leaving wdh on tow vehicle

I think mine cost me a tailgate paint job. Left it on and drove a half mile to a Rock Concert. After the concert, my 6 month old truck had a key scratch completely across the tail gate.
My guess is, someone who was a little inebriated, bounced their shins off of it and paid me back with the scratch.
When camping, I usually leave mine in, but I am mindful about trying to park away from foot traffic if I go anywhere.
And, you absolutely have to take the bars off.

Bumpers are required to stop dangerous impacts. a hitch changes how a vehicle impacts another vehicle. its more about safety rather than insurance pay outs, although I`m sure the insurance companies didn't complain!

It`s simple, take it out when not in use.

Illinois made it illegal to leave the hitch in the receiver a couple of years ago. It was the insurance companies who got the law enacted. Their reason was that there is more damage to the second vehicle when it hits the front vehicle due to the hitch being lower than the bumpers. The insurance company of the first vehicle is now on the hook for the damage to it's vehicle and the second vehicle due to the hitch doing more damage than if only the bumpers were to meet up.

When I do drive around with the hitch on, I try to do things like park backed in to a spot so that someone doesn't hit the hitch. Just keep in mind you have that hanging out behind your vehicle. As mentioned, some people put a cap over the hitch ball... does two things: Keep the grease on the ball, and if it is brightly colored can help other people to see the hitch (so they don't crash their shins into it). A tennis ball with a slit cut in it can work.

I think the reason that hitches are not supposed to be used without towing on State roads is that they don't have marker lights on them, and/or a surrounding bumper. I believe this is more geared towards highway / interstate roads. Probably also can get the state another ticket fee.

(I'm in Connecticut... EVERYTHING has a fee or tax!)

ScottG wrote:
I always take the hitch off the truck because I cant afford to ruin anymore jeans. Or kneecaps.

Same here. Was worse when my children were smaller, but exposed grease means my child will touch it somehow. When I unpack some of the things I store in outside storage access in the RV, I replace with the WD bars and ball mount.

KD4UPL wrote:
I'd leave it on. Do be aware that for some ridiculous reason it is illegal in certain places. (What's this country coming too?)
sch911 mentioned VA. I've lived here for 40 years and that's news to me. I have a tow ball in just about every hitch I own all the time and I've never had anyone question it.

I've also lived in Va for 35+ years and like you what sch911 mentioned is news to me too. Even if illegal I doubt one would get much more than a "FIX IT" type ticket or warning if noticed.

Larry

Kathy, it would help if you brand and model of your WDH.
Or post pics of it.

I have a 4pt Equal-i-zer and I leave the hitch in the receiver and the weight bars under the trailer's A-frame.

Haha! Good to know those locks are so secure, Old Guy!

they do make locks to use to give you a slight feeling of security. I some how lost my keys for ours and I took a pry bar ad a hammer and hit it once and it popped right off. so that may give you feeling of them not doing any good. I bought a new lock and haven't mentioned this to anyone, so don't look guys

Thank you so much for all of this information! Great advice and very helpful. Durb mentioned removing the bars. Is that a fairly easy process? Not sure how to do that. I will have to take a look at my hitch and see how if I can figure that one out! :-) I did not know it was illegal to leave the hitch on in some places so that is good to know as well. Thank you again for taking the time to reply and share your advice.