Leave Hitch In Receiver?

rback33 · Aug 24, 2006

RayH said:
Ive gotten hit twice in 26 years of driving, once in the front, once in the back. Thats not toooo bad is it. The front hit did $1100 damage, the back did $0 because of the hitch. I was sitting still at intersections both times.
That doesnt include the hit and run I commited as a drunkin teen.

So you were sitting still and got hit from the FRONT? That musta been a lousy thing to see coming and not be able to do a darn thing about...

sandman2234 · Aug 24, 2006

Wife got hit in the rear end this morning by a youngster with a new license. The p/u has a small dent in the chrome rear bumper, and the front end of his S-10 was destroyed. He did manage to drive it off, but only home since he was only blocks from the house.
I always leave it in, just in case...
David from jax

fire72 · Aug 24, 2006

I'm one of those who leaves the ball mount in the reciever. I tow very frequently, and I've learned over the years to pay attention to where my shins are while in back of the truck. I'm not too worried about it rusting in place, since I have to change back and forth between the 2" and 2 5/16" balls fairly frequently. I did have one experience years back when removing the ball mount from the reciever on one of my employer's mowing trucks took a torch, a sledgehammer, and several guys sweating for half an hour.

I stay away from lockable hitch pins. I just don't see the need where I live. When I bought my truck, it had a decorative hitch cover mounted with a locking pin. The lock was too corroded to function, so I had to get out a grinder and cut the pin to get it out. I could see needing a lock in areas with more theft, but not where I am.

RayH · Aug 24, 2006

rback33 said:
So you were sitting still and got hit from the FRONT? That musta been a lousy thing to see coming and not be able to do a darn thing about...

Yea, there wasnt much I could do. I tried to get it in reverse but wasnt fast enough. The guy had the green and was making a left turn from the cross street and ran right into my front driver corner. Said he didnt see me sitting there. I dont know, the guy was about 100 years old, he probably didnt see me.

ShookFarm · Aug 25, 2006

I have a friend who changed my mind on this. Up until I met him, I always removed my receiver bar with 2" ball and tucked it away in a denim bag (sewn up pants leg) slid under the rear bench of my Sierra. He stated he'd been rear ended a couple of times. The first time it was the replacement of his tailgate and chrome rear bumper out of his pocket due to the loser who hit him not having insurance. The second time, it was replacement of a $15 hitch ball (bad scuff mark/gouge in the ball).

It's not happened to me - yet! Yet being the key word. But, if it does, maybe it will save me the cost of a replacement tailgate and bumper. I use a locking pin and clean it and keep it lubed as well as covered as theft happens fairly frequently in SE Missouri. Locking pins and receiver bars are cheap compared to my deductible!!!!

schmism · Aug 25, 2006

I keep mine in 24/7 with a lockable pin so it doesnt dissapear.

ive had 2 people rear end me.

I have about a 5" drop version so it acts like a big captin hook.

both times the impact is a bounce... so first you drive the hitch in deep, then you pull it out takeing full bumpers, grills, radiators everything with it.

damage to me 0.

cost for being stupid and not paying attention... big!

I love to see the look on there face...

Bird · Aug 25, 2006

It seems a number of people like to leave the hitch mount in the receiver in order to do as much damage as possible to any vehicle that should rear end them. Not me. If having it in there prevents or minimizes damage to my vehicle, I can go along with that. But I have no desire to see the damage increased to anyone who should rear me. If they have insurance, then their own cost is the same (their deductible), but their insurance company has to pay more, and the more the insurance companies have to pay out, the higher all our premiums will be.

And what about the folks caught in the middle; i.e., you stop at a stop light, the car behind you stops also, but one behind him hits him hard enough to knock him into you. Will you be proud that your hitch mount increased the damage to an innocent person's car?

Slamfire · Aug 27, 2006

I have seen in some catalog I forget the name of a fiberglass rod that wraps around the hitch, and offers enough resistance to keep your shin off the danged thing. It is suppose to be bendy enough to keep your skin intact. If I ever see it again, I'm gonna buy one. ;-)

jayhaitch · Aug 27, 2006

Why do some of you use grease to keep the ballmount rust free instead of a spray type lube (WD-40 etc)? I've gotten covered in old grease a few times replacing the ball mount, so started spraying them. Much cleaner.