Towbar Rattle And How To Fix It

A persistent and loud towbar rattle isn’t the soundtrack you’re after for your holiday up the coast! For a lot of Queenslanders, a towbar rattle is a problem they regularly experience. If you’re left scratching your head over what causes it and how to fix it, then Speedy Towbars is here to help! 

We’ve fitted thousands of towbars across South East Queensland, and we often get asked how to get rid of the towbar rattle. Let’s take a look at what’s going on there, and how a simple anti-rattle shim can make it all go away.

What’s Causing the Towbar Rattle?

Most of the time, the rattle you’re hearing is caused by a loose fit between the towbar tongue and the receiver it slides into. Even though these components are built tough, they can’t be a perfect match. They’re designed to easily slide in and out, and with that you’ll usually have a bit of extra space between the two parts. That’s where your rattle comes from, and it’s something that can affect all brands of towbar and accessories alike.

That bit of space allows the tongue to move around inside the receiver, and that movement creates the noise. Although this is by design and perfectly safe, unnecessary noise is something no one wants while travelling or commuting.

Why It’s More Than Just a Nuisance

You want your towing gear to last as long as possible, from both a value-for-money and a safety perspective. In extreme cases, a loose connection can cause unnecessary wear on your towing setup, shortening the life of your gear. It can also make your setup feel less stable, particularly when you’re going at higher speeds or have a heavy load on the back. 

The Quick DIY Fixes People Try (That Don’t Really Work)

Plenty of people try to tackle the problem with a bit of DIY. You might have heard of these:

• Wrapping the tongue in electrical tape.
• Wedging cardboard or rubber between the hitch and receiver.
• Over-tightening the anti-rattle pin or bolt (read below why this is a bad idea.)

The first two points are DIY solutions that work in the short term. They’ll reduce the tow bar rattle for a while, but they won’t last. 

Let’s look at point three – over-tightening the anti-rattle pin or bolt. That bolt isn’t meant to be tightened at all when you’re towing, it’s purely to stop the tow bar rattle when you don’t have a load attached. If you tighten that while towing, you’re likely to damage the threads and compromise the structural integrity of the bolt. Once this occurs, it can lock your ball mount into the receiver, making it almost impossible to remove. You’ll then get a build-up of dirt and grime, resulting in rust and damage to the towbar itself. 

The Real Solution: Anti-Rattle Shims

If you want to properly deal with towbar rattle, there’s a simple, effective solution: the anti-rattle shim from TowRite. 

These clever tools fill the gap between the tongue and the receiver. Once installed, they apply pressure to keep everything snug, secure, and silent. No more rattle. They’re very easy to install too, just have a look at the video below.

These are high-quality shims made from durable and corrosion-resistant material. They’re built to handle the bumps and bangs of real-world towing, without requiring any fancy tools to install them. They’re also easy to remove and reattach if you’re frequently towing. 

Contact the Brisbane Towbar Experts

Your towing should be safe, smooth and rattle-free! If your current setup is noisy, you can pick up one of the TowRite shims here. 

You’re also always welcome to get in touch with the Speedy Towbars team if you have any questions about towing. We’re here to help you enjoy seamless and safe towing experiences! Give us a call or drop into one of our Brisbane workshops and let’s get that rattle sorted once and for all.