Anyone ever purchase something like this??

[mikester]

I wouldnt use it. Your vehicle bumper is designed for impacts, your hitch isnt.

 

[oosik]

BTW - I just checked Wikipedia. They say "NO state" has a law prohibiting trailer hitches when not pulling a trailer. However - they do caution about a hitch that would obstruct the view of your license plate.

 

[coobie]

I wouldnt use it. Your vehicle bumper is designed for impacts, your hitch isnt.

I believe back in the day front/rear bumpers had shock absorbers in them not the case now.I am no expert on the subject.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Few years back I was rear ended on Rte 81 N just above Lexington, VA. Traffic was doing 65 mph, then in an instant it was all red tail lights. I managed to get stopped because I was in my brand new F150 and could pretty much see above everyone else; the lady behind me not so much. Anyway, she hit me just off to the side of dead center. Her Honda was totaled, my truck was 14k to repair. It seems the engineers at Ford had the foresight to make a 3 piece frame that would absorb an impact. That bumper guard wouldn't have done squat...

 

[4570Man]

From experience I would not trust it.

In stopped traffic lady hit me from behind. Said her flip-flop slipped off the brake pedal. Her frame rail end to hit my hitch. The hitch bent down twisting the end of the frame rails.
View attachment 640793

Had she been centered would have been a clean radiator shot.

Without the hitch it would have been shock absorber or crumple piece in the bumpers. And a bunch of plastic on the car.

That’s not the first time I’ve seen that happen. Do you think it would have still bent the frame with a straight hitch vs the drip hitch?

 

[KennyG]

BTW - I just checked Wikipedia. They say "NO state" has a law prohibiting trailer hitches when not pulling a trailer. However - they do caution about a hitch that would obstruct the view of your license plate.

My 4 inch drop hitch doesn't obstruct the license plate. However, I always take it off if I'm not towing. That's to make sure my hitch stays mine. :thumbsup:

 

[Jchonline]

Total garbage. Don稚 waste your money.

 

[coobie]

Total garbage. Don稚 waste your money.

Based on what ? Your personal experience or hearsay ??

 

[RandyT]

I wouldnt use it. Your vehicle bumper is designed for impacts, your hitch isnt.

Most of the new bumpers don't meet vehicle safety standards if the hitch is removed. The hitch is now considered the bumper and the bumper is cosmetic. the bumper on my truck doesn't even bolt to the frame. It is entirely bolted to the hitch.

 

[Jstpssng]

My 4 inch drop hitch doesn't obstruct the license plate. However, I always take it off if I'm not towing. That's to make sure my hitch stays mine. :thumbsup:

After a couple of years up here they rust in place and become permanently mounted anyhow. When my 2015 was traded the hitch went with it because I couldn't get it out. OTOH the drop on my Ranger is one which I picked up off the road a couple of years ago... I saw another last week which had fallen off somebody's vehicle but the traffic was too heavy to stop and grab it. Apparently they don't stay in very long if you neglect to put the retaining pin in.

 

[Howling]

That痴 not the first time I致e seen that happen. Do you think it would have still bent the frame with a straight hitch vs the drip hitch?

Still would have bent the frame with a straight hitch. The hitch is mounted to the bottom of the frame rails. So the push is still below the frame and twisted at the rear hitch to frame bolts.

 

[coobie]

Total garbage. Don稚 waste your money.

CRICKETS..

 

[shovelmike]

My 4 inch drop hitch doesn't obstruct the license plate. However, I always take it off if I'm not towing. That's to make sure my hitch stays mine. :thumbsup:

I have a locking pin to prevent that, but someone is sure to bang their shins on it, 90 percent chance that'll be me. I learned not to leave them in long term, had one I had to work on with penetrating oil and sledge hammer for quite a while to get out.
I agree that the Superbumper is not a viable solution, it will put the force of the impact through your hitch and bend your frame.

 

[dfkrug]

I believe back in the day front/rear bumpers had shock absorbers in them not the case now.I am no expert on the subject.

Back in the early 70s, the US DOT started mandating impact-absorbing bumpers for cars sold in the US. I think the standard was 5MPH. Pickups were exempted, and I am not aware of any pickups that use impact absorbers.

The earliest cars that met the mandate used bumpers that stuck way out, with linear shock-absorbers. They were hideous, and really only worked if you hit them squarely. Later, makers went to large plastic bumper covers, and thick styrofoam blocks underneath. Very effective at multiple angles of impact, and still used today on cars.

If you rear-end a PU truck, the impact is going to be right into the frame, and bending the frame is very easy. So I don't think the SuperBumper is a bad idea. Tests would be nice.

 

[tomplum]

Years ago I was towing a light 2k rated trailer with a little Ford Ranger 4x4 and was rear ended in a 40 MPH zone. Even with flex in the trailer tongue - which did bend- it bent the frame mounted hitch, frame and bumper. The guy maybe was down to 10-15 MPH when he hit. SO a lot gave and I still had damage. Be a cute idea for a step with a bonus to help those real low speed love taps. I feel this doesn't go far enough for the $$ spent.