Interesting Hitch Plug
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Interesting Hitch Plug
Was driving the other day, saw a guy in a F350 dually, and in his hitch socket he had a piece of steel about 18" long, sticking out, like a hitch extension, except the end of it was turned down into a point. NO ONE wanted to drive behind him. Neat idea, anyone know if there is something like that for sale or is this a home made rig? I couldn't get a photo, I have a cell phone but I have a technological deficit when it come to them..heheheheh
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 120
From: Carstairs Alberta
good chance its illegal and could get you a ticket.up here they've threatened to ticket for any receiver hitch shank if you're not actually towing when they see you. good for bashing your shins on when you walk past the back of the truck. if i bashed my shins on that you'd probably find it inside your cab when i got done
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
I keep mine on for truck protection!!! It's amazin' to see how many drivers judge the distance they are from the vehicle in front by TAPPING it. They only "tap" mine once! Goes thru the grill of a car nicely! You'd need the key to remove mine to "install" it into my back seat!!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
At over 20' long already, my rig sticks out of most SoCal parking spots (which is why I park in the back out of everybody's way and where I won't get dinged, I prefer to do all my own damage). If I left my shank in, the only person banging their shins on it would be me. Instead, it sits under my rear bench in case I need to tow...or self defense.
If my shank would dessimate somebody that ran into me, then my class V hitch and big-a$$ frame will do the same. Besides, I have a 6' 9" crumple zone in the back anyway...
If my shank would dessimate somebody that ran into me, then my class V hitch and big-a$$ frame will do the same. Besides, I have a 6' 9" crumple zone in the back anyway...
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 120
From: Carstairs Alberta
brick does make a nice key now don't it , kinda like a universal masterkey. point being kind of like brian 42 said the hitch itself does just fine, and if it pisses someone off they may decide to vandalize your gem and the hitch shank won't protect the rest of the truck then. i'm not saying that right but we all know there is plenty of people out there who don't take much to set them off
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, KY
I leave mine on as "defense"... however, as mentioned, it is ticketable if it sticks out a certain amount, and I'm SURE that if it was pointed or in any way intended solely for causing damage, you'd have a hard time explaining it to the officer that pulls you over.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, MA
I used to leave mine in on my old truck (it was actually a pintle mounted on an adapter plate for a 2" reciever). I pretty much used it as my bumper. My buddy hit it one night at a party with his Corrolla and took the grill out. I got pulled over one night and the cop said that if I took it out he wouldn't ticket me. I have never left a reciever in a truck since expect when I'm towing or just around the farm. Besides, the just rust in any way. You will fail your state inspection here if you can't take your reciever out.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 973
Likes: 2
From: Texas
i got rear ended once with the stock bumper and i put a 6inx6in by 1/2 thick square tube bumper. iv been hit twice, with no damage to mine.
It works great
It works great
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2
From: Wallingford, CT
We leave the hitches in our trucks 24/7 and have never been harassed about it.
When I bought my truck the hitch was totally rusted in place. Obviously it didn't get removed much.
I've never once in the years I've been around trucks hit my shin on a hitch. When you get used to having something there you'll feel lost without it.
We have no trailers that use ball hitches, but I leave the ball in my truck because it makes a nice extra step up if you want to put something in the back of the bed.
If you're so close to my truck that a hitch sticking out a couple inches past the bumper gouges your car then you deserved it for being careless enough to get that close to my vehicle. Plus you probably already tagged my bed with your mirror if you're that close.
That being said I wouldn't install something that was built to cause damage. That's just asking for trouble.
When I bought my truck the hitch was totally rusted in place. Obviously it didn't get removed much.
I've never once in the years I've been around trucks hit my shin on a hitch. When you get used to having something there you'll feel lost without it.
We have no trailers that use ball hitches, but I leave the ball in my truck because it makes a nice extra step up if you want to put something in the back of the bed.
If you're so close to my truck that a hitch sticking out a couple inches past the bumper gouges your car then you deserved it for being careless enough to get that close to my vehicle. Plus you probably already tagged my bed with your mirror if you're that close.
That being said I wouldn't install something that was built to cause damage. That's just asking for trouble.
