3/8 Hitch Pin for old bike rack

[ramchol76]

Hi All - Bought a old bike rack like in this picture, but the one I purchased did not come with hitch pin. https://images.offerup.com/UAZC-vob...6/photos/a438ba5d9214492ab915d01cf374e140.jpg

the bike rack has a square hole of size 3/8, while my Tahoe receiver has 5/8 hole. Can I use the 3/8 pin available in Home Depot link below? the head of it seems too small or can I use any 3/8 carriage bolt with washers? or should I drill the hole bigger (never drilled metal before)? or are there any other option? I am new to using hitch

TowSmart 3/8 in. x 4-3/4 in. Steel Clevis Pin 1203 - The Home Depot

Retrieve your boat from stuck easily with the addition of this excellent TowSmart #10 Clevis Pin.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Charlie207]

I would drill the 3/8" hole out to 5/8" so it matches your existing receiver. It's very straightforward to enbiggen those existing holes, and all you need is a correct drill bit and drill. After drilling I'd clean up the exposed metal and hit it with some black spray paint to seal it in.

That's a cool bike rack, can you share what make/model it is?

 

[Fless]

By chance does the bike rack hole have a nut welded inside of the tube?

 

[ramchol76]

I would drill the 3/8" hole out to 5/8" so it matches your existing receiver. It's very straightforward to enbiggen those existing holes, and all you need is a correct drill bit and drill. After drilling I'd clean up the exposed metal and hit it with some black spray paint to seal it in.

That's a cool bike rack, can you share what make/model it is?

thanks for the idea, its a old BVG XR2 bike rack, quite often comes on FB marketplace. I like it for its swing option.

 

[ramchol76]

By chance does the bike rack hole have a nut welded inside of the tube?

it doesn't have any welded nut inside. the original pin (which I don't have) looks like this pic...

 

[EvergreenZ71]

I had one of those and the lack of an interior garage rusted it out.

Before you drill it out I'd try looking to see if locks / bolts are still available for it. That square hole format is actually for its anti-rattle feature which is a huge benefit on a swing-gate rack.