Opinions On Keeping Trailer Hitch Installed

From what I understand it wasn’t even that hard of a hit but that hitch makes you look cool at the mall.

 

I had this question come up in my mind, especially regarding a low-profile metal front bumper.

My excursions aren’t that tough and wildlife isn’t a concern where I am so I figured what I’d be doing is spending extra to reduce tap damage but doubling-down on potentially increased property/bodily damage on anything higher-speed.

A pet peeve of mine is when pickups with long hitches back all the way into a space and block part of the walkway so that informs it too. I’d have to work around the hitch/d-ring too every day.

The hitch receiver technically sticks the farthest out anyway I believe so that’s there regardless.

 

That's fine. The only person I like in Georgia is my best friend the state trooper who gave me a warning that one time.

We are not talking about being rear-ended at speed here. I'm talking about people tapping another car in a parking lot.

If you enjoy driving around with your hitch installed, that's fine. I'm just not going to do it.

 

You're not alone. Lots of people actually break their tibias/ knees (depending on height) walking into hitches. Had 2 such cases come through my P.T. clinic so far this month.

 

Ouch! I've gotten a few bruises over the years, but nothing that serious.

 

daaaang, so that’s what a stiff dino dong will do to a frame! Yikes. Tore that frame right open!

Ouch, yeah, seen a kid run around a pickup in a dark parking lot and get it pretty hard to the leg from one of those huge perforated erector set adjustable hitches. It can be a pretty hard hit when you run into something your not expecting.

 

I think if you just look at how most hybrid (center section only) front bumpers mount, it’s pretty clear that you’re making some trade offs. For example, mine required removal of the aluminum crash bar and steel crash cans behind it. Those things are there to deform before the frame does and absorb impact energy. The crash bar aslo has steel tube sections that extend to the sides in order to shunt off anything that hits around the headlight area. All that is gone with a center section bumper. The first thing that will yield is the frame rails.

The center section bumpers are best seen as a winch mount with a plate-steel covering. It’s not really a bumper, although 1/4 inch of steel will kinda act like one. I think a full-width steel bumper is safer than a center-section bumper, mostly because corner impacts won’t penetrate as deeply into the wheel well area and potentially the cab.

If you are worried about maximum occupant safety, keep your 4runner low, and leave the crash bar structure as-is from the factory. While the factory setup doesn’t seem exceedingly safe to begin with, it’s better than a which mount bumper.

If you want to mount a winch, recovery points, and want some protection from scratches with terrain or wildlife in some situations, thats when a winch mount bumper might make sense.

 

Nothing past 2018 4runner

 

Contact them and see because the G keys are the same and the smart keys still have a key in the fob.

 

Man, I was going to post that in the What Grinds Your Gears section. Thanks for going ahead and mentioning it!

 

I live in MA and never heard of that law. I don’t leave my hitch installed anyways. It seems kind of ignorant to want to cause damage to another persons vehicle or legs.

 

I aways remove my hitch from my PU, it is just my personal preference. I don’t tow with our 4Runner(s).

 

If you're going to leave something in the hitch, I recommend a spare tire carrier. This one sticks out about 6.25" from what I remember. People also stay away from the tire.


*shameless plug*
This one will be for sale on here soon-ish at a big discount. I got my email from ROF that my new one is about to begin the manufacturing stage.

 

You can take it off now or wait until you walk into it and then take it off.

 

@2:58, it takes another victim!

 

I’ve left mine in at times, not for protection, but knowing id be using it again.
Not worth the bumps you take or damage it can cause. It’s a simple repair.

 

What does your shin have to say about leaving it on as that's probably the most common thing that's going to hit it.

 

^^^

Sometimes we learn quickly, sometimes we learn slowly.

 

you’d be surprised that the 3 ball w/hook hitch only sticks out 6 3/4”

 

that doesnt say much about your parking skills, but i bet if you bumped into a trailer hitch a couple of times you’d stopped doing it real quick.

 

first why are they walking so close to the rear bumper and secondly,,,, open your eyes people!!

 

its also ignorant to tailgate and bump into cars without regard…

 

Nice attempt at insulting me. But, if you do it on purpose, it's not really a lack of skill. Try hanging out on the east side of Milwaukee (or any busy city) for a couple of years and then you'll understand.

If I bumped into some redneck trailer hitch, I'd just be wondering what that hillbilly was doing near the city.

 

You insulted yourself by telling everyone you bumped into thousands of cars and really didnt care that you did it.

 

Wow, you're really stretching now. It's just part of parallel parking in a spot that's too small.

But, keep telling yourself whatever makes you feel better about that worthless attachment on your bumper.

 

Am I? I’ve never bumped into a car parallel parking because i dont force my car into a spot that could potentially hit another car. Its called respect for my car and the others around me.

My worthless attachment keeps the idiots away…

 

Well, have fun driving around the block all day looking for parking.

I have plenty of respect for my vehicle and the vehicles of others. I just understand that a one mile per hour tap is never going to damage anything.

 

never had a problem, but driving around in my 4runner all day sounds fun and beats working…

 

Bumping can cause damge.

so if your neighbor bumped into your car several times a day and didnt cause “damage” you’’d be fine with that? I highly doubt it.

 

What damage?

As I said before, we are talking about 1 mph, probably less. If that damages your bumper, your car is a piece of shit.

My neighbors don't park in front of or behind me, so that's not really an issue. However I do have a problem with door dings, which is why I generally park way in the back of the parking lot anywhere I go.