Why You Should Loosen Anti-Rattle Bolts When Towing

Elvin Pal of The Adventuring Pals discovered a critical towing mistake after his tow bar cracked

Fun fact: did you know that many tow bar installers, dealerships and even a tow bar manufacturer we spoke to advise against using an anti-rattle bolt while towing?

Well, I did not know this. For years I’ve been towing our caravan and even our boat trailer and have never removed the anti rattle bolt. In fact, I did the opposite and tightened it up as I thought that this was its purpose.

Why Towing Experts Advise Loosening the Bolt

It wasn’t until I got a crack in the weld that holds the nut of the anti rattle bolt in place that I went and asked the dealership about it. When loaded up or hitched to a trailer, our dealer said the bolt is supposed to be backed off/loosened or removed. Just to be sure I went around town and asked multiple different dealers, tow bar installers and manufacturers, and got the same answer.

Navigating Conflicting Towing Advice Online

Initially I thought that I must have been the only one who didn’t know this and left it at that. However, I’ve noticed more and more posts on social media relating to this. From people experiencing the same thing as me, and being told by the dealership after an inquiry or people asking advice after finding a crack. But of course, typical of any online forum, the consensus is divided as to the correct procedure.

Potential Damage to Your Tow Bar Assembly

The potential problems that may arise by misusing the anti rattle bolt vary in severity. From a simple crack on the anti-rattle bolt or nut to severe like snapping off the anti-rattle nut and bolt all together allowing the tow hitch to become jammed in the receiver, potentially damaging the towing assembly.

The Adventuring Pals’ Final Verdict and Recommendation

So in the end, for me, as I have a factory tow bar and my vehicle is under warranty, I decided to take the advice of the dealership and other industry experts I spoke to and will now loosen off the anti-rattle bolt when hitching up anything on the tow bar.

Considering the risks, I’d say it’s definitely a worthwhile exercise checking in with your dealer or towbar installer to see what’s appropriate for you.

The Official Recommendation from Manufacturer Hayman Reese

Hayman Reese says that some tow bars, particularly older models, integrate a nut and bolt at the hitch box. This feature [as far as Hayman Reese is concerned] was to prevent movement or noise when the tow bar is not in use.

“To prevent damage to the bolt and potentially the tow bar, it is recommended that it is loosened off when actually towing,” a spokesperson for Hayman Reese says.

Instead, Hayman Reese integrates a smart-pin in their existing tow bars to counter rattle and recommends the silent hitch pin for compatible square hitch receivers.

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