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2013 Chevrolet Suburban
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Tahoe LTZ 2010 har a "wobbly" trailer hook

Old May 12, 2013 | 1:59 AM
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Default Tahoe LTZ 2010 has a "wobbly" trailer hook

Hi gang.

The removable trailerhook on my 2010 Tahoe LTZ has some design-problems I think: when installed, it can move alittle both sideways and up and down. This is due alittle excess space in the hole which it's installed in.

The movement not much; maybe 1/4-1/2 inch in the mentioned directions, but it's enough movement there to transfer those movements to the car itself. The result is that the driving feels alittle "wobbly" when the trailer has some weight on it.

On my previous Tahoe; a 2001 LT, the trailerhook was non-removable, thus installed on the car with no play at all.
That way, there was no wobbling when driving with a trailer.

In my book, the removable tailhook has to be redesigned, taking away the play.
It'd be a perfect opportunity to redesign it in the new generation Tahoe.

Anyone else has the same experiences driving with a trailer with a removable trailer-hook?

Last edited by aof; May 13, 2013 at 12:26 PM.
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Old May 12, 2013 | 8:01 AM
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Do you have the tow package and the Class IV receiver that was factory installed?
And the hitch you installed, is just a hitch that latches in with pin into the receiver, correct?

I haven't met a single person yet whose had a "wobble" problems with the hitch...
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Old May 12, 2013 | 8:55 PM
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I've owned several Tahoes and Suburbans and have not had your stated problem with looseness in the trailer hitch receiver.
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Old May 13, 2013 | 12:20 PM
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Default Trailer-hitch data

Hi again.

I'll provide alittle more data:
I live in Norway and the Norwegian Chevrolet Import Company, Bergheim, normally takes in only one type Tahoe, and for the current model, they are taking in the LTZ model.

I'm not qute sure which type of tow package is installed on the LTZ over here, but it must be something which are installed in the US.


Here's a pic of the hitch:




Here's the dataplate beside the hitch:






Here's the hitch hanging by itself:



As you can see, the bottom of the hitch is about 13 inches 15/16 above the ground.




Here, I have lifted the hitch upward with my fingers and the bottom is now
about 14 inches 6/8 above the ground.
The play is 7/8 inch vertically.




When doing the same measuring sideways, the play is 5/16.

This play (horizontal and vertical) is giving the wobbly ride.


Here's the hitch which came with the car:



Does the Tahoe come with the same type of hitch in the US?
If so, have anyone else had the same type of problem with this type of hitch?

Last edited by aof; May 13, 2013 at 12:28 PM.
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Old May 13, 2013 | 2:42 PM
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I think your problem lies in the hitch that you're putting in, not the receiver on the truck.
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Old May 13, 2013 | 3:06 PM
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Originally Posted by 73shark
I think your problem lies in the hitch that you're putting in, not the receiver on the truck.
I agree, also, that Hitch looks VERY short from the Pin inward. My stuff has about equal amount of hitch before and after the Pin. The OP needs to do a Dial Caliper measure on the Hitch, go to a Hitch Shop and just compare what they have with and the length. The Height is right on though.

Last edited by SWHouston; May 14, 2013 at 12:19 AM.
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Old May 13, 2013 | 3:35 PM
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You might get this problem if your tongue wieght is too low it should be about 7%-8% of the total trailer weight. If you are using a load leveling hitch you can go more, like 10-15%. Do you know your trailers weight distribution? And I agree that hitch looks very short on the inward side of the pin.

Last edited by Blue Dog; May 13, 2013 at 3:38 PM.
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Old May 13, 2013 | 3:51 PM
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Thanks for the input guys.

I'm driving with quite different loads on the trailer, from lightweights:100 lbs, to heavy weights: 2000 lbs.

The trailers weight-distribution schould be about equal on each side of the boggi. This is my trailer: 4310 TB MED ALUKARMER, 2000 KG
(The text is in Norwegian, but you'll get the idea)

I'll try to increase the load on the hitch to see if that helps. Thanks for the hint.

It looks like this is the type of hitch I have: (it came together with the car)
Alumi Stinger

As far as I can see, all those hitches are short inward of the pin.
Maybe the car was delivered with an incorrect type of hitch?
What kind does other Tahoe-owners have?
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Old May 13, 2013 | 5:59 PM
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Default ball mount

the ball mount as mentioned before is on the short side .their has to be a certin amount of clearence just to be able to insert the mount into the hitch tube ,but with it as short as it appear's any amount of movement will be magnifyed ,especially with that long deep drop ball mount . with out having it bolted solid to the hitch it will be loose and bang around .
you can make it a little bit tighter if you drill a extra hole in the hitch tube and install a drawtite j-pin lock .
Trailer Hitches - Draw-Tite
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Old May 14, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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only 2,000lbs... thats a light load. my ski boats weighs just over 2,000lbs and i hardly notice it on the back, i dont use town unless im towing 4,000+
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