Creaking sound from within the rear of cabin when towing

[sharkcaver]

You are probably all correct on that. However, my NP used to creak like a bastard with that bolt loose whilst towing, well lubed or not. I just tighten it when unhitched and leave it. Its not like "all that weight" is "on the area of a bolt head! ". Most of the weight will be in the receiver, and a partial amount on the bolt. The bolt will flare and you may struggle to get it out with a mushroomed head. Put a decent chamfer on it and you wont have any issues extracting it if it gets a little mushroomed. And you wont have any creak or clunk when towing.

[Faereag]

You are probably all correct on that. However, my NP used to creak like a bastard with that bolt loose whilst towing, well lubed or not. I just tighten it when unhitched and leave it. Its not like "all that weight" is "on the area of a bolt head! ". Most of the weight will be in the receiver, and a partial amount on the bolt. The bolt will flare and you may struggle to get it out with a mushroomed head. Put a decent chamfer on it and you wont have any issues extracting it if it gets a little mushroomed. And you wont have any creak or clunk when towing.

I still struggle with it Sharkcaver. When tightened, there is no movement and the van and vehicle feel like they are braking as one. When the bolt is loose and there is slack between the tongue and the pin, you get the clunk of impact. This involves the narrow part of the tongue with the locating holes slamming into the narrow sections of the locating pin. It has always seemed to me that this places higher loads on that narrow section, rather than evenly spreading the impact on the tow-bar receiver.

I am not arguing with the experts and will follow their recommendation - it just does not seem logical. I must be getting old and "stupider"!

I think Halls rang me, but I missed the call. I will ring them tomorrow

[NJV6]

I have mine as tight as it will go to stop noises, to the point where I think it needs two anti rattle bolts, the one underneath and one to the side as it 'pivots' on the 1 tight underside bolt.

[Faereag]

Rang Halls this morning re missed call. They confirmed that the bolt is there only as an anti-rattle mechanism that can be locked when not towing. But (there is always a but), the view was expressed that the anti-rattle lock nut is a bit redundant. The reason given for not locking it whilst towing, was so that stripping of the thread on the lock nut/bolt did not occur.

[kaluko]

+1 Allins' towbars also told me to leave the bolt loose- I always kept it tight- Allins gave me this advice after redrilling my old bolt out as it had 'fused' whilst being screwed tight and under load while towing.
In respect of the noise, Jared01, have you tried spraying some lubricant/silicone onto your airbags? I have to spray mine everynow and again to silence the occasional squeaks when they dry out and get dusty.

[jared01]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

I have not sprayed the airbags with any lube but will look at that.

After ready the comments, I think it may be related to the door.


I will try a few things and report back as it always may help another person if they have the same issue.

[Jorgo RX Pajero]

I towed a 2.6ton boat from Adelaide to Perth - experienced the creaking noise from the towbar assembly - systematically lobed one thing at a time per day and found the hitch was the culprit. Replaced the anti rattle bolt with a Grade 8 bolt and Nut - Almost fixed - I also think possibly due to the mono chassis style there is flex in there more than a ladder type chassis. I just turned the tunes up - fixed

[terryfirma]

While caravaning over the last few weeks, I also, noticed a creak/groan from the rear of the vehicle.
Tried the anti rattle locking nut, tight/ not tight (The the jury is still out)
On my return home I checked the tow bar and tightened the nuts. All were fine except one tucked right up high behind the exhaust pipe. Difficult to get a spanner to however finally did and managed to tighten nearly half a turn. It may be early day, but on a short trip with the van to adelaide and back, 300Km round trip, NO CREAKING and this on the road the RAA rated second worst in South Australia, so a good testing ground for the van with plenty of rocking and rolling.

So check all nuts and bolts
Cheers
Terry

[jared01]

Again thanks for all the feedback and I will post when I resolve the issue.

I will be towing again in about 2 weeks.


Having a look on the back of the car when I open the door, I can see the door lock/latch then below that a rubber piece almost in the shape of the letter D that a metal piece on the door covers over when closed. As shown below in the picture

I suspect the door is rubbing on the rubber which I have now sprayed with silicon spray and hope to see if it has resolved the issue

[aussieintas]

I have the same problem with the d shaped rubber causing creaking issues. Previous posts on the forum show some people have cut small pieces of marine carpet and glued to rubber. I tried this but didn't last too long as the carpet moved. Have tried rubber grease but again only lasts a short time, around 1 week before i have to reapply..

Well known issue on a pajero bud.

[reciprovac]

squark

Just wondered if anyone has checked there shock absorbers ?
If you have the ARB ones with the plastic shields they squark when they are dusty as the cover slides down the tube !
Regards.

[Faereag]

I have the same problem with the d shaped rubber causing creaking issues. Previous posts on the forum show some people have cut small pieces of marine carpet and glued to rubber. I tried this but didn't last too long as the carpet moved. Have tried rubber grease but again only lasts a short time, around 1 week before i have to reapply..

Well known issue on a pajero bud.

Aussieintas

I used two pieces of Velcro with the sticky backing (the side with the loops), and attached them to the rubber D-block. Have not had to change them yet and they have really reduced the vertical movement of the door and the noise.Cheap as Bu**ery to cut and fit.

[bthom51]

+1

Had the same noise in our Pajero, tightened up the towbar to chassis bolts the hard to get at one near the exhaust pipe took more than the others. Noise is gone now

[Rooster]

x2

[aussieintas]

Thanks Rory........i'll give that a go