Hitch pin assembly

Abstract

A hitch pin assembly 13 for a receiver hitch 1 comprising a bolt 14 comprising a head 16 and shank 18. A resilient member 20 such as an elastomeric O-ring receives the bolt shank through a hole and en

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a hitch pin assembly for a receiver hitch. The hitch pin assembly may reduce play between components of the receiver hitch and any hitch accessories. Background Receiver hitches are typically mounted to vehicles, allowing the attachment of various types of hitch attachment or accessory. Hitch attachments may include ball mounts for towing and cargo carriers. A receiver hitch is generally mounted at the rear of the vehicle. Hitch attachments are attached to the receiver hitch by means of a shank which is inserted into a receiver tube of the receiver hitch. The hitch attachment shank and the receiver tube are secured together by a hitch pin assembly passing through the hitch attachment shank and the receiver tube, forming a connected assembly. In order to allow free insertion of the hitch attachment shank, the hitch attachment shank and the receiver tube may have a loose relative fit. In use, the loose relative fit may result in relative movement of the hitch attachment shank and the receiver tube, which further results in rattling of the connected assembly, compromising the security of the assembly. It is an object of the present invention to provide Invention which overcomes or mitigates a problem associated with the prior art. Summary of Invention According to a first aspect there is provided a hitch pin assembly for a receiver hitch, the hitch pin assembly comprising: a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end; a resilient member configured to engage the bolt head and having a hole configured to receive the bolt shank; a clamp body having a threaded hole configured to cooperate with the bolt, the clamp body being magnetic and configured to engage an internal wall of a hitch attachment shank; and a nut, configured to thread onto the bolt. Advantageously, when installed in a receiver hitch with a hitch attachment, the resilience of the resilient member permits the bolt and clamping body to be displaced axially, drawing the nut and clamping body together, eliminating play between the hitch attachment and the receiver hitch. Further advantageously, the resilient member establishes the necessary clearance between the bolt head and the receiver hitch for bolt displacement. The provision of a magnetic clamp body resists unintended displacment of the clamp body during installation of the hitch pin assembly. The clamp body may comprise one or more discrete magnets. The discrete magnets, may, for example be rare earth disc magnets. The resilient member may be an O-ring. The resilient member may also be a gasket, helical spring, spring washer (e.g. a wave washer or a conical washer) or any other resilient, compressible element for receipt on a bolt. The resilient member may undergo 50% compression in use. The O-ring may be substantially composed of an elastomer. The clamp body may have a dimension normal to the threaded hole greater than an internal height of the hitch shank. The clamp body may be planar and rectangular. The O-ring may be compressible by at least 2mm. In some embodiments, the O-ring may be 4mm thick (e.g. for an M16 or 5 / 8” bolt). The bolt may further comprise features for receipt of a retaining clip. The hitch pin assembly may further comprise a clip configured to be received on the distal end of the bolt. The provision of a features for receipt of a retaining clip and a clip prevents accidental loss of the hitch assembly in use. The bolt length of the bolt may be configured to suit standard sizes of receiver hitches, for example receiver hitches having a 1-1 / 4”, 2”, 2-1 / 2” or 3” receiver tubes. The nut and bolt may be a 5 / 8” or M16 nut and bolt. For example, for a 2” receiver tube, the bolt may be a M16 x 90mm bolt. The bolt, nut and / or clamp body may be substantially composed of a ferrous alloy. The bolt, nut and / or clamp body may be substantially composed of mild steel, carbon steel, alloy steel or stainless steel. The nut and / or bolt may composed of high tensile steel. The nut may be a nylon-insert lock nut. The hitch pin assembly may further comprise a washer, configured to engage the nut. According to a second aspect there is provided an assembly comprising: a receiver tube comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; a hitch attachment comprising a hitch attachment shank comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; and a hitch pin assembly comprising: a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end; a resilient member which engages the bolt head and has a hole that receives the bolt shank; a clamp body, wherein the clamp body is configured to engage an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank and further defines a threaded hole which cooperates with the bolt; a nut, configured to thread onto the bolt; wherein the bolt head compresses the resilient member and the bolt shank passes through the resilient member and the first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank, the bolt cooperates with the threaded hole of the clamp body and passes through the second hitch pin hole of the hitch accessory shank and receiver tube, exposing the distal end of the shank; the nut is threaded onto the distal end of the shank, and the nut and the clamp body mutually compress the receiver tube and hitch attachment shank together. Advantageously, the resilience of the resilient member permits the bolt and clamping body to be displaced axially, drawing the nut and clamping body together, eliminating play between the hitch attachment shank and the receiver tube. Further advantageously, the resilient member establishes the necessary clearance between the bolt head and the receiver tube for bolt displacement. The clamp body may be magnetically engaged with the internal wall of the hitch attachment shank. The clamp body may have a dimension normal to the threaded hole greater than an internal dimension of the hitch shank. According to a third aspect there is provided a method of installing a receiver tube and hitch attachment wherein the method comprises: inserting a clamp body, having a threaded hole configured to cooperate with a bolt, into a hitch attachment shank comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; engaging an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank with the clamp body; aligning the threaded hole of the clamp body to the second hitch pin hole of the hitch attachment shank; inserting the hitch attachment shank into a receiver tube comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; aligning the first and second hitch pin holes of the hitch attachment shank and receiver tube; passing the bolt shank through the first hitch pin holes of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank; engaging the threaded hole of the clamp body with the bolt shank; passing the bolt shank through the second hitch pin holes of the hitch attachment shank and receiver tube, such that the distal end of the bolt shank projects from the receiver tube through the second hitch pin holes of the hitch attachment shank and receiver tube; and threading a nut on the distal end of the shank, such that the bolt head compresses a resilient member if used located between the bolt head and the receiver tube. The method may further comprise tightening the nut to a torque of between 120 Nm and 180 Nm. The method may further comprise magnetically engaging the internal wall of a hitch attachment shank. According to a fourth aspect there is provided a hitch pin assembly for a receiver hitch, the hitch pin assembly comprising: a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end, wherein the shank comprises an obstruction; a clamp body having a hole configured to cooperate with the bolt, the clamp body being magnetic and configured to engage an internal wall of a hitch attachment shank; and a nut, configured to thread onto the bolt; wherein the obstruction is configured to limit a position of the clamp body on the bolt Advantageously, the obstruction establishes the necessary clearance between the bolt head and the receiver hitch for bolt displacement. The obstruction may comprise a shoulder. The obstruction may comprise one or more lugs. The obstruction may comprise a termination of threading. According to a fifth aspect there is provided an assembly comprising: a receiver tube comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; a hitch attachment comprising a hitch attachment shank comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; and a hitch pin assembly comprising: a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end, wherein the shank comprises an obstruction; a resilient member which engages the bolt head and has a hole that receives the bolt shank; a clamp body, wherein the clamp body is configured to engage an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank and further defines a hole which cooperates with the bolt; a nut, configured to thread onto the bolt; wherein the bolt head compresses the resilient member and the bolt shank passes through the resilient member and the first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank, the bolt cooperates with the hole of the clamp body and passes through the second hitch pin hole of the hitch accessory shank and receiver tube, exposing the distal end of the shank; the obstruction limits the position of the clamp body on the bolt; the nut is threaded onto the distal end of the shank, and the nut and the clamp body mutually compress the receiver tube and hitch attachment shank together. Brief Description of Drawings An embodiment of the disclosure will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: • Figure 1 schematically depicts a cross section of the hitch pin assembly according to an embodiment of the invention in situ with a hitch attachment shank and a receiver tube; • Figure 2 schematically depicts the hitch pin assembly of figure 1 in situ with a hitch attachment shank and receiver tube in use, in a compressed state; • Figure 3 schematically illustrates a method of assembly according to the invention; • Figure 4 schematically depicts a cross section of a hitch pin assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in situ with a hitch attachment shank and a receiver tube; • Figure 5 schematically depicts a cross section of a hitch pin assembly according to an another alternative embodiment of the invention in situ with a hitch attachment shank and a receiver tube; and • Figure 6 depicts a front view of a clamp body according to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Detailed Description Embodiments described below may share structures and / or components. Like structures and / or components will be referred to by like reference numerals. Figure 1 schematically depicts a cross section through an assembly comprising a receiver tube, a hitch attachment and a hitch pin assembly. The receiver tube 2 comprises a first hitch pin hole 4 and a coaxial second hitch pin hole 6. The hitch attachment comprises a hitch attachment shank 8. Hitch attachment shank 8 comprises a first hitch pin hole 10 and a coaxial second hitch pin hole 12. The receiver tube 2 and hitch accessory shank 8 are both square hollow sections, typically fabricated from steel. Because receiver tube 2 and hitch accessory shank 8 are both square hollow sections, any reference to their dimensions should be taken to mean their cross-sectional height or width, unless stated otherwise. The hitch accessory shank 8 is inserted within the receiver tube 2 so as to coaxially align their first hitch pin holes 4, 10 and second hitch pin holes 6, 12, as permitted by their complementary cross sections. In order to allow easy insertion of hitch accessory shank 8 within the receiver tube 2, there is clearance △ between the receiver tube 2 and the hitch accessory shank 8. Hitch pin assembly 13 comprises a bolt 14, a resilient member 20, a clamp body 22 and a nut 26. The bolt 14 comprises a head 16 at a proximal end and a shank 18 terminating at a distal end. The shank 18 is at least partially threaded. The resilient member 20 is an elastomeric O-ring, which engages the bolt head 16 and has a hole receiving the shank 18 of the bolt 14. The O-ring is 4mm thick, so as to allow the bolt 14 to be displaced. In other embodiments, the resilient member 20 may also be a non-elastomeric O-ring, a gasket, helical spring, spring washer (for example, a wave washer or a conical washer) or any other resilient, compressible element for receipt on a bolt. The clamp body 22 is magnetic and engages an internal wall 9 of the hitch attachment shank 8. Clamp body 22 has a planar rectangular geometry. Clamp body 22 further defines a threaded hole 24 configured to receive the bolt. As shown in Figure 1, clamp body 22 engages an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank 8 defining the second hitch pin hole 12. The magnetic clamp body 22 reversibly engages the internal wall 9 of the hitch attachment shank 8 whilst being resistant to unintended displacement. In some embodiments, the clamp body 22 may comprise one or more discrete magnets as illustrated in Figure 6. For example, the clamp body 22 may comprise two rare earth disc magnets 23, fixed in corresponding recesses 29. The clamp body 22 is rectangular and sized to fit the dimension of the internal wall 9. It will be appreciated that the clamp body 22 may be of any geometry which prevents rotation of the clamp body 22 within the hitch attachment shank 8. In general, the clamp body 22 may fit within the hitch attachment shank 8, whilst having a dimension normal to the threaded hole greater than an internal dimension of the hitch shank 8. The shape of the clamp body 22 allows its fitment within the hitch attachment shank 8 whilst preventing rotation in use. The bolt 14 passes through the resilient member 20, then first hitch pin hole 4 of the receiver tube 2 and the first hitch pin hole 10 of the hitch attachment shank 8. The resilient member 20 is axially constrained between the bolt head 16 and the receiver tube 2. However, the bolt 14 may be used without this member to the same effect (as described further below). The shank 18 of the bolt 14 engages the threaded hole 24 of the clamp body 22 and passes through the adjacent second hitch pin hole 12 of the hitch attachment shank 8 and the second hitch pin hole 6 of the receiver tube 2, exposing the distal end of the shank 18. The nut 26 is threaded onto the exposed distal end of the shank 18. Although not shown as such, the nut 26 may be a nylon-insert lock nut to resist unintended loosening in operation. The bolt 14, nut 26 and / or clamp body 22 is substantially composed of steel. The bolt, nut and / or clamp body may be at least partially composed of mild steel, carbon steel, alloy steel or stainless steel. In other embodiments, any ferrous or non-ferrous alloy of sufficient strength could be used, for example aluminium alloy or titanium. In some embodiments, the bolt may further comprise features for receipt of a retaining clip, and the hitch pin assembly may further comprise a clip (for example an R-clip or padlock) configured to be received on the distal end of the bolt (an example is shown in Figure 4). In the following description any references to displacement or movement should be understood to be relative to the receiver tube 2. The axial position of the of the bolt 14 (see Figure 1) can be advanced in the proximal-to-distal direction (indicated by arrows in Figure 2) by tightening the nut 26. Advancing the bolt 14 in the proximal-to-distal direction compresses the resilient member 20. Axial movement of the bolt 14 is possible due to the resilient and compressible nature of the resilient member 20. During tightening, the clamp body 22 and the bolt 14 axially move in tandem towards box section 8 due to their non-rotating threaded interface and the constraint of their dimensions in box section 8. The bolt 16 remains static during tightening of nut 26, which may be aided by holding the head 16 with a spanner. The wall of the hitch accessory shank 8 is constrained between the receiver tube 2 and the clamp body 22. The above-described movement of the clamp body 22 in the proximal-to-distal direction reduces the clearance △, reducing play between the receiver tube 2 and the hitch attachment shank 8. In use, the nut 26 is at a suitable torque. In some embodiments a suitable torque is between 120 Nm and 180 Nm. The bolt 14 and nut 26 are metric M16 fasteners or imperial (e.g. UNC or UNF) 5 / 8” fasteners. In other embodiments, the bolt 14 and nut 26 may be other sizes as dictated by strength requirements and hitch attachment shank and receiver tube hitch pin hole dimensions. Figure 2 schematically depicts a cross section of the assembly of Figure 1 with the nut 26 at a suitable torque. Clearance △ is totally eliminated and the nut 26 and the clamp body 22 mutually compress the receiver tube 2 and hitch attachment shank 8 together, eliminating play and rattle. Receiver hitches are typically produced according to a number of standard receiver tube sizes, for example 1-1 / 4”, 2”, 2-1 / 2” or 3”. The bolt 14 and clamp body 22 may be sized to suit a receiver tube size. Figure 3 schematically illustrates the method 100 of installing hitch attachment using a hitch pin assembly of the type described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. At a step S1, the clamp body 22 is inserted into the hitch attachment shank 8; engaging an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank 8 with the clamp body 22. In some embodiments, the clamp body 22 may be magnetically engaged to the internal wall 9 of the hitch attachment shank 8. At a step S2, the threaded hole 24 of the clamp body 22 is aligned adjacent to the second hitch pin hole 12 of the hitch attachment shank 8. At a step S3, the hitch attachment shank 8 is inserted into the receiver tube 2. Note that the hitch attachment shank 8 is inserted with the clamp body 22 inside. At a step S4, the first hitch pin holes 4,10 and second hitch pin holes 6,12 of the receiver tube 2 and the hitch attachment shank 8 are aligned. The aligned first hitch pin holes 4, 10 and second hitch pin holes 6, 12 of the receiver tube 2 and hitch attachment shank 8 define two coaxial apertures for receipt of the bolt 14. At step S5, the bolt shank 18 is passed through the resilient member 20. Alternately, the resilient member 20 may be slipped over the bolt shank 18. At a step S6, the bolt shank 18 is passed through the first hitch pin holes of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank 4, 10. At a step S7, the bolt shank 18 engages the threaded hole 24 of the clamp body 22. The bolt may be engaged by turning by the bolt head 16, for example by hand, with a spanner (which may be referred to as a wrench) or ratchet. Due to the threaded interface of clamp body 22 and the bolt 14, further displacement of the bolt may be effected by further turning the bolt head At a step S8 the bolt shank 18 is passed through the second hitch pin hole 12 of the hitch attachment shank 8 and second hitch pin hole 6 of the receiver tube 2, such that the distal end of the bolt shank 18 projects from the receiver tube 2 through the second hitch pin holes 12, 6 of the hitch attachment shank 8 and receiver tube 2. At a step S9 the nut 26 is threaded onto the distal end of the shank 18, such that the bolt head 16 compresses the resilient member 20. The bolt head 16 may compress the resilient member 20 to varying degrees. Initial threading of the nut may be performed by hand to obtain an initial low-torque (‘finger tight’) configuration. At S9, the resilient member maintains a separation between the bolt head 16 and the receiver tube 2. The separation allows the bolt to displace axially and eliminate clearance A. At a step S10 the nut 26 is tightened to a specified torque. At the specified torque, the clearance A is reduced and / or eliminated as described with reference to Figure 2. The specified torque may be between 120 Nm and 180 Nm. This step may be carried out with a torque wrench. The elastomeric composition of resilient member 20 is particularly advantageous during tightening as it helps prevents rotation of the bolt due to its high frictional coefficient. In the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 the clamp body engages the bolt axially by a non-rotating threaded interface. In an alternative, schematically illustrated in Figure 4 the hitch pin assembly 13 may comprise a bolt 15 comprising a shoulder 17. The bolt 15 displaces the clamp body by means of the shoulder 17 defined on the bolt 15. In use, the shoulder 17 abuts the clamp body 22. The clamp body 22 is constrained between the shoulder 17 and the receiver tube 2. In this embodiment, the hole 25 defined by the clamp body 22 need not be threaded. Whilst the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1-4 comprise a resilient member 20, some embodiments may not comprise a resilient member. Instead, other features establish the clearance between the bolt head and the receiver tube that allows for bolt movement. In an example, schematically illustrated in Figure 5, the hitch pin assembly 13 may comprise a bolt 44.The bolt shank 18 may comprise an obstruction 42 disposed along the bolt shank 18. The obstruction 42 is configured to limit a position of the clamp body 22 on the bolt. The obstruction limits the position of clamp body 22 along the bolt 44 such that clearance A’ between the bolt head 16 and the receiver tube 2 is substantially similar to the clearance A between the receiver tube 2 and hitch attachment shank 8. The clearance A’ allows the bolt 44 to displace axially and eliminate clearance A. Although obstruction 42 is depicted in Figure 5 as a termination of threading on a partially-threaded bolt 44, the obstruction may be a shoulder (see the shoulder 17 of Figure 4) or a lug. The obstruction may be any feature capable of limiting relative axial displacement of the clamp body 22 and the bolt 44. In some embodiments the obstruction 42 may be around 1.5 bolt diameters from the distal end of the bolt 44. Where the bolt 44 comprises a shoulder or one or more lugs, the first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank 4,10 may be enlarged relative to the second hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank 6,12 to admit the bolt. Enlarged first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank 4,10 may be disadvantageous in requiring modification of the receiver tube 2 and the hitch attachment shank 8. In embodiments where the bolt 44 comprises one or more lugs, the enlarged first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank 4,10 may not support the proximal end of the bolt shank 18. In the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1-5, the nut 26 is tightened directly against the receiver tube 2. In some other embodiments, a the hitch pin assembly may further comprise a washer, which may be provided between the nut 26 and the receiver tube 2. The washer may be configured to engage the nut 26 so as to spread clamping forces over the receiver tube 2. Additionally, the embodiment of the hitch pin assembly shown in Figure 4 comprises a clip 27 inserted within a hole 19 in the distal end of the shank 18. The clip 27 prevents the nut 26 from falling off the shank 18 of bolt 14. The clip 27 may be an R-clip or a padlock. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention has been described by way of example only, and that the invention itself is defined by the claims. Numerous modifications and variations may be made to the exemplary design described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the method steps may be performed in a different order and / or the method may comprise additional method steps.

Claims

1. A hitch pin assembly for a receiver hitch, the hitch pin assembly comprising:a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end;a resilient member configured to engage the bolt head and having a hole configured to receive the bolt shank;a clamp body having a threaded hole configured to cooperate with the bolt, the clamp body being magnetic and configured to engage an internal wall of a hitch attachment shank; anda nut, configured to thread onto the bolt.

2. The hitch pin assembly of claim 2 wherein the clamp body comprises one or more discrete magnets.

3. The hitch pin assembly of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is an O-ring.

4. The hitch pin assembly of claim 3 wherein the O-ring is substantially composedof an elastomer.

5. The hitch pin assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamp body has a dimension normal to the threaded hole greater than an internal height of the hitch shank.

6. The hitch pin assembly of claim 5 wherein the clamp body is planar and rectangular.

7. The hitch pin assembly of claim 3 wherein the O-ring is compressible by at least 2mm.[In some embodiments, the O-ring may be 4mm thick (e.g. for an M16 or 5 / 8” bolt).]8. An assembly comprising:a receiver tube comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole;a hitch attachment comprising a hitch attachment shank comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; anda hitch pin assembly comprising:a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end;a resilient member which engages the bolt head and has a hole that receives the bolt shank;a clamp body, wherein the clamp body is configured to engage an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank and further defines a threaded hole which cooperates with the bolt;a nut, configured to thread onto the bolt;wherein the bolt head compresses the resilient member and the bolt shank passes through the resilient member and the first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank, the bolt cooperates with the threaded hole of the clamp body and passes through the second hitch pin hole of the hitch accessory shank and receiver tube, exposing the distal end of the shank; the nut is threaded onto the distal end of the shank, and the nut and the clamp body mutually compress the receiver tube and hitch attachment shank together.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the clamp body is magnetically engaged with the internal wall of the hitch attachment shank10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the clamp body has a dimension normal to the threaded hole greater than an internal dimension of the hitch shank.

11. A method of installing a receiver tube and hitch attachment, wherein the method comprises:inserting a clamp body, having a threaded hole configured to cooperate with a bolt, into a hitch attachment shank comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole;engaging an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank with the clamp body;aligning the threaded hole of the clamp body to the second hitch pin hole of the hitch attachment shank;inserting the hitch attachment shank into a receiver tube comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole;aligning the first and second hitch pin holes of the hitch attachment shank and receiver tube;passing the bolt shank through the first hitch pin holes of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank;engaging the threaded hole of the clamp body with the bolt shank;passing the bolt shank through the second hitch pin holes of the hitch attachment shank and receiver tube, such that the distal end of the bolt shank projects from the receiver tube through the second hitch pin holes of the hitch attachment shank and receiver tube; andthreading a nut on the distal end of the shank, such that the bolt head compresses a resilient member if used located between the bolt head and the receiver tube.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises tightening the nut to a torque of between 120 Nm and 180 Nm.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises magnetically engaging the internal wall of a hitch attachment shank.

14. A hitch pin assembly for a receiver hitch, the hitch pin assembly comprising:a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end, wherein the shank comprises an obstruction;a clamp body having a hole configured to cooperate with the bolt, the clamp body being magnetic and configured to engage an internal wall of a hitch attachment shank; anda nut, configured to thread onto the bolt;wherein the obstruction is configured to limit a position of the clamp body on the bolt15. The hitch pin assembly of claim 14 wherein the obstruction comprises a shoulder.

16. The hitch pin assembly of claim 14 wherein the obstruction comprises one or more lugs.

17. The hitch pin assembly of claim 14 wherein the obstruction comprises a termination of threading.

18. An assembly comprising:a receiver tube comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole;a hitch attachment comprising a hitch attachment shank comprising a first hitch pin hole and a coaxial second hitch pin hole; anda hitch pin assembly comprising:a bolt comprising a head at a proximal end and a shank terminating at a distal end, wherein the shank comprises an obstruction;a resilient member which engages the bolt head and has a hole that receives the bolt shank;a clamp body, wherein the clamp body is configured to engage an internal wall of the hitch attachment shank and further defines a hole which cooperates with the bolt;a nut, configured to thread onto the bolt;wherein the bolt head compresses the resilient member and the bolt shank passes through the resilient member and the first hitch pin hole of the receiver tube and the hitch attachment shank, the bolt cooperates with the hole of the clamp body and passes through the second hitch pin hole of the hitch accessory shank and receiver tube, exposing the distal end of the shank; the obstruction limits the position of the clamp body on the bolt; the nut is threaded onto the distal end of the shank, and the nut and the clamp body mutually compress the receiver tube and hitch attachment shank together.

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