Remove your hitch.

[ultrarunner]

When I worked in automotive here in California we never had a single case of a rusted in place hitch.

 

[RobertN]

My locking crosspin corroded so key would not work. Finally took a side grinder to it a couple weeks ago. The pin itself was loose, as was the hitch itself.

When I worked in automotive here in California we never had a single case of a rusted in place hitch.

 

[FTG-05]

The part I don't understand is why the people that remove them feel that everyone else should. Probably the same people that call code enforcement on other people who don't even live near them.

Agree.

 

[3930dave]

When I worked in automotive here in California we never had a single case of a rusted in place hitch.

Excluding immediate coastal areas, I'd expect that for a lot of Cali, you can drive a vehicle for 30 years and see next to no rust anywhere. Sigh.

Today, a lot of new factory wiring harnesses use really light gauge wire, with really thin insulation. On some of the worst designs, I've seen the harness and junctions rot out from winter saline exposure, in less than 5 years.

Govts, car manufacturers, and auto parts companies really love the saline brine they use on the roads here..... they get to turn churn vehicles, parts, and tax revenues faster because of it.

As others have stated, up here in the Rust Belt, you don't have to leave a draw bar in long to weld it in place.

Rgds, D.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Agree.

Because it's illegal in some areas among other reasons.

Chris

 

[3930dave]

Chris started this thread, as a general advisory re. metallurgy. Various people have benefited from this discussion. Exchanging fact based data is one of the main reasons I keep hanging around here.

Bear with me if I'm repeating myself (this thread's been going on long enough I don't trust my memory).... a lube I like and resists dirt well (won't load up like grease does) is Dupont's Chain Saver.

DuPont ChainSaver

It's magic on chains, and should serve well as a drawbar coating.

AFAIK, it's not illegal here, but even it was, a local LEO would have to be really far behind on ticket quota to write someone up for leaving a drawbar on a truck.

Given the level of carnage on the roads around here, our LEOs are way too busy dealing with more serious issues than a drawbar left on a truck.

There's a wrecked older Corolla sitting behind my buddy's shop just now, belonging to a regular customer. After saving up for a bit, the older lady that owns it had my friend install a couple of new Quickstruts, intending to keep it for a while longer. Car got written off recently, and she ended up with a broken collarbone and other shoulder injuries courtesy of some (expletive deleted) who blew through a Stop sign.

It's a relatively common problem around here..... intentionally blowing through Stop signs at high speed, just because some "driver" can't be bothered to stop.

If someone lives in an area where Road Safety is consistently high enough that LEOs have plenty of time to worry about drawbars, I'm actually envious. I'm serious, not joking, about that last bit....

Rgds, D.

 

[FTG-05]

Because it's illegal in some areas among other reasons.

Chris

It's not where I live.

If someone doesn't want to knock their shin against my hitch, either pay attention to what you're doing or don't walk so close behind my truck. If someone doesn't like the damage my hitch might do to their car, pay attention and don't hit my rear end.

Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[k0ua]

It's not where I live.

If someone doesn't want to knock their shin against my hitch, either pay attention to what you're doing or don't walk so close behind my truck. If someone doesn't like the damage my hitch might do to their car, pay attention and don't hit my rear end.

Seems pretty simple to me.

Amen. I don't know why legislators seem to think they have to pass a law for anything they don't like. But some locales seem to think "there ought to be a law" for any darn thing they don't personally like. Let me tell you there are enough laws in the world now. Legislators gauge their efficacy by how many laws they pass, never mind that most of them are useless and unneeded. A "do nothing" congress sounds like a great idea to me.

 

[terryknight]

as far as i can find in the states there are no states with a law, though i have seen people mention that there might be towns or municipalities where it is illegal, haven;t found any that are. i think it's an urban myth

 

[Soundguy]

amen X2 I wish your post had a (like) button.

don't walk so close that you are going to brush up against my vehicle.. if you don't want to brush up against my vehicle. and if you are not running into the back of me.. then my hitch is of no relevance. It's 'within' the flagging rule overhang distance.. so the driver behind me should be paying attention to how close he lets the front of his vehicle get to the back of mine.

It's not where I live.

If someone doesn't want to knock their shin against my hitch, either pay attention to what you're doing or don't walk so close behind my truck. If someone doesn't like the damage my hitch might do to their car, pay attention and don't hit my rear end.

Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Soundguy]

Amen. I don't know why legislators seem to think they have to pass a law for anything they don't like. .

nanny state type stuff.

Like legislating what food someone eats.. ?really?

 

[ljohnson778]

amen X2 I wish your post had a (like) button. don't walk so close that you are going to brush up against my vehicle.. if you don't want to brush up against my vehicle. and if you are not running into the back of me.. then my hitch is of no relevance. It's 'within' the flagging rule overhang distance.. so the driver behind me should be paying attention to how close he lets the front of his vehicle get to the back of mine.

Amen X3

 

[wawajake]

AmenX4

 

[downsizingnow48]

I had a lady rear end me when I had a bike rack in the hitch receiver. The impact sheared the (soft) hitch pin. I think that absorbed most the impact on my side. No other damage except bike rack was scratched. Her car on the other hand was basically destroyed - grill, bumper, radiator, radiator mount, hood, and both fenders all crumpled. Since then I have thought about keeping a hitch in there but I always walk into it, I mean always.

 

[k0ua]

I only walked into the hitch once.. That "learned" me to not do that no more.:laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

I had a lady rear end me when I had a bike rack in the hitch receiver. The impact sheared the (soft) hitch pin. I think that absorbed most the impact on my side. No other damage except bike rack was scratched. Her car on the other hand was basically destroyed - grill, bumper, radiator, radiator mount, hood, and both fenders all crumpled. Since then I have thought about keeping a hitch in there but I always walk into it, I mean always.

put a lil flag or something on it... or look down every now and then.

 

[dstig1]

I'll give an opposing view point. This will be popular with some ... To everyone who has said in defense of leaving the hitch in "well don't drive into me then!" ... Are you perfect? You've never dinged into anyone with it while backing up perhaps? The biggest problem with these is in parking lots. You back up a little too far and crunch. But you've never done that. A person pulling into a tight parking spot cannot see that your hitch is sticking out over the line since it is below visible level once you start pulling in and they are trying to squeeze in and looking at their sides back and forth to make sure they hit nobody and then crunch. Not your fault..or is it? Then trying to leave your car, and you have to walk between a couple cars to get out into the lane. Whack on the shins from something no typical person would look for. Still not your fault, right? Not a fan of the nanny state, but if people were responsible and thought of the effect they could have on others, then this would never be a problem. But then that is exactly what you are complaining about with oblivious others running into you. Shoe fits on both feet. An innocent party can easily be damaged by this, and the easy fix it to remove it if you aren't using it. You still have the entire receiver there to help protect the rear end. Now if you use it every day or every other day, I have no beef with leaving it in, but many people I talk to on this who leave them in long term have the same attitude I see here among some folks " up yours! I don't want my vehicle damaged" and actually use it rarely for towing. No respect for anyone else. Hard to complain about the coarsening of society when you are contributing to it, IMHO.

Yep it is a pet peeve of mine, and to me, shows a lack of consideration for others around you. I drive respectfully, let people merge in, signal my turns/lane changes and try to contribute to keeping life and traffic flowing smoothly and safely. I expect the flame-o-grams imminently.

 

[J35]

I leave mine in for three reasons.

One-- it makes a nice step---Hitch-- bumper-- bed.

Two--- I use it often.

Three-- I always Know where it is.

Never thought of it as armor.

-------J

 

[ljohnson778]

I'll give an opposing view point. This will be popular with some ... To everyone who has said in defense of leaving the hitch in "well don't drive into me then!" ... Are you perfect? You've never dinged into anyone with it while backing up perhaps? The biggest problem with these is in parking lots. You back up a little too far and crunch. But you've never done that. A person pulling into a tight parking spot cannot see that your hitch is sticking out over the line since it is below visible level once you start pulling in and they are trying to squeeze in and looking at their sides back and forth to make sure they hit nobody and then crunch. Not your fault..or is it? Then trying to leave your car, and you have to walk between a couple cars to get out into the lane. Whack on the shins from something no typical person would look for. Still not your fault, right? Not a fan of the nanny state, but if people were responsible and thought of the effect they could have on others, then this would never be a problem. But then that is exactly what you are complaining about with oblivious others running into you. Shoe fits on both feet. An innocent party can easily be damaged by this, and the easy fix it to remove it if you aren't using it. You still have the entire receiver there to help protect the rear end. Now if you use it every day or every other day, I have no beef with leaving it in, but many people I talk to on this who leave them in long term have the same attitude I see here among some folks " up yours! I don't want my vehicle damaged" and actually use it rarely for towing. No respect for anyone else. Hard to complain about the coarsening of society when you are contributing to it, IMHO. Yep it is a pet peeve of mine, and to me, shows a lack of consideration for others around you. I drive respectfully, let people merge in, signal my turns/lane changes and try to contribute to keeping life and traffic flowing smoothly and safely. I expect the flame-o-grams imminently.

If I back into someone with my hitch, you bet your ***** it's my fault... You hit my hitch, it's yours. There are tow trucks, tractor trailers, etc with all kinds of things sticking out. If you don't pay attention, don't blame someone else. It's not about lack of respect, it's about personal responsibility. And no, I've never backed into any one with my hitch... Guess I'm unique in being aware of my surroundings.

 

[Fordman1981]

If I back into someone with my hitch, you bet your ***** it's my fault... You hit my hitch, it's yours. There are tow trucks, tractor trailers, etc with all kinds of things sticking out. If you don't pay attention, don't blame someone else. It's not about lack of respect, it's about personal responsibility. And no, I've never backed into any one with my hitch... Guess I'm unique in being aware of my surroundings.

+1

I hate that we're a society of not wanting to take responsibility of our own actions. I have never backed into anyone with my hitch either. If I did it would be my fault. I still think if you are walking close enough to hit my hitch you are too close to my truck end of story. Oh and btw I do take my hitch out but not because someone says I have to.