Receiver issue - any way to fix?

[Rocki]

Put a Mabett 2” hitch receiver on my bronco a few months back, finally got around to purchasing and attempting to install a kuat pivot v2 for a ski and bike rack. Tightened the internal adjuster on the kuat all the way down and it still has way too much play for me to be comfortable driving with it installed, much less with a rack attached to it. Any way to fix this, or did I end up with a lemon of a receiver? Video attached from the rear of the hitch

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[Johnkn]

Determine whether the receiver or the accessory is the issue.

Does a 2" ball mount have that much play when inserted?


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[Rocki]

I don’t have one to test with actually. Don’t do much towing, the hitch was just put on for use with racks really

 

[Johnkn]

Search 'Anti rattle hitch stabilizer' on Amazon.

Perhaps borrow a friend's ball mount for 10 seconds.

Is the accessory retained with a pin through the receiver?

good luck....

 

[Rocki]

The pivot has a pin retainer and an integrated anti wobble mechanism, but it doesn’t seem to have enough adjustment to stop the wiggle. I’ll see if I can borrow a hitch and test it out

 

[Alassise]

You might be able to use flat bar to shim it. Looking at the design, the Kuat hitch lock might also be too loose and still have play. Also, that design does not have enough space to use an anti rattle hitch tightener. I have a one up rack that required a hitch extension to clear my spare. When I installed it, the extension was welded crooked canting the rack to one side almost an inch. I returned it and they sent me one that was not defective. There is a possibility that he hitch is out of tolerance on the rack or the Mabett one.

My recommendation is to use a locknut and bolt combo that goes thru the hole and tighten it as much as possible. You will have play regardless of tightness, but that is too much.

 

[arwhite]

Your wife was telling you how to fix it, but you cut her off.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[gbub]

One thing you can do is have Line-X coating done on the part that goes into the receiver. Determine how much gap is there and see if they can build up enough to make it fit. If they put it on too thick you can sand or grind it down to make it fit.

I did this with a urethane coating I developed for the Aerospace industry that is similar to Line-X. My 2" ball hitch fit fairly well but would still rattle a little. I applied enough so that I had to force it in the receiver. It has held up for 22 years towing my race car all over the country on an enclosed trailer.

For some reason it seems the receivers are larger now. Probably because they are made in China. That same hitch is loose in my Ford tow kit receiver. I plan to use shims that are bonded inside the receiver to make it fit snug in the Bronco receiver. That way I can still us it in my Ranger too.

 

[Rocki]

I’ll try and take some measurements of everything and post them up. I’ll get a video of the movement from the front with it tightened all the way as well

 

[Brian_B]

wrap it in 10mil tape until it fits tight?

 

[kr_1315]

I have the Kuat Pivot 2 with the factory tow receiver. It is very secure after tightening.
In your video it looks like the receiver is significantly larger than the factory hitch.
I measured my Kuat and receiver with a caliper. The Kuat is exactly 2 inches, and the receiver is 2.07 inches.

 

[CitrusBronco]

Amazon has several poor reviews with product quality on that hitch, that might be out of spec.

 

[kr_1315]

I also have a Curt hitch I never used because my Bronco has the factory. It is slightly larger than the factory receiver at 2.079 inches.
Factory on my '23 measured 2.070.
.

 

[Rocki]

Replacing it with a Curt version was on my short list of solutions, this is what I get for going with convenience. What’s the measurement at the rear of the receiver? I suspect that’s the main issue here, it’s not square all the way through

 

[kr_1315]

Rear of factory hitch 2.051 inches.
Rear of Curt hitch 2.084 inches.
I installed the Kuat Pivot 2 into the Curt hitch. It tightens and is very secure.

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