Rock Lizard bumper with tongue rattle

riptricket · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:06 pm

I am towing a trailer of my g/f's friend and it rattles like crazy.
The tongue is regular bought from walmart many years ago, but it seems that the RL adapter for the tongue to enter is too big for the tongue.
Anyone else have this problem and any solutions... b/c I have my idea, but would love to hear others.

Thanks!

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:37 pm

My stock U haul does the same thing with some trailers I pull, there are things you can buy that tightens that up some or just wrap some tape around the hitch, works for a while

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:49 pm

I notice the rattle bad when my trailer is empty. I got one of those Reese/Drawtite hitch pins that are two piece and they screw together and lock...Reese claims to stop the rattle and the trailer shop guy told me that it was more likely the coupling that was ratling due to the light weight of the empty trailer...he was right. I still use the hitch pin because it is a keyed lock.

riptricket · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:22 pm

well I might try having something welded onto my hitch tongue... just enough to stlighten the rattle.
Is that b/c the hitch accessory is built just a little too wide to allow for the tongue?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:08 pm

You could drill a hole in the side of the hitch and weld a nut to it so you could put a bolt in it and tighten it. My drawtite already has a hold in the side but Im not that worried about it.

Tried putting some tape around the receiver then sliding it back in?

bugnout · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:06 pm

Nope, I tow a couple times a year with my RL Komodo bumper, but no rattling. Both the ball mounts I use fit snug.

one is a cheap Harbor freight ball mount the other is a drawtite.

jeepskate · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:33 am

Cabela's sells an anti-rattle hitch bracket for 20 bucks. I bought one a long time ago to quiet down my receiver shackle. It works well.

http://tinyurl.com/no4wkk

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:35 am

i might try that, but considering I am only towing this trailer, this one time... I might just let it go.

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:18 pm

My utility trailer bounces and rattles like crazy when it's empty but is rock solid when loaded.

You might want to check the tongue weight of the trailer too, if it's light there will be more up-and-down movement on the hitch.

Dave

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:52 pm

Just a couploe of pics of what I will be towing today...
Loaded up the back with the heavy stuff.

The trailer that started is all... not mine, my g/f's sister and fiance

and the 20ft aluminum ladder down to its 10ft size.

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:36 pm

Oh, heck yeah...that trailer empty will rattle as it bounces down the road. How was it loaded?

riptricket · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:36 am

by myself!

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 am

riptricket wrote:

by myself!

I meant did it rattle as bad loaded... :lol:

riptricket · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:31 am

no rattle when loaded!

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:55 pm

It rattles because of how light the trailer is. Then when its loaded it is quite.

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:55 pm

SoDakJeep wrote:

It rattles because of how light the trailer is. Then when its loaded it is quite.

Exactly

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:58 pm

Proper distribution of trailer weight on the tongue empty or loaded will reduce or eliminate ratlle. acceptable tongue weight for any trailer is somewhere between 9 and 15 percent of the gross trailer weight (GTW). Not enough weight, it creates Trailer Sway, too much weight the tow rig stability could turn into a nasty situation, especially if youre towing something heavy. Multiply your GTW by 9 or 15 and determine your tongue weight.

SoDakJeep · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:54 am

LIV42DY wrote:

Proper distribution of trailer weight on the tongue empty or loaded will reduce or eliminate ratlle. acceptable tongue weight for any trailer is somewhere between 9 and 15 percent of the gross trailer weight (GTW). Not enough weight, it creates Trailer Sway, too much weight the tow rig stability could turn into a nasty situation, especially if youre towing something heavy. Multiply your GTW by 9 or 15 and determine your tongue weight.

this is true but you have to look at the size of the trailer....its going to bounce around and make a lot of noise if there is no weight on it.

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:17 pm

yea i just rented a 5x8 enclosed u-hail trailer on sunday, and that thing rattled like crazy when it was empty, but once loaded, it didnt make a sound

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Apr 14, 2010 12:54 am

okay... tried to tape trick... and all the tapes I have used are too thick.
I am going to see if a welder can weld on a bead and then grind it down to see if we can make it fit without making that darn rattle!!!! it is killing me!

Rock Lizard bumper with tongue rattle

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