Especially if you leave your side mirrors in towing position.
Idiots that drive with hitch balls attached…
- Thread starter JHZR2
- Start date
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
I leave mine on the Jeep bcs without having an LT anymore - the utility trailer gets used. Plus the spare tire keeps folks at bay.
I don’t leave the bigger ball on the Tahoe - the RV is used way less …
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
You would at our Walmart bcs it’s angled only and two way directions of flow …
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Yep, hitch ball is always in.
GON
$175 Site Donor 2026
You'll find a used front bumper. Some of us will be looking for you starting right now.
Front bumpers are significantly harder to find than rear bumpers. Black is a common color.
No way would I go through insurance.
GON
$175 Site Donor 2026
I leave mine on a
l leave my trailer hitches in all three of my super dutys, in a leather bag on the floor of the rear seating area. I put the hitches in the receiver when needed and remove the hitches immediately after use.
@mrsilv04 gets it:
Post in thread 'I'll never remove my trailer hitch again' https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ve-my-trailer-hitch-again.248959/post-4007229
This is unibody but he shows what happens. The forces are the same on a ladder frame:
Source:
Honestly I'm surprised insurance approved this. Can't be cheap. @Owen Lucas do you see this much?
Post in thread 'I'll never remove my trailer hitch again' https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ve-my-trailer-hitch-again.248959/post-4007229
This is unibody but he shows what happens. The forces are the same on a ladder frame:
Source:
Honestly I'm surprised insurance approved this. Can't be cheap. @Owen Lucas do you see this much?
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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https://www.car-part.com/
If this is a popular model, you might be able to find a color match, especially being in a populous state like NJ. Some yards can source from adjacent states too.
Getting a bumper in mint condition from a yard might be a challenge. In the body industry, there is typically "clean-up" time to fix any imperfections. If it's the wrong color, a body shop will have to sand/repair at least the front face because fresh paint will amplify even light stone chips.
Just make sure the recycled one is not aftermarket, they typically have a yellow capa sticker on the inside face if it's a higher grade AM. Low grade AM, you can't tell until you install it, that is it might not fit perfectly.
You'll need an absorber as well and make sure the reinforcement beam isn't bent either, not likely by the picture but worth checking.
What year make model?
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I wonder. With the drawbar out, a light tap might not do much--but with drawbar in, a light tap might get quite worse. But at some point, as crash energy goes up, it all gets bad.
But sans hitch, which was moving forces away from the bumper, just what damage would have occurred? I'm thinking quite a bit more sheetmetal damage closer to the rear fascia. Maybe a similar damage? but perhaps not needing to cut those rails out.
Expensive no matter what.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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I've seen it a few times. IIRC lately it was an Audi Q7? Just like the photos, bent both frame rails. I'm surprised this Kia isn't totaled.
The hitch usually wins in rear enders though, completely wrecks the other car. You can tell the ones that had a ball hitch too, there'll be a hole through the cooling module into the block sometimes, followed by crumpling of the front end.
It has to be a perfect shot with some momentum to cause rear frame damage like that. Maybe a truck with a solid face bar or reinforcement beam connects right onto the hitch. Regular vehicles will typically crumple.
Wow watched that vid, it is an amazing amount of hand labor.
I know that now trailer hitches are actually part of the frame on some vehicles, like late model 4Runners and Tacomas and I have seen the same on Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos, the factory hitch actually replaces the rear most crossmember.
I usually do not leave the draw bar in my hitch for that reason, one time that I did get rear ended in my 1998 Grand Cherokee the hitch actually prevented more damage and totaled the bumper on the car that rear ended us. The only damage, a piece of plastic cracked off of the 7 way trailer lights receptacle cover. Just lucky, I guess. This Jeep had the factory hitch and rear skid for the fuel tank.
It depends on the angle of impact, height etc. The hit was so hard that when got out we thought we'd see wrinkled rear frame rails, but nothing. The guy who hit us was driving a full size Infiniti sedan.
I know that now trailer hitches are actually part of the frame on some vehicles, like late model 4Runners and Tacomas and I have seen the same on Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos, the factory hitch actually replaces the rear most crossmember.
I usually do not leave the draw bar in my hitch for that reason, one time that I did get rear ended in my 1998 Grand Cherokee the hitch actually prevented more damage and totaled the bumper on the car that rear ended us. The only damage, a piece of plastic cracked off of the 7 way trailer lights receptacle cover. Just lucky, I guess. This Jeep had the factory hitch and rear skid for the fuel tank.
It depends on the angle of impact, height etc. The hit was so hard that when got out we thought we'd see wrinkled rear frame rails, but nothing. The guy who hit us was driving a full size Infiniti sedan.
My Dad used to leave in the big ugly looking antisway and weight distribution hitch in all summer and someone hit the truck from behind. It was a decent thump and just left a few scratches on the hitch, but no damage on the truck. The little SUV was a bit of a mess, but its a lesson to pay attention!
Hitch ball has saved my vehicle from damage more than once. People rear end you at red light or stop sign and hitch often takes the hit no damage to car or hitch normally. Favor was returned when my daughhter hit a truck with hitch and it did no damage to truck. Her car was totaled for it. No insurance claim as insurance would have went up more than car was worth
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
There was a guy at my old office building that had a pickup with an attached, extended tongue and hitch ball. He always backed in near the door and his hitch extended over half the sidewalk. After a number of skinned shins complaints, management asked him to either remove it or stop backing in there. He gave them the finger and management banned him to the outer lot.
Just needed the one person to bang their shin and sue. Some people just like being oblivious jerks.
Yes, they should look where they are going, but he shouldn't be blocking the sidewalk.
I leave mine in specifically to protect my rear bumper from low speed rear endings, I drive a crowded low speed road to work sometimes, it has been hit at least 6 times, no damage to my truck in any collision.
Meant to take a picture of that at church one time. Only thing was, the guy had parked with his wheels on the curb, so the walkway was good and impeded.There was a guy at my old office building that had a pickup with an attached, extended tongue and hitch ball. He always backed in near the door and his hitch extended over half the sidewalk. After a number of skinned shins complaints, management asked him to either remove it or stop backing in there. He gave them the finger and management banned him to the outer lot.
Just needed the one person to bang their shin and sue. Some people just like being oblivious jerks.
Yes, they should look where they are going, but he shouldn't be blocking the sidewalk.
I sometimes wonder about parents walking kids through parking lots. Sometimes one's hands are full and little kids can be very oblivious. And prone to walking into things. Still their fault, but still.
I don't have a hitch but I do have a drawbar mounted step on both of my vehicles . Mainly to protect that expensive bumper with all of the sensors , etc. Judging from the scratches and paint marks it has apparently paid off .
Well, the time to learn that being oblivious can sting a little, or a lot, is when they are young... Its a bad habit to walk that close to vehicles anyways. I have have a trunk mount bike rack and people have walked into it as well, but no harm done...
There is no law in SC that you need to remove the ball in your hitch.
Whether in an impact it will be better or worse depends. Too many variables. Force Vectors anyone?
The only one that bothered me was not long ago I was walking along a sidewalk in a park and some moron had backed in and between his bumper and the hitch that stuck out another foot, just about the entire sidewalk was blocked. Clearly the problem with the gray matter of the driver not the hitch. Had there been a few less people around I likely would have taken the hitch and left it on his seat.
Whether in an impact it will be better or worse depends. Too many variables. Force Vectors anyone?
The only one that bothered me was not long ago I was walking along a sidewalk in a park and some moron had backed in and between his bumper and the hitch that stuck out another foot, just about the entire sidewalk was blocked. Clearly the problem with the gray matter of the driver not the hitch. Had there been a few less people around I likely would have taken the hitch and left it on his seat.
He would have been fired after the finger part anywhere I have worked - as he should have. Entitled prick I believe is the name.After a number of skinned shins complaints, management asked him to either remove it or stop backing in there. He gave them the finger and management banned him to the outer lot.
