Hey guys. I just got a new to me boat and every time I stop or take off it seems like either the hitch is sliding up and back and "clunking" into the receiver, or the ball is moving around inside the hitch. It's VERY annoying! Wrong size ball? It latches tight. Brakes on the trailer? Ideas?

I have one of these on my hitch, I had the same thing you have.

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Anti-Rattle/Malone/MPG908.html

surge brakes. just the way they work.

yup

so what's the fix?



Skeeter, I don't think it's "rattling". It sounds more like it may be the surge protector.

Nothing to fix, just nature of the beast.

there is a shock absorber in the surge brakes, it may need to be replaced but they still tend to clunk some due to the way they work.

Where is that located in the system? I can't stand that hard clunking [censored].

You need to check it out. The "clunk" from surge brakes, if full of fluid and properly bled, should be minimal.

Many things can cause this noise. Almost all of them can be serious if neglected. The anti-rattle device will solve some problems, but could be just masking them. Is your receiver pin/hole worn and movement is there. Is your draw bar worn out and rattles in the receiver? It's possible your ball and hitch don't match. The noise could be the receiver loose where it attaches to the truck. Maybe your coupler is moving in relation to the trailer frame.

Many possibilities. You didn't tell how old your rig is, or what kind, so hard to diagnose, but the problem should be easy to find if you don't mind getting dirty. Put some chocks both ways on your trailer wheels, have someone bump the truck back and forth and see what moves.

I would not accept "That's the way it is." Something is not right.

It's called surge brakes. You'll learn to take off slower.

I replaced the complete inner slide on mine and bled the brakes. No more clunking at all. Check fluid if fine then bleed them. If still clunking then either replace cylinder and shock or the complete inner slide. I could have saved a few bucks with a rebuild but decided on the whole assembly.

Do you have enough tongue weight? If not move your bow stop forward several inches. Also having your hitch to tall for your trailer can do that.

Double yup! ....but it can be worse if wear parts in the actuator are worn and in need of replacement. In addition to the shock absorber, there are some wear pads in the popular A-60 actuator.

There is no "surge protector" on a trailer - that's for your TV or computer power connection.....surge actuator.

What about if lightning strikes your trailer?