Have a WD hitch made by Robin (Looks like Reese knock off), used it for 8 years and the other day I noticed it has play between the head and shank part. It does not look like there is anyway to tighten the through bolts enough to take the side to side gap out. Don't remember any shims being in there when I raised it up for this truck. Should I take it to a big truck shop that could but some more torque on the bolts?

 

The play is not a good thing, but over torquing the bolts could be even worse. There is a point where things need to be replaced.

 

Agreed. How often does anyone ever have to tighten the bolts on their hitch? I am guessing almost never. Does this represent a change or has it always just been a loose fit?

Steve

 

I thought it was tight when I changed the height for this truck. I'll try to tighten it again. Didn't notice till we were at campground and took hitch off (No tools of this size). It does have Nylock bolts and I did reuse them when the height was changed. If it will tighten more I'll get some new bolts, if it doesn't I'm going to get a new Reese I think.

 

My toy hauler came with the WDH. When I configured it for my truck I found that the ball wasn't tight. It's handy to own a set of big **** wrenches.

 

Along those same lines - my Reese calls for 200 lb.-ft. on the 3/4" nuts and the hitch ball nut. How many people actually have a torque wrench that goes to 250 lbs.?

 

I had to go look but one of my torque wrenches does go up to 250 ft/lbs.

 

Checked bolts tonight and both through bolts were hardly tight and ball is slightly loose too. Going to get some new bolts tomorrow, reassemble and take it to a implement dealer that should have some big but torque wrenches.

 

Maybe throw on some Blue Loctite?

 

last year I purchased a New Pro WDH and all the bolts came with Loctite and lock washers.