver just a small amount if you shove or pull it - i can feel this after braking (when towing) and set off again, the weight eventually pulls the hitch outward again and i can hear/feel the small clunk.

As best as i can tell, a slightly larger diameter hitch pin would stop this movement - am i completely wrong? has anyone noticed different tolerances on these?

 

I saw this awhile back and sent it to a friend. I don't know much about it.

 

As far as i can tell, these are for sloppy/wiggly hitches in the receiver tube - as it happens, mine doesn't move too much. However, i don't believe these would prevent any forward/backward movement caused by the weight of the trailer.

 

Does your hitch pin not fit snug in the opening on the hitch? Mine fits snug and I’ve never felt anything you describe.

 

No, well, i'd have to go and check exact specifics, but with the pin in there, the hitch is able to be pushed further in, and pulled out a little too. I absolutely need to go and double check if the play is in the hitch, or the receiver though.

**EDIT - So there is a very small amount of play in both the receiver hole, as well as the hitch hole, they both obviously combine, just not sure if larger diameter pins exist - rather, are there closer tolerance versions that might be more snug?

 

One time I welded a bushing in the middle to tighten it up .I know the clunk well I'm not sure about your trailer I only pull boats but sometime on a boat with brakes that need bleeding make the actuator move and cluck too

 

You'll have as much if not more slop/movement in the hitch/ball fit as in the receiver tube/hitch pin. There are a number of "damper" or "shock aborber" type systems that help alleviate this, like shown in the link below. It CAN be annoying but even more so, in an extreme case the loose condition could act like a shear on that pin.

Gen-Y Glyder Shock Absorbing Ball Mount for 2" Hitches - 2" Drop - 7K Gen-Y Hitch Trailer Hitch Ball Mount 325-GH-12001 (etrailer.com)

 

Not sure what the F-150 is designed for (never really noticed what i have but it fits), however there are two common hitch pin sizes. There is a 1/2" pin and a 5/8" pin. Might see which you have just to make sure it's not a 1/2" size. I think the 5/8" is more common for standard hitches but not completely sure.

Edit - remembered i had my hitch in the garage and measured it. .621" so it is a 5/8" pin that is the correct size.

 

You can check your pin when it’s inside the hitch. Some pins narrow significantly at the bend. If the bend is able to contact the receiver hole it could make it sloppy. I’ve added a collar on the pin so I can just get the clip in the hole on the other side. That way it keeps the full diameter of the pin in the hole on the bend side.


The collar would be installed here.

 

So i have a Curt pin, it's a 5/8ths already, at least, that's what i bought it as - i've no idea if you can get like an oversized version, or coated somehow to extend the diameter - it's just too loose in the holes of both the hitch and the receiver as if it's trying to have a lot of tolerance to fit in smaller holes?