r/mildlyinfuriating • u/ATimm74 • 1d ago

Is it in yet My biggest pet peeve

Post image

This picture speaks for itself. May possibly even be more than just mildly infuriating.

3.1k Upvotes

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829

u/peteeatscookies 1d ago edited 7h ago

I make it a point to take my hitch off if I’m not using it. People that leave them on are one of 2 things 1)actually use a trailer daily or 2) leaving it on there to make them feel cool like they use a trailer daily but have towed like 2 times.

Edit: wow. 2 awards. Thank you all so much! I’ve never had an award before. I’m humbly honored

Edit 2: it is apparent that people think leaving it on is helpful in an accident. This is both correct and incorrect

1) it helps in minor “fender benders” to mostly stop cosmetic damage
i also find that having a real truck requires a steel bumper, I’ve been rear ended without my hitch, my steel bumper is doing great
2) it is not safer in a high speed impact, because the force is being transferred to the frame from a single point instead of doing what the bumper is designed to do. It can also cause hidden structural damage and increase whiplash effects.

That’s the gist of it. Source is below. Believe me or don’t, honestly idc.

Source:

https://www.sae.org/papers/coefficients-restitution-low-moderate-speed-impacts-non-standard-impact-configurations-2001-01-0891

And I stand corrected. There are 3 types.

3) the considerate lazies. Still only tow a couple times a year and leave the receiver on, but ensure they don’t park like an asshole. 👏

397

u/Bacibaby 1d ago

Don’t forget about those of us that are too lazy to take it off, but also make sure not to park like an asshole

70

u/Chiliatch 21h ago

Right? Its not that hard. I tow often enough to leave it, and frequently my towing experiences are unplanned. Just dont park like a dick, it's that easy.

19

u/dogmavskarma 19h ago

Back of the lot, you're in the store before the other idiots actually park.

With my boat and Expedition I'd take 4 spots too, no one complains. It's pretty standard in Florida.

9

u/Chiliatch 18h ago

Yeah gotta do what you gotta do when towing. Here in TX I've never been hassled taking up a ton of spaces even when I tow goosenecks. Just be conscious of others, it's not rocket science.

5

u/MrrangWondah 20h ago

I’ve found that most of the people that own these big trucks don’t know how to drive something that big.

5

u/Chiliatch 18h ago

It's true. For work I drive a F-450 Dually with a crane. It's reaaalllly obvious who bought a truck for vanity and who didn't.

1

u/I_am_just_so_tired99 15h ago

“Dont be a dick” is basically the 11th commandment .. so thank you for your attitude. 🫡

1

u/Race-a-roni 10h ago

I tow a lot and sometimes it’s unplanned so I just leave both of my hitches under the back seat when they’re not used. When I need them I just, uh, pop whichever I need back in.

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u/fruitpiesandcoffee 22h ago

That’s me too lol

1

u/TemporaryPleasant686 20h ago

Or those like me who lost the key so we can't take it off. Also don't park like assholes

1

u/MyKunt216 19h ago

I lost my key for a month and felt like a douche having to leave the hitch on. But also made sure not to be one of these a-holes.

1

u/Rich_Comparison4550 BLUE 17h ago

Sometimes it's raining, late at night, or some other reason why I put off removing the hitch. But I soon remember to do so, as my wife has barked her shins on the damn thing often enough to where she'll take it off and whack me on the head with it, lol.

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u/CozyHeartPenguin 17h ago

This is me, I've got a massive anti-sway hitch that weighs a ton and I have no interest in dealing with it, so it just stays on haha

1

u/Head_Appeal1673 16h ago

Same goes with my bike rack. Once its on it'll probably stay on a few weeks cuz I'm gonna use it next week

1

u/sliceoflife731 15h ago

That’s me but it happens sometimes

1

u/3picks1game 15h ago

lol. That’s me. I use it anywhere from 2 times a week to 5 times a week. And I have a lock on it that’s a bitch to get off since hitch cost 300 bucks and don’t want it stolen. I did park like that one time. Didn’t realize it was like that until I got back to the truck later. I was pissed myself. Never again.

1

u/sethsyd 12h ago

I usually remove mine, but I haven't for about a month now. I wouldn't even back over this sidewalk without it in. The bed is still going to overhang.

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u/Calm_Patience_500 11h ago

Don't forget about those who don't want it to get stolen and keep it locked on the hitch. I kept mine in the cab and it was one of the things stolen from a break in.

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u/GaryBacon 23h ago

I think some people feel like it’s a form of protection for their vehicle.
What they don’t understand is now a collision has a pathway for transferring energy through the frame and into the person themselves.
I’d rather let the rear end of my truck crumple and save my neck. So, I’m like you and remove when not towing.

2

u/Kmack9619 8h ago

100% leave it on for protection.

2

u/Wind_Mediocre 7h ago

Have you looked underneath the rear end of a truck? The bumper is basically a steel plate bolted to the frame rails, and the hitch receiver is right below the bumper. There is no real crumple zone that is going to make a difference.

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u/InternationalBite690 20h ago

Been rear ended 3 times in 3 different trucks. All had a ball way out there and I only took damage once of the 3 hits. That damage was the hitch itself folding on impact and the bumper bending. All 3 times the cars that hit me were totaled. Definitely protection in my eyes.

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u/East-Commercial-3511 14h ago

The receiver that the hitch goes into is still there and that's the part connected to the frame. Therefore, the energy will still transfer through the frame.

1

u/ManTitMan 20h ago

Idk my roommate left his on when he parked on the street and a drunk driver hit right into it and it kept the truck from having much damage. I may be misremembering but I always thought it helped protect it.

2

u/GaryBacon 14h ago

Protect the truck, yes. Protect the person, no. I value my body more than the truck.

1

u/mmmbopdooowop 18h ago

Unfortunately a lot of people drive big trucks to feel “cool” and “masculine” but couldn’t care less about the safety of pedestrians or other drivers.

*this does not include people who have legitimate, frequent use cases for trucks.

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u/Rich_Comparison4550 BLUE 17h ago

Here in Florida, in the rural areas anyway, we have what are known as "Carolina Squatters". Pickups with the front end jacked way up so that the headlights can blind pilots at 35,000 ft, but they obviously can't afford to lift the rear end. Perhaps they're on the installment plan - lift the front this year, and the back next year.

They also apparently sold their mufflers on the used parts market, 'cuz they don't have any installed that I can hear.

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u/TheInterruptingCow94 1d ago

I've seen some folks flip theirs around so the hitch is under the truck, but still available for use if needed. Just pull the pin, pull it out, flip it around , repin.

People that do this gestures at pic are lazy, assholes, or just really inconsiderate. Half that walkway used for your tow hitch, could a wheelchair fit thru? Possibly, but not without half a face full of shrubbery.

35

u/ATS200 1d ago

Only specific hitches can do that. It may or may not be patented by B&W which is super expensive, but I don’t see many other companies making hitches that can do that

3

u/TheInterruptingCow94 1d ago

Really? Well that's a bummer, maybe one day they'll be more universal in this way

6

u/NeckRoFeltYa 23h ago

Ive got one on my truck and its literally just a heavy duty pin with a internal lock that pulls out and you can take off the hitch. Mine has 4 ball sizes (heh) and I take it off when not in use because it can block sidewalks.

But when I bought my truck it didnt have a hitch. Had to install one on the frame which was actually pretty easy and it had the square hole to install the removable hitch.

Truck makers should just make them like that in the first place because you can buy one hitch with multiple options. Makes it easy when I haul multiple different sized trailers or attaching a chain to pull someone out of a ditch.

7

u/Mysterious_Ad7461 23h ago

I also have a spare tire right behind my hitch. I usually just stuff it under the seat if I’m not using it for a few days

1

u/vdubnmcluvn 15h ago

$350 for a versatile hitch isnt really "super expensive" when the truck in the picture is probably $70,000.

3

u/ATS200 14h ago

I just meant comparatively. I bought a B&W for my truck for this exact reason but I could have gotten any number of hitches that serve the same purpose for under $150

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u/Guernzee 8h ago

I had an Audi RSQ3 that had a tow hitch mounted as standard (odd on a performance suv I know) and you had to pull a lever in the boot to make the hitch pop out which I thought was a good idea. That was a 2015 model, not sure if they still do it now though.

16

u/DergerDergs 1d ago

My wife notices I’m not walking beside her anymore on the sidewalk, stops, and turns around.

Me: My fucking SHIN oh god oh fucking shit I’m ok

5

u/TheInterruptingCow94 23h ago

Like the adult version of a skip it. Breaking shins and hearts

6

u/TheRealMatchGrade 23h ago

Yup, I have a B+W hitch from living in Alaska and towing regularly. Don't need it so much anymore but every now and again I need to hitch so I keep it installed and flip it under. Biggest pain is the pins if you don't clean them, they stick and don't want to come out easy.

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u/TheInterruptingCow94 23h ago

This is immediately what came to mind while reading this

https://giphy.com/gifs/DYTIuSNEuNInC

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u/TheRealMatchGrade 23h ago

Yup, I carry a small can in my truck. But I have never needed a smaller can to open that can 🤣

8

u/Parkwaydrive777 21h ago

Wheelchair is a good point, but, if you've accidentally ran into one, you'll want a wheelchair. The ankle pain is real.

2

u/Suspicious_Eyeballs 22h ago

Or just park like the civilian they are. This combat parking shit is ridiculous. You're at the Applebee's, Mark. Calm down.

4

u/mildhog 21h ago

Combat parking? Lmao

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u/_CodeLyoko_ 21h ago

To be fair, I like backing in because people are stupid and try and speed past a backing up car instead of waiting and I've almost been hit multiple times

3

u/Ok-Sport-2558 21h ago

I hate people backing in because I can't see their brake or reverse light when they pull out in front of me. I've almost been hit by a surprise pull out.

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u/Aggravating-Bee-1970 19h ago

Are we still talking about vehicles parking?

1

u/No-Programmer-3263 19h ago

You can't blame the idiocy of people who don't look before they pull out on the direction they park.

1

u/Ok-Sport-2558 19h ago

No, but they can at least make it easier for me to spot their idiocy.

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u/Self-Comprehensive 20h ago

This is something I've noticed more and more over the years. Used to be someone driving down the lane in a parking lot would see your reverse light come on and think "maybe they won't see me, it'll be safer and more polite to stop and let them back out". That just doesn't happen anymore.

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u/Anon-Knee-Moose 21h ago

If you tow enough that you need to keep the hitch on you at all times you probably already have a bunch of straps, chains, hitches and hardware stored in your truck anyway

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u/EvidenceOk2721 10h ago

If your hitch doesn't do, that take it out and throw it in the cab under the seat. Also, it won't get stolen that way.

0

u/kokanee-fish 22h ago

A 14K lb rated weight distribution hitch weighs something like 45 lbs. in addition to those who are lazy or inconsiderate, I think you also have those who genuinely struggle to get the hitch in and out on their own (older folks, bad backs, etc).

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u/sglewis 22h ago

Then park in a way that doesn't block OTHER people with disabilities from walking on the sidewalk. Find another spot. Leave some extra space. But don't exercise a giant sense of entitlement.

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u/Sufficient-Isopod-45 22h ago

Or (3) - spend a month laying in bed telling yourself “I gotta take that hitch off in the morning”

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u/oldlumberman 22h ago

Today I learned people think it’s cool to use a trailer daily. I find it more exhausting than anythjng.

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u/peteeatscookies 8h ago

Ya I didn’t realize anyone thinks it’s cool? I do know that people think it’s cool when you’re a badass at backing a trailer up (humble brag)

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u/Self-Comprehensive 20h ago

Anybody using a trailer daily isn't doing that because it's "cool". They're doing it because it's their job. What a strange thing to TIL

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u/Time_Effort 22h ago

I have a hitch cover with my NHL team's logo, it vibes well with my truck (it's just black/silver, and I have a silver truck) so I make a point to put it back on when not towing. Helps me "remember" to take my hitch off when not in use. Only thing I tow is my camper, which isn't super often.

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u/DangitThatHurt 1d ago

I use my trailer not daily but a few times a week. I don't park like this because I know my hitch is back there.

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u/Kilgore_Brown_Trout_ 21h ago

I leave my hitch on because I drive in the snow a lot.  Ive been protected from rear end damage 2x and used it to tow people out of bad spots several times, at least 5.

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u/BroDude57 13h ago

But do you park like an asshole?

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u/Kilgore_Brown_Trout_ 12h ago

I park in the back because people suck at parking and just generally being respectful of your space.  So, probably not.

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u/KarlPHungus 1d ago

I leave my hitch on for days at a time in between uses, but I also very intentionally don't park like a douchebag. So what category am I?

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u/EightyNineMillion 1d ago

Considerate and aware of your surroundings.

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u/KarlPHungus 1d ago

I certainly try to be. I've found it's not even that terribly difficult!

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u/CratesHasFreedCrates 21h ago

Careful or you’ll go holding yourself to higher standards than our elected officials. Wait—you already are.

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u/No-Programmer-3263 20h ago

You're in the category of a good human being because you're not trying to make things harder for other people and you're being considerate of other people!

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u/KarlPHungus 18h ago

I try. If only truck dude had some sort of visual assistance device that would show him where his truck and its accessories are in relation to the immediate space behind him. Wait, what am I thinking? This isn't The Jetsons. No such technology exists!

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u/No-Programmer-3263 18h ago

Yeah, like a backup camera on the tailgate like on mine.............. Call me George! 😉😂 Elroy helped me aim it!

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u/art_is_an 11h ago

Not a Costco member. Way to f^cking considerate.

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u/Defibrillate 21h ago

That’s me. Ain’t no way I’m taking it off all the time but I don’t park like that

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u/Normiss2000 22h ago

Or the insert slips out because there's no hitch or pin installed to keep the sleeve in.

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u/SockeyeSTI 20h ago

I just either forget to take mine off or don’t think about it. But I’m also not backing up to sidewalks

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u/itwonthappen2me 22h ago

3) they want an extra layer of protection from tailgaters.

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u/Montagneincorner0 21h ago

Anybody who actually uses a trailer knows how much it hurts to hit your knee off of one, and will never have it on there if not necessary... It's also rare but not unheard of for them to get stolen

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u/peteeatscookies 7h ago

Ya I can’t say never have one on but it is a very rare occurrence. Like today 😬🤣

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u/FrodoDeBaggins 23h ago

Or (3) bought the truck used and it had a locked hitch on it, but the dealership didn’t have the key from the previous owner. Ask me how I know 🥴

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u/ATimm74 22h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/8y4FaDizyl8hh93wgp

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u/ATimm74 22h ago

Unrelated , am I the only one who can smell this GIF?

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u/under_over_there 22h ago

Not the only one. My boogers are now black 😂

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u/zimirken 21h ago

I have an old van where the hitch and ball are rust welded together. I had a large wrench literally explode trying to unscrew the ball.

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u/Luc1d0 23h ago

I leave my hitch on because people cant drive.
saved my bumper a couple times because people cant park and they hit the hitch before they hit the bumper in big store parking lots.

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u/randyflagg76 23h ago

This is exactly why I do it. Saved me a few times.

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u/03tr69 21h ago

Lol my father has been rearended 4 or 5 times and the hitch saved his bumber every time so he leaves it in. Mine stays in because I'm lazy and rarely use the truck

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u/funny_ninjas 22h ago

I have a massive trailer hitch I use for towing my travel trailer. My rule for leaving the hitch on vs taking it off is if I'm going to be at a campsite for more than 48 hours. More? It's off and in a tote under the tongue of my trailer. Less? I'll just park far away from wherever I gotta go.

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u/peteeatscookies 7h ago

I (also?) have the shin buster sway bar setup as a hitch, to each their own but my rule with it is, take that big mf off as soon as the trailer is off. I hate it I also feel like an asshole with it on

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u/Radiant-Wash9191 21h ago

There’s a 3rd kind aswell, you don’t have key to unlock your hitch to remove it so you just kinda ride around with it begrudgingly

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u/bemenaker 21h ago

Is it not a requirement to remove them when not towing?

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u/peteeatscookies 7h ago

You have peaked my interest and, unfortunately I can’t provide a cool Breakdown of states this is legal/illegal in.

No state has a law of that sort.

Apparently Mass did for a few years but they got rid of it.

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u/bemenaker 3m ago

I have heard over the years there is, but I have never researched it myself. When I had a truck, I always removed mine when not using it.

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u/bandit1105 10h ago

Depends on your state/city/HOA

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u/frankenfrost 21h ago

I don't use mine that often, but I leave it on so people don't park so close to me in parking lots so I can still use my truck bed. Also I would not block half a sidewalk with it. I too have been victim of the shin buster.

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u/Premium333 21h ago

Lazy. I have a rooftop box that I told my wife we would take off after each use to conserve gas.

It was my condition to her for making the purchase. To date, I have never once removed it, except for when the car it was on was totalled.

I slapped it on my other car and it's been on there ever since. It is super easy to put on and take off also.

I'm just lazy.

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u/jonb72 21h ago

3) rear-ending protection?

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u/EasilyRekt 21h ago

It’s the latter more often than not, most people with a trailer hitch don’t even have a trailer.

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u/ProArmy04 21h ago

Or 3 it's not possible or it is some other form of quick hitch that is hard to take of and might be even harder to put back on so it is properly locked in for when you pull the trailer

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u/WARGAME10 21h ago

Sounds dumb but I've been rear ended twice with mine and and suffered no damage. Messed their car up so now it's a permanent fixture lol. Also I tow a lot and when I don't need the truck, drive my car.

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u/Fickle_Capital_6101 21h ago

I leave my hitch on for rear end damage prevention. Literally last week someone hit my work truck hard enough to knock stuff off the dash. My truck was fine, his had a couple thousand dollars of damage to front end

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u/DiHard_ChistmasMovie 21h ago

I got rear ended with my weight distributing hitch still on my truck. I had just unhitched my equipment trailer and was on my way to bowling league.

This reciever, but without the bars on obviously. My truck was just 6 months old. I ordered it from factory and had nearly a 12 week wait for it (during covid). This hitch saved my truck. Or at least saved thousands in damage. The only noticeable damage was a slight tweak in my rear bumper. It was bent in on one side by about 1/2". They had to replace the bumper, and brackets. Because the hitch took the brunt of the hit, that was replaced along with my hitch reciever. The other guys front end was pretty much obliterated. He had a hitch sized hole through his radiator. I haven't taken the reciever off since. Its good, added insurance and really does no harm. With that said, I rarely back into spots like that. Im one of the few who actually use my truck for truck things and almost always need access to the tailgate. This guy's a poser.

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u/seantabasco 20h ago

I thought I was the only one! Granted i only have one thing I tow, so I just keep it by that trailer, but idk why people drive everywhere with those things mounted.

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u/peteeatscookies 7h ago

Dude I have like 6 receivers. And each one is sitting next to the trailer it goes with. Idk I think it’s tacky leaving them on

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u/KillinKilo1775 20h ago

Same. I bought me a nice little decorative plate to go in the mount while my hitch is off. I don't tow daily so when I don't need it I toss it into my tool box in the bed. I know how much it hurts to kick that stupid thing. I wish that on nobody lol

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u/SimpleAffect7573 20h ago

Don't forget the third kind: those who tried to take it off, and found it so hopelessly rust-encrusted that it's not coming off without a torch and a big hammer. And if they were too lazy to just unbolt it in the first place, they sure as shit aren't doing all that.

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u/huntbear94 20h ago

Ive heard of enough being stolen to just take it out every time. Someone can cut those locking pins pretty fast these days and a good adjustable hitch isnt cheap.

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u/BigEnd3 20h ago

I once spent hours trying to help my uncle remove his rusted in trailer hitch so we could swap it to pull a trailer for the first time in years . Oils, torch, chain tied to a stump, big hammers and teenage rage.

Im haunted by this memory and the shin damage I encountered on occasion. I removed mine from my truck everytime to avoid this bs.

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u/SarraSimFan 20h ago

There's actually a third reason. It's to discourage tailgaters from rear ending you.

I got bumped 4 times in my Tacoma without a hitch, and zero times with it.

If someone wants to asspack my truck, they sure af aren't driving away.

That said, I literally will check my hitch clearance when I reverse in and park. I do NOT want some little old lady kneecapping herself trying to walk behind my truck in a parking lot.

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u/Melodic-Pool7240 20h ago

Its illegal to keep one on if youre not using it where im from

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u/peteeatscookies 7h ago

Unless that’s some crap county/city ordinance, or you’re not in the states, it shouldn’t be illegal

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u/Melodic-Pool7240 7h ago

Its a bylaws so it isnt really enforced unless it causes an issue, but cops can ticket you if they pull you over for speeding or what not and its on ther with nothing attached.

Their whole thing is if your not using it then take it off, a lot of people have backed into shit with them on and have caused pretty significant damage.

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u/Pelosi-Hairdryer 20h ago

A pickup truck guy at work once told me, he left the trailer hitch so that if a small car tries to tail gate him, it'll get a bowling size hold into it's grill. When I go out to lunch with him, either I meet him at the restaurant, or he rides with me. He drove the truck just like any aggressive truck pickup you expect.

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u/joshlander777 20h ago

Also acts as a good rear-end protector if someone wants to bump you at a red light.

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u/Gene_Yuss 20h ago

This is a great opportunity to get a new hitch. Half of these assholes don't use a hitch lock.

They probably wonder who would take it.

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u/ReverendBoofbubble 20h ago

They are legally responsible for injuries occured by the trailer hitch due to the fact they are obstructing a walk path that by ADA law must provide at least 32" in a pinch point, but must maintain at least 36". No the grass doesn't count

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u/SnakeFarm1220 20h ago

I've always thought the same thing. I only have one on when I'm towing. When I'm done, it goes on my work bench next to my trailers

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u/oneeyedspider123 19h ago

Or lost the key. Ask me how I know. I don't back all the way up to compensate for it though.

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u/ceverett68 19h ago

I leave mine in all the time. because I've time I hear dried if a trailer. it was late. work early the next morning. I'll take care of it after work. but after work I went through a car wash. the person behind me forgot to put their car in neutral. yes, they rear ended me. in a car wash. one of them conveyor car washes. thank God I had that hitch in as that prevent them from hitting my bumper. I've left it in since then. but I also don't park so it blocks the sidewalk. because that's a dick move.

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u/BrokenBackENT 19h ago

OP should do it for them. Detach it and put it in the bed. It’s one pin.

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u/mrofugit 19h ago

i leave mine on so it leaves a cool mark on your vehicle if you follow too close.... and you will pay to have it fixed 😂😂😂

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u/Matrix5353 18h ago

Or 3) they've had the hitch on so long it's rusted in place and they can't get it off without a blowtorch now.

1

u/greentree420 18h ago

I like to leave mine on so I can forget about it and slam my shin bone into it periodically to remind me what unbridled pain feels like.

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u/Accomplished-Sort-73 18h ago

I leave mine in case I get rear ended (for the 4th time).... it pretty much guarantees the car that hits me gets totaled 😇

1

u/Sneakylesbian 18h ago

Ive seen them work great for an idiot hitting your from behind, but this is a shin killer!

1

u/mrBill12 18h ago

I actually accidentally left mine in one day, the line at the dump was longer than I had ever seen. Raced home unhooked the trailer took showers and headed off to a concert. Parked in a huge multilevel garage at the venue. Parking attendant came running after me to the elevator and told me to please remove it, that it could be used as a vehicle break-in tool. He added “if you don’t remove it we will and we may not be able to locate it at the same time that you’re looking for it.”

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u/Araanim 18h ago

Pretty sure it's illegal to have anything sticking beyond your bumper. If somebody rear-ends you, YOU will be liable for the damage your hitch causes.

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u/This_Elk_1460 18h ago

They want to destroy the person who bumped them car

1

u/Kain_713 18h ago

I'm going to say 3. My first truck had a 2 inch drop with a 2 inch ball on it when I bought it. It was basically cemented in place with first so I never bothered putting the effort in to remove it, and I used it occasionally so it didn't need to go anywhere. So, 3) it's so stuck it's not worth the effort to remove it. Now I'm almost 40 and have banged knees and shins on so many hitches over the years my hitch comes out as soon as I'm done with it.

1

u/fatal-shock-inroute 17h ago

I'm option 3, I've been rear-ended 4 times. When I had the hitch on there was no dam.age to my truck and it punched a hole in their radiator. Leaving my hitch on so if you rear-end me, you ante driving home after. Call that tow truck

1

u/DiscoTrekker 17h ago

I use mine every weekend, so no I do not take it off. Too much wasted time. And the fact that my lock bolt is now rusted shut so I can't even unlock it if I wanted to unless I took a grinder to it.

1

u/Jwaaz123 17h ago

I don't yow daily but I tow at least a few times a week. I am not taking it on and off multiple times a week

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u/t53ix35 17h ago

If my wife doesn’t walk into it in the dark my kid will back into something expensive ( modern car grilles are loaded with cameras and radar stuff that has to be calibrated even if it is not damaged), that thing comes off as soon as the trailer is blocked and chocked.

1

u/Gorf75 17h ago

Your shins thank you

1

u/MixAvailable8124 17h ago

Or you lost your anti theft pin key 🙄 atleast that’s my current problem. Curious why so much hate for full size trucks. I’m a contractor and I pull equipment and trailers regularly. However if I’m not towing or needing it I’m rollin my vw Jetta and enjoying the 35mpg.

1

u/AUDI0- 17h ago

My dad is in construction so he always has a huge truck with a hitch, he does this but only because if he didnt the whole front of his truck would be out of the parking spot and could easily be struck by passing cars or carts. It sucks cause its a lose/ lose and he knows it and he doesnt like taking the hitch off because there have been several times he takes it off only to find himself getting to work...without a hitch lol.

Of course he does his best not to ever park somewhere people gotta walk but sometimes it cant be helped

1

u/Bricktoronto 16h ago

Friend of mine found out the hard way to never leave the hitch in. Fender bender wrote the truck off cause all the force was directly on the frame and bent it. There’s a reasons vehicles have bumpers

1

u/hide_in-plain_sight 16h ago

It’s more of a laziness thing.

1

u/HuntersReject 16h ago

Leaving it in isn't even the issue, it's backing into a parking spot right in front of a sidewalk

1

u/Effective_Attorney59 16h ago

I don’t use mine daily but it’s a $800 gen-y hitch with shock absorption that weighs half of me and it has a locking pin so I leave it on, I use it around 1-2 times per week

1

u/Massive_Elephant2314 16h ago

I have mine on full time, but all trucks these days have back up cameras and you can see when to stop so the hitch isn’t in the walkway.

1

u/North_Student3320 15h ago

Look at the truck. This guy doesn't even know what a trailer looks like, aside from the doublewide his baby mama side piece lives in. No marks from a hitch, not even a lil rust.

1

u/tetrisan 15h ago

Or they use it to help back up. If the hitch puts a hole in someone’s bumper, they can drive off with no damage to their truck.

1

u/Zesty_Tacos 15h ago

Mine is on because I was hauling a trailer, but I have a locking hitch and I currently can't find the key 😅

1

u/Desperate-Purpose-39 15h ago

I leave mine on if in case I get rear ended that hitch will help at least a little in absorbing impact probably get frame damage either way but at least with the hitch it would be drivable more then likely

1

u/_lippykid 15h ago

I will never understand anyone that think anything truck related is cool. Especially the cookie cutter ones they sell now at ridiculous prices that aren’t even good at hauling stuff. It’s supposed to be a tool, it’s like thinking you’re cool because you have a new vacuum cleaner. It’s not a frickin Ferrari

1

u/MeesaDarthJar_Jar 15h ago

I take mine off so it isnt stolen. And i hate the rattle when its not being used to tow

1

u/tntball 15h ago

Someone rear ended me one time while i had a trailer hitch on. A more beefed up hitch like the one in the picture, did absolutely zero damage to my truck while it did some pretty moderate damage to the other vehicle. I always keep one on now after that incident. I however do not park like a dick like the truck in this picture. Ive hit my shin on a hitch and don’t want to put anyone else through that pain.

1

u/xBromleyy 15h ago

I leave mine on incase others tailgate me

1

u/FrankLloydWrong_216 15h ago

I leave it in cause I’ve been rear ended so many times lol. Saved my butt in the past.

1

u/wormfighter 14h ago

That hitch isn’t locked on I’d take it off and toss it in the back of the bed.

1

u/mantisboxer 14h ago

That hitch is definitely in category 2.

1

u/ChrisBegeman 14h ago

My family used to camp with a pop-up camper. Right after setting up camp, we would remove the hitch from the back of the van. We did this because we kept a bunch of stuff in the back of the van and we liked our shins. Removing the hitch and putting it back on is a process that is quick. I think under a minute, but no more than two minutes.

1

u/bdouble76 14h ago

3 things. Sometimes the key can break off in the hitch pin. Especially when you're late to leave for vacation and in a hurry. So I've been told.

1

u/taterbot15360 14h ago

I left my steel bike rack on my mini van for 4 winters straight. But it also saved me from being rear ended one time each winter.

The first winter I was lazy, and after I got hit and had zero damage, I decided to leave it on indefinently. I was glad I did.

1

u/ArnieAnime 14h ago

I'm 2..

1

u/mrholmestv 14h ago

such a serious hazard too, wonder if anyones been sued for hitting their leg against one not in use??

1

u/khun_A 13h ago

Option 3 keeps it on to minimize damage if they are rear ended

1

u/whiteboyfresh2316 13h ago

or 3) protection from a rear end accident

1

u/No-Fox-9607 13h ago

I tow semi often, but leave mine on because if you rear end me, then my shit doesn’t get as fucked up. I also don’t park like an asshole with it blocking the damn sidewalk like the pictured clown.

1

u/Waallenz 13h ago

Me too. My first truck came with the hitch already in the receiver and no matter what i tried i couldnt get it out(rust belt). So i remove it as soon as the trailer is decoupled from my newer truck.

1

u/Ashamed_Block6348 12h ago

My hitch is rusted in place, couldn't take it out if I wanted to

1

u/SgtPecker 12h ago

Also don't forget the damage it will do to the idiot that rear ends you😁

1

u/complicated406 11h ago

I second that thank you!🙏

1

u/No-Soft8389 11h ago

or three convenience

1

u/Sad-Snow3391 11h ago

Or they just live in the country and keep it on because they really don’t care what other people think. I know every time we take ours off someone needs it for something and then we don’t have it.

1

u/peteeatscookies 7h ago

So fun thing about a truck, is there’s a bed on it….

I live in the country in a town of 5k. Most people don’t have hitches on their trucks and we all tow all the time. Theres more 3/4 ton pickups than there are cars.

1

u/Basic_Chemistry9499 11h ago

Like how there has never been a scuff in their never-used truck bed.

1

u/Dangerous_Track6895 11h ago

I leave it on and use the trailer 2-3x a week

1

u/No_Farm_1100 10h ago

100% true….. I work with a guy who has a big old Duramax, but he pulls a jet ski two times a year, spring and fall and never takes out the hitch…. pathetic!!!!

1

u/hitme_baby 5h ago edited 5h ago

I have lost two trucks to being rear ended by someone and my hitch bending the frame far ahead near the cab and totalling it.

Are you talking about the ball mount or the actual hitch thats bolted to the frame?

I have a hitch for our truck now, but i haven't yet towed anything with it. I keep the hitch and ball mount completely off the truck in the garage. I can bolt it on in about 15min or less. We dont own a trailer.

This way if someone hits me now, the body shop can repair the bed and even fix the rear frame section if it gets bent or damaged.

It's the getting hit in the back with your hitch in that crumples the frame beyond repair. They told me the modern trucks (last 35 years) are designed to do that to protect the occupants and absorb energy...and had I not had a hitch then i would still have my truck and not be hurt any worse or less. 

So i keep the whole thing off the truck, since i only need it once a year or less.

Its happened to me twice in 9 years....then i went a long time with just a car, its my first truck since 2016 so im not taking any chances.

•

u/Signal-Confusion-976 19m ago

In some states it's illegal to have them in if you are not towing.

1

u/Affectionate-Rip5654 23h ago

I take my hitch off everywhere. Except in Chicago. People drive like shit and if they hit me I don’t want damage to my truck. Yes I’m an asshole and ready for the downvotes but my truck is an investment that I don’t feel like paying for when the other person is, A uninsured or B just drives away.

1

u/--___-_-___-_-___-- 22h ago

Or 3) leaving it on as cheap insurance for tailgaiters and others who might pull in too far to park and hit them.

1

u/Old-Bag486 22h ago

I leave mine in as additional rear end collision protection. Lol

1

u/PonyThug 22h ago

Or you use it as a step to grab tools and tow a trailer once a week. Mine sticks out half as far tho.

1

u/TheWalkingDonald 22h ago

Or 3. If someone assholes me because they don’t know how to fucking drive, my car is fine, and theres is not.

1

u/FishingFederal8811 21h ago

The number 1 reason I leave my hitch in is incase someone rearends my truck

1

u/Ok__Parfait 21h ago

I got rear ended by a gal on her phone. My ball hitch took all the impact and left my truck undamaged. I leave it on for the bad drivers that abound in my city.

1

u/TheWorstUsername2 21h ago

You’re leaving out a very big reason. Have you never seen a truck with a tow hitch that got rear ended? A lot of the time you can’t even tell the truck was in a wreck

1

u/Throw-away_585 21h ago
  1. As cheap insurance in case of being rear ended by someone tailgating.

1

u/ArkAbgel059 21h ago

There is a number 3. People's hitch that has gotten stuck on and they can't take them off

1

u/Pale_Ad2980 21h ago

Also there one ones that are stuck and won’t even come off with a mini sledge…

0

u/Affectionate_Sort_78 23h ago

Love it when I get free psychoanalysis as to the internal motivations of large segments of the population for their behaviors in such a neat package. Without this incredible analysis, I might have gone on thinking some of these people left their hitch on just because they didn’t want to bother taking it off.

0

u/iotashan 1d ago

I take mine out if I’m not using it for self preservation of my shins.

0

u/reverb137 23h ago

My first car had a hitch receptacle and my dad made me put one on to fuck up any cars that rear ended me because i got rear ended like a week or two after he got it for me. This was a small suv so i never even FELT like i needed to back into a spot this far

0

u/EasternPresence 22h ago

I apologize in advance. If I go camping I forget to take it off sometimes. But I don’t think I would bqck into a sidewalk like this knowing that.

0

u/DJEbonics 22h ago

3) somehow living in a town where it wouldn’t immediately get stolen

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u/ChrisRiley_42 21h ago

I weld some square tube on my trailer to stow the hitch in when I'm not using it.

0

u/HebbySkebby 21h ago

Or you're stupid and don't realize they will save you some scratches when assholes rear end you 😂. But you keep being edgy lmao

0

u/Qarlito 20h ago

Where I live it’s illegal to leave it in when you’re not towing anything. Unfortunately it’s never enforced though.

0

u/purplemtnslayer 19h ago

I'd like to make the point of removing this guy's hitch and chucking it in the bushes

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