Exhaust Pipe of 2006 Toyota Sienna is Rattling Against Hitch

Question:

Please give me some advice about how to stop the muffler tail piece from hitting my new etrailer hitch to my 2006 Toyota Sienna. It mostly happens at slow speed but is unacceptable at all. When I bought the hitch it was supposed to be the correct hitch for my particular van.

asked by: Mike O

Expert Reply:

The Curt # C13105 is indeed a fit for your Sienna.

Here's how the exhaust can rattle against the hitch, even if the correct hitch has been installed.
The exhaust system at the rear of the car is attached to the vehicle using rubber isolators and easily bendable exhaust hangers. Because of this, the actual position of the exhaust system can vary a bit from vehicle to vehicle. When the hitch is installed, its position will not vary from vehicle to vehicle. The large tolerances in the exhaust system is what can allow the rattle to occur. In other words, it's not the fault of the hitch or its design. You'll just need to create a bit more space between the hitch and the exhaust.

Now that I've completely confused you, I'll tell you the good news. This is a common occurrence that is easily remedied by slightly bending the exhaust hanger. I've linked you to an FAQ article that addresses how to easily fix the rattle.

expert reply by: Mike L