Loose Tow bar goose neck - is there a reason?

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Loose Tow bar goose neck - is there a reason?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

It is loose because the outside dimensions of standard section square tube is smaller than the inside dimension of the receiver standard size square section tube.
Special size tubes would reduce the rattle, but would cost a heap more.
And it does not matter.
The anti rattle bolt (if fitted) should not be tightened up when towing, just when not towing. It is a bit of a waste of space anyhow....

Cheers,
Peter

Dickodownunder · Guru

Toyota 200 series LC's with a genuine tow bar have shims that need to be fitted to eliminate movement in the hitch.
When the shims are fitted the hitch is quite firm in the bar itself.
Over on the LCool Toyota forum there are reports of drivers actually being defected for excessive movement between the hitch and the bar while towing.
Possible overzealous policing but apparently it has happened.

Travel safely..

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Wednesday 22nd of June 2016 11:41:44 PM

KevinC · Senior Member

In the old days we had a tongue fixed semi-permanently to the towbar. Generally with two large bolts requiring a similarly large spanner if we ever wanted to have it removable. Some towbars even had the tongue welded as part of the bar itself. Fashion, safety, convenience have all played a part in the trend to square receivers and easy removable hitch. And we, the motoring public, and they, the manufacturers andregulators have accepted the loose fit as being good enough. Some of us, and I daresay the minority, take steps to take out the excessive play but for most it's just the way it is. Somewhere down the track, an enterprising soul will present to us a cheap alternative that has no play whether loaded or not.
Remember, it's not necessity that's the mother of invention, it's dissatisfaction that's the mother of invention. If you're not satisfied, you may be the inventor we've been waiting for.

Desert Dweller · Senior Member

Must be a non-original tow-bar, all Nissan tow-bars have an anti rattle bolt to my knowledge?

cjt55 · Senior Member

Yes my Nissan has a genuine tow bar and is fitted with a small rattle bolt. When it is not tightened the tongue has just the slightest bit of play in it which doesn't concern me.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Can be easy fixed by drilling and putting another bolt through 70 or so mm past the original Pin. Having a single pin allows movement . Btw a good high tention bolt with nylock nut fits much tighter also .

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hello Keith,

It is a genuine Nissan bar with "NISSAN" stamped/attached all over it. I thought perhaps it was mounted on the top of the bar (& under the aluminium step) but there is no sign of the bolt or any hole it went into.

The bar on my previous GQ (1992 model) was almost the same but that didn't have a genuine goose neck. Perhaps the anti-rattle bolt/screw is a later model addition.

Warren

patrol03 · Senior Member

The anti rattle screw is used only when a tongue without a load is in the tow bar receiver. If you are towing there is no need to use the anti rattle screw..if you do you will strip the thread..no anti rattle screw then.

Ron-D · Guru

The bottom of the square sectiion on the towbar that takes the male section of the tow hitch has a small set screw in it the screw would strip if you tensioned it to take the movement out of the hitch the downward pressure would be immense .

Haveing said that a set screw mounted on the top would probably work ?

patrol03 · Senior Member

I don't think so Ron.What about the stress when you adjust the WDH to distribute the ball weight to the front of the towing vehicle. If you need to stop all movement when the van is hitched then an appropriate size shim would need to be fitted.

Ron-D · Guru

Good point Patrol03 your right....

patrol03 · Senior Member

By the way Warren,When I had a 92 GQ there was no anti rattle screw provision in the receiver.If it annoys you when the van is not attached,try a couple of pieces of ice-cream container strips in with the bar or drive a thin wooden wedge in the space to quieten it down.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Thanks patrol03,

Your name - does that mean you've had three Nissan Patrols? I too am on my third & probably last. The first was a 24v MQ (had it 16 years), next was a 92 GQ 4.2D (12 years), the current one is a 2004 GU TD42Ti. It had 271,000 Kms on it when I bought it - now has 366,000 on it in 3.5 years. Someone in Kununurra said I'd get 1,000,000 out of it (so I'm working on it).

Back to the subject - noise is not the issue - it is my stone guard holding bar that is attached to the body (underneath - there are two 8mm screws that are convenient) & to the gooseneck for support. One of the previous brackets snapped possibly on the Winjana Gorge Rd in the Kimberleys, the second started to crack but I have made newer & slightly heavier ones.

Cheers