Hitch Help

[tj1230]

Hey guys,
I am having a bit of trouble. I built my buddy an offroad bike rack/luggage hitch carrier. Its massive 4'x7', I used 3/16" 2x2 for the reciever. When I delivered it to him to test it out on his 2007 Rubicon unlt. It has alot of play in the hitch. So the first thing I did was measure the 2x2, I got 2x2 square tubing. The only 2 1/2 inch reciever hitches are a Class V. Could he have one? The next thing is to decide if he indeed has a 2 1/2 inch reciever hitch, is to torch the welds on the supports and the 2x2 and replace it with 2.5x2.5 sq tube or build a sleeve for the current set-up?
Any help would be great, he and I dying to take it out and use the " " out of it!
Thanks

 

[notajeep]

Find a regular old ball and mount and see of it fits. I'll bet you that it will and that you will be suprised how much play it has too.

 

[Rusted]

A regular ball hitch set up may have a few millimeters of play in it and you would never think twice about it. but extend that little play out to your massive 4'x7' carrier and it could be inches and unacceptible.

I have seen bike carriers that use a little bolt/clamp system on the side of them to suck the carrier to one side to reduce slop. I have seen others that used a threaded hitch pin so that it would also do the same thing.

It is pretty common to see enough slop in those where you can slide a penny or nickle between the two pieces. Is the gap enough for a coin to fit, or is in the 1/2" where your finger would fit?

 

[Chevycrew]

If he has the 2 1/2" hole, you can get and adapter to go down to the 2" size. Our 08 chevy at work has the adapter in the truck from the factory.

But most likely its just the receiver tube is oversize. I think its like 2 1/16" ID.

 

[Spork]

I had a receiver hitch carrier and on both sides it had supports to keep it from swaying/rattling. Basically it was a couple bars that were threaded that mounted to 2 points on the bumper and you would snug them down to take the slop out of the receiver. You might be able to do something similar with a couple ratcheting tie down straps for testing.

 

[wagonmaster]

I wonder why you wouldn't just take the welder and build the edge of the rack tubing up a little and then you can always grind it into a tight fit in the reciever. I know it is not very elaborate and may not fit in other recievers right but if tuned for this application where it is used primarily would be easy and fine with me (however getto it may seem!) you already said you know how to weld so go for it!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Could always try using a bolt that just barely fits in the hole to take up the slop instead of the pin that might have play in it.

 

[tj1230]

Thanks guys,
I will do some expiermenting today if I can get my buddy to give up his new toy for a couple hours. Im serious when I say that too. Anyways, Thanks for all the great idears Ill let you know what works.