First Tow With the RTX

[spun07RTX]

just wait a few years till the receiver rusts and the hitch fills with road sludge....

I actually like the extra space...my last truck was much too tight(I had to pound the receiver in/out with a sledge hammer, and one time I even had to strap it to a tree and yank it out with brute force!)

[Jet Pack]

Originally Posted by ridgelinef4i

This problem is fairly common. I believe they made the hitch slightly bigger to accomidate other manufactures specs, as not all 2" reciers are milled to exactly 2". Easiest solution is to wrap the bar with duct tape.The duct tape limits the metal to metal "clunk" associated with this play.

Sometimes the easiest solutions are overlooked. I used electrical tape bc it was black like the receiver.
Just make sure you take it out once a year to clean out the crap that gets in between bc it will rust solid.

[CrazyStups]

Last night after I washed up the Ridge I put 4 wraps of electrical tape on the hitch itself and it took the rattle right out of the receiver. I can't wait to tow something again. Thanks for all the help.

[Jet Pack]

Originally Posted by CrazyStups

Last night after I washed up the Ridge I put 4 wraps of electrical tape on the hitch itself and it took the rattle right out of the receiver. I can't wait to tow something again. Thanks for all the help.

The tape may not last long if you tow a heavy load. The play in the receiver might wear through it & it may need to be re-taped afterwards. (I've never towed with mine yet so the tape has lasted the winter atleast.)

[breiman]

I just towed about 4,500 lbs this past weekend. I really didn't mind the occational rattle for it reminded me the dang thing was still connected.

[Zolton]

These aren't built in a machine shop to NASA specs. A little rattle is to be expected. The electrical tape trick tightens things up a tad. Just don't drive around with your draw bar installed and no load attached. Make the rattle count for something and be pulling a load whilst enjoying the macho trailer pull'n soundtrack.


Part II;

I have to eat my own words. Today is the first time pulling my trusty utility trailer with the Ridge. There is a huge amount of noise transmitted through the vehicle compared with my old Ranger. Two reasons I can think of. One, there is more play in the receiver/draw bar combination on the RL set-up as compared to the one on my Ranger. Two, the Ranger is a conventional truck with a ladder frame with the box and cab mounted to it. The hitch is attached to the ladder frame an is a tad more isolated from the cab. The RL hitch is bolted to the unibody undercarriage and it is a direct link to the driver's compartment.