Have been running the new AEV rear bumper and tire carrier for a couple months now and it's developed a loud rattle that is most apparent when there is lateral force over bumps/washboard. It wasn't a problem before and everything seems tight. The only thing that seems to have any play is the turnbuckle linkage.
I've tried adjusting it so the horizontal bar sits tighter into the saddle on the tailgate, but I don't want to go too far. Seems to me that setting it too agressively could exert a lot of force on the carrier and the tailgate and I don't even know that this is what is causing the rattle.
Anyone else had this trouble?

Thanks.

 

My guess is the play is the ball of the linkage is warn out. Just a guess .

David

 

Thought I'd follow up on this post from earlier. The rattle was the linkage and adjusting it so the bar fit into the saddle really tight... I mean tighter than you'd expect... was the key.

Tighten it until you're comfortable the bar is seated in the saddle tightly when the tailgate is closed. Then tighten it some more until you feel the force of the bar starting to exert resistance on the tailgate when it is 6-8" from being closed.

Hope this helps someone.