I have installed a genuine receiver to my 2020 110. I have pulled 2 different trailers (2 jet skis and a landscape trailer with large atv). It sounds like the hitch is not installed on the Defender correctly. Rattles, squeaks, pops and all other noises in between. I then installed a device to tighten the hitch in the receiver with mild results to the better. I have two thoughts. First, there is no way that I did not install the receiver correctly and even if I didn't torque and then the extra degrees of rotation called for on each of the 16 bolts that it would sound this bad. Second, maybe its that I'm not used to towing with a unibody vehicle where the receiver is installed directly to the passenger compartment without dampening between the body and frame like all my trucks.

I've searched the forum and online and can't find anyone complaining of the exact same issues I have.

Curious what other L663 owners are experiencing while towing. It would be a real pity to take the whole bumper off again when I know I tightened, torqued and gave each of the 14 original bolts and the 2 extra that came with the receiver the extra turn past the required torque values.

 

with an empty uhaul trailer I thought it was going to come off the rails and fly apart. it was insanely wild.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_Bvn11IGaxE

Just leaning on it when the trailer was empty it was prety bad.

I did the same thing with the bolt/shim to try and store it up, but once the trailer was loaded it wasn't near as bad.

I'm wondering if the jet skis/atv are light enough that it doesn't put the force to keep it from happening like it was when my trailer was empty. I'll definitely agree that this is the first vehicle I have had that when a receiver was in was that noise. We had a 2016 Expedition and I towed small trailers all the time with it and when the hitch was inserted it was quiet and did not wiggle at all.

 

I've towed A LOT of stuff with A LOT of vehicles. All trucks, trailers all way behind the cab of the tow vehicle, and the cab isolated from the frame. I really think I'm noticing it because the hitch is now under the passenger compartment and bolted straight to the floor.

It tows and handles great but sounds like a train wreck. I can get used to it once I convince myself I'm not driving the train to the wreck!

 

Yeah, a lot more noise is transmitted into the cabin on unibody vehicles, as opposed to pickup trucks where the hitch is connect to the frame and the body is floating on the frame with bushings.

I use this anti rattle bracket, it completely eliminates slop in the receiver.

 

defender's hitch receiver has a lot of play.

 

I have noticed alot of noise from the hitch when I tow as well (common with unibody vehicles). I use the CURT 40247 RockerBall Cushion Hitch Trailer Ball and CURT 22325 No-Tool Anti-Rattle Hitch Clamp Tightener now, virtually eliminates that issue, it is also greaseable. l did also added felt to the hitch to "fill in" the gaps on the receiver, created a very sung fit, .

 

I like the look of that Curt shock dampener thingamajig. I've never seen that before.

The biggest improvement in towing noise I've experienced came when I abandoned tongue and ball mounts for the Lock N Roll device. Totally revolutionizes the towing experience. https://locknroll.com