trailer hitch law ?

[H2O Milfoil]

Maybe her receiver didn't fit his hitch??

[MuskieJunkie]

Do you have evidence that it is doing 'more damage' in a collision? It very well might be the case that the cost of damage that it prevents in the vehicle that has the hitch fully offsets (and then some) the increased damange on the other vehicle, in which case it would SAVE us money via insurance rates.

Evidence?? HA, No I don't, this is a fishing forum not a court of law, but common sense would tell you it does. I was responding to the people that said they leave it in to cause more damage.

The 5 square inches of area your hitch makes up will not help to slow down the oncoming car anymore than a cup of water will help you fill a swimming pool. It will however do a lot of expensive damage if it pierces through the AC condenser and radiator of that oncoming car.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you have to take it out, I'm just saying it doesn't make sense to leave it in for this reason.

[DTro]

Ah yeah, you better reread or re interpret what was posted. I keep mine in mostly because I’m too lazy to take it out and I use it year round. However I’ve seen plenty of low speed crashes in which the vehicle with the hitch was unscathed. It’s not to cause more damage to theirs, rather LESS damage to mine and so many HORRIBLE drivers out there right now…..it will stay in.

[MuskieJunkie]

Not trying to get into a big back and forth thing here but I did read what you wrote (and you're not the only one, like I said this topic has come up before).

Doing more damage to the vehicle that hits me and the less to mine is the EXACT reason I always leave mine on.....

You make a good point on the low speed crash, but most low speed crashes probably aren't going to cause damage anyway. I got rear ended in my tundra at about 5-10 mph years ago without a hitch in and the body shop estimate was $0.

Now lazy...that I can get on board with! I took a look on the highway the other day and a lot of people leave them in.

[H2O Milfoil]

Most vehicles with hitches are larger trucks, with stronger frames and bumpers. If some nitwit driving a SmartCar slides into that at an icy intersection, I have no doubt about who will take the bigger hit.

[ozzie]

being in the insurance industry I have seen many times a car hits a truck with hitch and truck is fine but car not so much...

[Duffman]

It's pure physics people, like trying to hammer a nail in walnut with a 1/24 scale model car.

[swamptiger]

Who would have guessed trailer hitches could be such a controversial topic?