Receiver hitch - bad idea to leave in daily?

[CentcomPete]

So is there common knowledge in regards to driving daily with receiver hitch/tow ball installed and the potential effect in rear end contact with another vehicle? I'm wondering if when installed, it leads to greater damage to your vehicle or less. Maybe it depends on the type of contact/speed/bumper design between the two vehicles. In a rear end collision at an angle, maybe it torques the frame worse than if that area was "flat"? Probably depends on many factors but someone mentioned in a thread the other day it was foolish to drive daily with it installed due to causing more damage on your vehicle in an accident.

 

[arehman11]

So is there common knowledge in regards to driving daily with receiver hitch/tow ball installed and the potential effect in rear end contact with another vehicle? I'm wondering if when installed, it leads to greater damage to your vehicle or less. Maybe it depends on the type of contact/speed/bumper design between the two vehicles. In a rear end collision at an angle, maybe it torques the frame worse than if that area was "flat"? Probably depends on many factors but someone mentioned in a thread the other day it was foolish to drive daily with it installed due to causing more damage on your vehicle in an accident.

I leave my d ring shackle receiver in daily and haven't had any issues. It does help keep people from pulling up too close tommy rear bumper in paralllel parking. I suppose it could cause more damage if I were to be hit, but if the impact were hard enough to damage the hitch and frame, it would likely happen without it in.

 

[flea1983]

I don't see what difference it makes, only real downside i can see is if you're not paying attention and walk into it lol. I think the more/less damage argument depends o. The situation, and honestly don't think it makes much difference anyway.

 

[spetka]

If someone rear ends me, the least of my concerns will be how much the other guys' insurance company has to pay to fix my vehicle.

 

[hoodoo]

Here a link to read:

The National Safety Commission Alerts: How Receiver Hitches Affect Rear End Collision Injuries

 

[Jetboy]

Here a link to read:

The National Safety Commission Alerts: How Receiver Hitches Affect Rear End Collision Injuries

FWIW - this article has some VERY questionable logic. (The author is the CEO of a company that sells a $200 rear step that's "crash tested" http://sparebumper.com/absolute-fool-buy-another-receiver-hitch-toy-read/ )

"It has been shown that the occupants of the "target" vehicle will move forward at 2.5 times (or more) then that of the "bullet" vehicle. So a small 5 mph impact will send the occupants of the target vehicle flying forward at 12 – 13 mph"

Newton says; WTF?

Imagine a 4 car accident. If the bullet car is going 10mph, the second would be going 25mph, the third would be 75mph, and the 4th would be rocketed forward at 187.5mph. If there were a 5th car - 468.75 mph. Be careful out there. 470mph in a 4runner seems unsafe.

 

[GottaSkiBC]

From my first job where we were pulling/swapping trailers daily, I had it drilled into me to always remove the ball mount from the receiver. The reasons were to avoid theft, avoid you or someone walking into it, and most importantly the act of putting it in each time was a chance to "inspect" ball mount (make sure the pin is all the way in and secured, etc).

I'm sure I rolled my eyes at the time, but I still take the thing out 20 years later. :shrug:

 

[jrandom]

Me taking that thing to the shin, I leave mine in the back.

 

[CentcomPete]

Here a link to read:

The National Safety Commission Alerts: How Receiver Hitches Affect Rear End Collision Injuries

Interesting article! Well the actual receiver hitch is not going anywhere so I wonder if having the ball mount bar inserted makes a difference. Probably not. I would imaging the similar transfer of energy transpires regardless.

 

[Bigfun33]

Ball Mount

I'm a 38 year insurance agent and I can tell you that my ball mount is ALWAYS in the receiver!! I've been rear ended a least 6 times in the last 15 years (all at speed of less than 5-7 mph) and my vehicle sustained no damage and I did not get whiplashed (maybe lucky). The vehicles that hit me all sustained sizeable front bumper damage!! I disagree with the part of the article that states that your insurance company may not believe your bodily injury without substantial property damage. The striking vehicles liability would be primary in non no fault states.

 

[Brandon_Reed]

If you use it daily then sure, leave it in.

Otherwise it's just a hazard to anyone walking past the truck, it'll get rusty, you might hit a vehicle when parallel parking with it causing damage that you wouldn't have with the bumper, it might get stolen.

A slight bump from the rear that would have been a non-issue becomes a radiator destroying event. I was once rear-ended in my pickup by a small car, the bump was soft enough that I wasn't actually sure it had happened. My receiver cut a square hole in their bumper but their car was still driveable and there was no damage to my truck. If there had been a stinger in the hitch it very well might have made their car undriveable. They were lucky and I'm not interested in teaching them a lesson or anything like that.

 

[enapa]

I leave mine in specifically for whatever ******* rear ends me. I want to make sure that they REALLY know they hit me. LOL. Trying to back up and run from the crash is hard when you are stuck to the other vehicle or it rips your radiator out of your car.

 

[hoodoo]

If you use it daily then sure, leave it in.

Otherwise it's just a hazard to anyone walking past the truck, it'll get rusty, you might hit a vehicle when parallel parking with it causing damage that you wouldn't have with the bumper, it might get stolen.

A slight bump from the rear that would have been a non-issue becomes a radiator destroying event. I was once rear-ended in my pickup by a small car, the bump was soft enough that I wasn't actually sure it had happened. My receiver cut a square hole in their bumper but their car was still driveable and there was no damage to my truck. If there had been a stinger in the hitch it very well might have made their car undriveable. They were lucky and I'm not interested in teaching them a lesson or anything like that.

I feel pretty much feel the same.

I had a 3rd Gen T4R rollup into me while at a red light. I motioned for him to follow me and we went through the light and stopped at a parking lot to examine the damage.

He sustained some plastic damage to a piece under his bumper. My rear bumper just had some light scratches a paint pen fixed. I told him he was lucky because just 2 days ago, I had taken off my hitch. If I had it on, it would of punched through his radiator. He apologized several times, told me his foot slipped, etc, etc. Insurances were exchanged, but I told him I seen no real damage, and his was worse then mine. He didn't want to file insurance and we parted ways.

I took my hitch off because I did not want to ruin another person's vehicle and cause I kept hitting my knees on it.

Paid off to me. I referred the fellow over to this forum; don't know if he ever came here.

I would rather have some one hit me dead on the shock absorbing rear bumper, then to leave my hitch on but that's my opinion. Unless the person uses it regularly, there's no sense to leave it on. Just my 2¢.

 

[83Mule]

If someone hits me square I think the hitch will start their deceleration sooner and spread the impact over a longer time frame so when their impact cross bar hits my receiver cross member it will be just that little bit slower. I pull my hitch when I know I won't be towing for a week just so I don't crack a shin.....:Cry:

 

[Sgb020]

Hell I was rear ended a week ago I’m sitting at the body shop right waiting to pick my 4Runner up. If I would have left my hitch in I wouldn’t not have had any damage. The ******* that hit me did not have any plates and fled. If I would have a busted radiator with my ball, I would have felt a lot better! As soon as I’m out of the body shop I’m goi g to buy a hitch.

 

[mrblah]

the last 3 accidents I was in, was caused by two rear ends by idiots with no car insurance and 1 hit in run by a illegal alien, so..yeah if someone hits my vehicle and it just happens that their vehicle gets disabled.....well....it will become a costly proposition to those that dont have insurance or are criminals.

 

[Cheers!]

the last 3 accidents I was in, was caused by two rear ends by idiots with no car insurance and 1 hit in run by a illegal alien, so..yeah if someone hits my vehicle and it just happens that their vehicle gets disabled.....well....it will become a costly proposition to those that dont have insurance or are criminals.

+1

I have this guy:
Amazon.com: CURT 48006 Pintle Hitch with 2-5/16-Inch Trailer Ball, Fits 2-Inch Receiver, 16,000 lbs, 15-1/4-Inch Length: Automotive

I use it to tow rental construction equipment for big DIY home renovations. It's also gotten rusty now and makes it even less desirable to park close to me or tailgate me.

 

[justanothereric]

I wouldn't worry about the person rear-ending you..that's their bad. I'm more worried about me busting my kneecap on it and my shins while loading/unloading stuff in my trunk lol.

 

[DAW89446]

I leave mine in the cargo area. I hate it when I forget it’s in the receiver and walk into it ... :Cry:

 

[Cheers!]

id rather it be in the hitch receiver square, rather than inside the passenger compartment as a 10lbs+ steel block ready to injure occupants in the event of a collision.