System and method for preventing rattling in receiver hitch arrangement

A method of preventing rattling in a receiver hitch arrangement including a receiver tube, a mount having a shank portion received within said receiver tube and a hitch pin inserted through hitch pin apertures which are formed in both said receiver tube and said shank portion and which are aligned therebetween at assembly to maintain said mount in a position for towing, said rattling being due to movement between said receiver tube and said shank portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming at least one through aperture in each vertical wall of said receiver tube being in said position for towing and in close proximity to a free end thereof;
• (b) threading said at least one through aperture formed in step (a);
• (c) threadeably engaging a threaded shank of a fastener with said at least one aperture formed in step (a) and threaded in step (b);
• (d) positioning exterior surfaces of vertical walls of said shank portion in spaced relationship with respective interior surfaces of vertical walls of said receiver tube;
• (e) operably advancing each fastener for direct contact with said exterior surface portion of said shank portion of said mount inserted into said receiver tube;
• and
• (f);
• frictionally caging said shank portion, between free ends of said threaded shanks of said fasteners, relative to said receiver tube.

A method of preventing wear and shape deformation of hitch pin apertures employed in a receiver hitch arrangement for connecting a receiver tube and a mount having a shank portion received within said receiver tube with a hitch pin inserted through said hitch pin apertures which are formed in both said receiver tube and said shank portion and which are aligned therebetween at assembly to maintain said mount in a position for towing, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming at least one through aperture in each vertical wall of said receiver tube being in said position for towing and in close proximity to a free end thereof;
• (b) threading said at least one through aperture formed in step (a);
• (c) threadeably engaging a threaded shank of a fastener with said at least one aperture formed in step (a) and threaded in step (b);
• (d) operably advancing each fastener for direct contact with an exterior surface portion of said shank portion of said mount inserted into said receiver tube;
• (e) frictionally caging said shank portion, between free ends of said threaded shanks of said fasteners, relative to said receiver tube;
• (f) decreasing side forces acting on said hitch pin during operation;
• and
• (g) decreasing forces applied by said hitch pin to peripheral edges of said hitch pin apertures during operation.

A method of improving steering control of a towing vehicle connected by way of a receiver hitch arrangement including a receiver tube, a mount having a shank portion received within said receiver tube and a hitch pin inserted through hitch pin apertures which are formed in both said receiver tube and said shank portion and which are aligned therebetween at assembly to maintain said mount in a position for towing, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming at least one through aperture in each vertical wall of said receiver tube being in said position for towing and in close proximity to a free end thereof;
• (b) threading said at least one through aperture formed in step (a);
• (c) threadeably engaging a threaded shank of a fastener with said at least one aperture formed in step (a) and threaded in step (b);
• (d) operably advancing each fastener for direct contact with an exterior surface portion of said shank portion of said mount inserted into said receiver tube;
• (e) frictionally caging said shank portion, between free ends of said threaded shanks of said fasteners, relative to said receiver tube;
• and
• (f) at least minimizing side-to-side movement of said shank portion and said mount.