Leave Hitch In Receiver?

[firemanpat2910]

Lawsuits and theft. Its a shame they have anything to do with this discussion, but I guess its the world we live in today? I need to upgrade to the SS 3 size push pin style ball. I have the plain metal and have to tap the pin out with a hammer, but saw my buddy push his SS out with a twig.

 

[Highbeam]

I started leaving my hitch in the receiver since reading this thread. No pile of debris out by my parking spot yet and no shin bumps either. I find myself in the mood to tow more often though.

 

[slaveToHorses]

shins on the hitch, no one else should be within 8" of my vehicle, besides, I think you are aloud to have something projecting from the rear of your vehicle 2' before having to flag it.

You mean like those horns on the front of Texas Cadillacs?

 

[fractal]

I take mine out. Not only to save my shins but to reduce the possibility of damage to others. I too am all about minimizing damage to everyone, myself and those around me. I have whacked my legs on my own hitch as well as others when trying to get through a parking lot. Those things are down right dangerous.

 

[sandman2234]

I need to upgrade to the SS 3 size push pin style ball. I have the plain metal and have to tap the pin out with a hammer, but saw my buddy push his SS out with a twig.

Firemanpat,
Due to the nature of Stainless Steel to gall, I would tend to reconsider your statement. It may not be the fact that it was S/S, but another reason, such as the age, frequency of use, weight during use, or any other of many reasons. Stainless will weather better, but doesn't always wear better, if that makes sense.
Proper lubication or spray on clear protection might be the best answer.
David from jax

 

[ShookFarm]

Having posted to this thread previously, I want to clarify something. I'm not leaving my hitch in to "cause" anyone intentional or unintentional damage (I'm pretty sure schmism's response was "tongue in cheek").

I have had two vehicles involved in three accidents (none with my truck, yet). Two of those accidents were with drivers who could not produce proof of insurance. I assume it was because they had none. I don't fight it or worry about it, that's what my insurance company does for me. However, at a current - for me - 66% of drivers not having insurance, I will protect myself and keep my receiver bar in.

It's not about causing someone else harm at all. It's about protection for a $30,000+ vehicle from some loser who buys a $4500, 150,000 mile Buick at the local salvage/rebuild shop and doesn't give a hoot about buying insurance.

Our monster pickups do lots more damage with the front bumper when we do something bone headed than we'll ever do with the receiver bar, if you know what I mean!

Litigation, we can start a whole new thread on that one. Just wait until you have an accident while pulling a heavily loaded trailer. You'd better hope your combined weight doesn't subject you to commercial restrictions and regulations. In that vein, worrying about a suit regarding a receiver bar is inconsequential.

 

[SunnyDaye]

If you have a hitch sticking out and someone walking runs into it,

KubotaSteve, So are they walking or running?

I take mine out each time and stick it in a waste basket in the back of my truck. I used a bucket for awhile but it tipped over alot. I also keep a couple tie downs, a towing strap, and a small grease gun in it. Keeps everything within easy reach.

Re: Accidents/ My wife had a pickup with a hitch roll back into her Mustang's front bumper and it poked out a hole that looked just like a hitch! It looked so cool I wanted to leave it there. My wife didn't agree and the pick-up driver had to pay about $1100.00 damage, whereas without the hitch, would have hardly made a mark. Go figure.

 

[masscity]

A few year back I put a 2" drop trailer hitch on my 4x4 Dodge diesel without a ball, nothing to tow.
Two weeks after I put it in a young kid hit me and put a nice V in the front bumper of a F150 2 wheel (probably his Dad's truck).
For some reason I never hit my shins on the hitch. I'm 5'7" and it's handy to stand on it to reach in the back of my truck and grab something. Also while I was still working I used it to scrape the mud off of my boots.

I'm leaving the Detroit area and moving (I will tow a trailer)to our 140 acre farm in the UP of Michigan. I needed a good drop hitch for my truck and bought a Anderson alluminum ultrahitch with 3 balls, 1 7/8", 2" and 2 5/16"(weighs 18 lbs). The hitch is alluminum, but is rated 10,000 lb and 1500 lb tongue weight. This isn't an advertisement, but if you want to check it out, here's the link //ultrahitch.rpmsolutions.biz/. I don't know how to post a link, sorry.

Ed

 

[shovelhead]

Interesting posts. I too, leave my hitch in almost all the time. I was rear-ended 6 years ago. I was at a dead stop at a traffic light when a fool going 45 mph messed up my day. His lowered 95 chevy half ton caught my receiver hitch in the middle of his grill. The frame of my truck buckled and the seat broke. The front of his truck looked like a "V". Insurance repaired my truck and totaled his. According to the body shop foreman, the receiver hitch kept my truck from more major damage and probably kept me from being seriously hurt! He said all the boys in the body shop leave their hitches on and have shin scars to prove it. My .02

 

[czechsonofagun]

I take it out everytime - mostly habit I think. I tow most of the time once a week - the weekend dump run and I see no reason to have it sticking out of the back 24/7

I store behind the back seet of my CJ7 in - dang I miss an english word for it - from an old pair of jeans I cut the part from knee down and thats what I leave the hitch in to make sure the grease is not alll over my truck.

 

[pennwalk]

I leave mine in most of the time because I am too lazy to keep messing with it all the time. I did break down and get Bully stainless steel hitches and balls. I can't believe how much those things cost. Thank goodness my wife hasn't found out. I also got SS locking pins keyed alike. I already have too many keys. I also got receiver lights for those rare times when I pull the hitch. You can't have too many stop lights.

Chris

 

[rback33]

Found mine again on Tuesday night... unloading furniture at a buddy's house.. two hands on the couch walking down the tailgate.. THUNK...