How have you stopped hitch rattle

[Grub54891]

I had 2 grand Cherokees, 1995, and a 1999, neither one rattled when hooked up, nor when towing nothing. I had Reese tow hitch, and matching receiver ball on the 95. The 99 had a hitch on it when I bought it, I used the same receiver ball on that one also. Perhaps you all don't have matching component's.

 

[bigdee]

I search on a couple of Jeep forums......common complaint, consensus was unibody construction.

 

[M2HB]

I have owned three Grand Cherokees over the years. They were mid to late 90s models. I always leave a hitch in my receivers to protect them from rear end collisions. They never had a noticeable rattle, but I try to buy heavy duty, solid steel hitch assemblies. They are heavy, but I haven't had the rattle issue.

 

[bigdee]

I have owned three Grand Cherokees over the years. They were mid to late 90s models. I always leave a hitch in my receivers to protect them from rear end collisions. They never had a noticeable rattle, but I try to buy heavy duty, solid steel hitch assemblies. They are heavy, but I haven't had the rattle issue.

Maybe different in nineties. Both my 2004 and 2006 rattle/knock/clunk. The 2006 is much worse, maybe because the bodies were made wider starting in 2005.

 

[M2HB]

Maybe different in nineties. Both my 2004 and 2006 rattle/knock/clunk. The 2006 is much worse, maybe because the bodies were made wider starting in 2005.

Are you using hollow tube hitches?

I use solid shank hitches which weigh a lot more. They don't seem to rattle. I think it is the weight hanging off of them when they are not coupled to a trailer that keeps them from rattling. The hollow shank, cheap hitches probably rattle more because there is minimal weight on them when they are uncoupled from a trailer. That is just my guess.

 

[bigdee]

Are you using hollow tube hitches?

I use solid shank hitches which weigh a lot more. They don't seem to rattle. I think it is the weight hanging off of them when they are not coupled to a trailer that keeps them from rattling. The hollow shank, cheap hitches probably rattle more because there is minimal weight on them when they are uncoupled from a trailer. That is just my guess.

The original post was how I stopped the rattle/clunk/knock. IMO the only way to stop it is to remove the play. It was not making noise when uncoupled....it clunked when pulling trailers as I hit small bumps in the road. The set-screw method worked well and did not cost anything except 20 minutes of my time. I carry a 1/2 wrench with me in case I want to remove it.

 

[JimS123]

I always leave a hitch in my receivers to protect them from rear end collisions.

I had 2 rear end collisions in the past 50 years. The first one I had the hitch installed, which caused mega damage to the unibody, requiring big bucks to repair. Also needed a new hitch. The second time the hitch was off and only the bumper needed to be replaced. The hitch and mount were spared.

Now I always drive with the drawbar removed.