Troubleshooting Towbar & Hitch Rattle

We at Couplemate™ often get asked whether the tow bar hitch rattle is normal. Unfortunately, it is a common issue that many Australians experience while towing.

So, why do trailer hitches rattle? Hitch rattle occurs when there is excess space between your tow bar and hitch (also known as a receiver). Most Australian tow bars have a box section around the 50mm mark, which is why our premium cast receivers have a 50.8mm shank. However, not all tow bars on the market are this size, meaning that there is a potential for excess space on the top, bottom, or sides surrounding your tow hitch.

With excess space comes vibration, which causes that infamous rattling noise we all know. Especially if you are towing with an empty trailer, the rattling can be more pronounced as there is little weight on your tow ball.

How Do You Fix a Hitch Rattle?

Luckily, there are a few ways to reduce that annoying rattle coming from your tow bar.

Our experts have come up with a simple checklist:

1. Measure the internal size of your tow bar to ensure that the size of your receiver is close enough to match the tow bar size.
2. Check for signs of wear: if there is uneven wear or cracks, this may be contributing to the noise, and it may be time to replace your tow hitch.
3. Install anti-rattle hitch shims: Often, the rattle will just be caused by small gaps that need to be filled. This is why the Couplemate™ kit is customisable – meaning you can get the shims to sit exactly how you need it.
4. Check the hitch pin and r-clip: Sometimes, a rattle can come from the hitch pin that secures your receiver to your tow bar. Check to ensure there is no excess play, and replace it if necessary.

Couplemate engineers generally recommend steering clear of hitch clamps, as their installation is difficult to do correctly and safely. Instead, customers chasing an anti-rattle tow hitch may have a better experience using our stainless anti-rattle shim kit.

If you need to replace your hitch pin, we highly recommend opting for a high-tensile pin if you’re towing 4,500 kg and above.

How to Install an Anti-Rattle Hitch Shim?

Installing Couplemate™ tow bar shims takes less than 5 minutes and requires no special tools.