Remove your hitch.

cqaigy2 · Jul 9, 2014

rd_macgregor said:
Did you used to play soccer, by any chance?

LOL, taking the fall.

T_e_r_r_y · Jul 9, 2014

Naw, that's where rassling comes into play! !
T.J.

Ford850 · Jul 9, 2014

The hitch law rumors resurface annually. I don't think there are any states that have a law in place. People swear there are laws but searches prove otherwise. Do some searches and you'll fine state after state that has none.

HHR · Jul 9, 2014

Ford850 said:
The hitch law rumors resurface annually. I don't think there are any states that have a law in place. People swear there are laws but searches prove otherwise. Do some searches and you'll fine state after state that has none.

I think the people who start those rumors have a fist sized hole in their radiator.

ultrarunner · Jul 9, 2014

I did get stopped once because the hitch ball obstructed the license place.

It was on a truck with a Barden Step Bumper... officer told me to remove the ball when not towing.

No citation.

KubotainNH · Jul 9, 2014

I bought a truck that had one seized in it. I sprayed it down with a penetrant then attached a strap from it to a tree that was a bit uphill from the truck. Put the truck in "D" with someone in it and started tapping the hitch with a BFH. Side to side and up/down plus away from the truck. Between the slight downward pull of gravity on the truck and it being in gear, the bar slowly pulled out every time I hit it. Since then I always remove them after.

ruffdog · Jul 9, 2014

Yep, me too. I had a ball in the bumper hole right in front of the plate. I also had a rubber turkey ball protector on the ball. No ticket from the rude officer. (long story of how it went down) I talked with his boss and he said there have been issues with him. There's one in every bunch.

rd_macgregor · Jul 11, 2014

I stumbled on this today; a good example of what happens when you rear-end a vehicle with a hitch:The invincible car - Bing Videos

schmism · Jul 11, 2014

rd_macgregor said:
I stumbled on this today; The invincible car - Bing Videos

wait what!?!?! BING has videos?

for everyone else who uses the normal video shareing site https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gka1JmmFmWI

bigtiller · Jul 11, 2014

Convinced me, grease it up and put it in.

breadtrk · Jul 11, 2014

The hitch, ball and everything else is welded on my truck when i bought it. It was easier to change all the trailers to 2 5/16.

I do get to use the "Real men have big balls" line whenever a friend asks me to pull something for them.

terryknight · Jul 12, 2014

breadtrk said:
The hitch, ball and everything else is welded on my truck when i bought it. It was easier to change all the trailers to 2 5/16.

I do get to use the "Real men have big balls" line whenever a friend asks me to pull something for them.

well no one is going to steal it

boggen · Jul 15, 2014

well. found easy way to remove....

i just wish it was the WRONG WAY to remove...

i ended up pulling the mount itself out from under vehicle some....

thankfully the recieving hitch, was rusted more than i realized. and just pulled the rusted portion off.

and thankful, it happen here on the farm. vs the loaded down trailer i had a couple days ago, when i took scrape metal out on the highway. i don't think the safty chains would of held@@ seeing the recieving hitch itself would of broken away from vehicle *gulps*

Oliver1655 · Jul 16, 2014

Boggen, you were Blessed!

KubotainNH · Jul 16, 2014

Ouch.

Wnc3 · Jul 16, 2014

JBourquin said:
I'm thinking I'm gonna go to a hardened bolt w/a nyloc nut or double nut. If someone takes the time to remove it, they can have it.

Times 2. Best all around solution.

two_bit_score · Jul 16, 2014

Soundguy said:
that's all any locks or chains or doors and gates do.. keep honest people honest.. and keeps the opportunists out.

the determined guy with a roll off truck and a bag of tools will take what he wants..

Especially if he has time and opportunity.

timswi · Jul 17, 2014

I still can't understand why anyone would leave a drawbar in a truck that is driven and parked in public spaces.

The ones I see everyday are rusted beyond usefulness and a parking lot hazard..I just don't get it. You can justify anyway you want, it just doesn't make sense. I tow constantly nowadays and mine is removed as soon as the trailer is disconnected. Everytime, no exceptions here.

bigtiller · Jul 17, 2014

timswi said:
I still can't understand why anyone would leave a drawbar in a truck that is driven and parked in public spaces.

The ones I see everyday are rusted beyond usefulness and a parking lot hazard..I just don't get it. You can justify anyway you want, it just doesn't make sense. I tow constantly nowadays and mine is removed as soon as the trailer is disconnected. Everytime, no exceptions here.

Have you watched the video in post 88?

timswi · Jul 17, 2014

I watched it...So the car that rear-ended the one with the hitch was destroyed right to left and there was no damage on the one with the stupid hitch attached?...Sorry, not buying that one. More to it than the video shows..That drawbar would have just gone though the bumper/rad and momentum would have taken care of the rest of the carnage.

I've been rear-ended numerous times with no drawbar and the hitch itself protected me just fine without me adding un-necessary protrusions.