Hitch insert rattles??

I rarely removed the hitch from my f150...whats it hurt? Never bothered me and it was one less thing to do. If i did take it out the next time i went to back up to my trailer and saw in my camera it wasnt there i was annoyed that i had to get out of my truck and put my hitch in.

 

Exactly what I did.

 

not gonna lie i've had a hitch on every truck since i was 20 i'm 35 now and at this point i leave it on so people following won't follow so close and if someone walks by my truck and doesn't pay attention,well, thats a them problem

 

I have had a hitch in every vehicle I have owned full time year round and have never smacked my shins on it. If someone else does, not my problem.

I tow a trailer multiple times every week. I'm not installing and putting my hitch away every time.

 

Same here.... I wonder if my neighbors hear it

 

The theory is if you leave your hitch in when not in use and you get rear ended, the direct impact to your hitch, could cause more frame damage than if you didn't have a hitch and the impact was more spread out across the rear bumper. Makes sense, again, in theory.

Edit: Unless you buy one of those harpoon looking "bumper steps" in which case if someone rear ends you, their front end will be royally Effed.

 

Yep. I rarely tow anything but I live in Chicago where most people can’t seem to drive without texting at the same time. I’ve been lightly rear ended once already without my hitch. I reinstalled it so the next idiot that ‘lightly’ hits me gets a hole in their rad. If I get hit hard enough that I have to worry about a bent frame, then i’ll be going through insurance anyway and they can deal with it.

 

I'd do this too in Chicago, especially if you're ever parking in the city. A lot of people who are accustomed to scavenging for street parking think it's totally ok to bump their way into or out of tight parking spots. Used to live in Rogers Park and it was very normal to see someone doing that, we even called it a "love tap." Did it myself on many occasions. If I still lived there I'd probably have a bull bar up front and a hitch in the back at all times. Lol.

 

Front ends are made to crumple. A hitch is just going to go through the bumper covers and radiator. I was rear ended at a stand still from a car going about 25 or so. I dont drive with my tow hitch in but their front end was mangled, radiator fluid dumping everywhere and had to be towed away. The only thing that broke on my truck was the left corner of my bumper and some scratches in the middle. I had the frame checked out and it was fine. Even state patrol, who were there dealing with a previous accident, couldn't believe how little damage there was on my truck.

 

wow...lots of great responses....im just glad to find out i dont have a piece of shit hitch...was worried that was the case. I usually take it out but thought id see what kinda responses i could get and learn from.

 

Back on subject...stick a shim like mentioned previously in this thread. Loose is common; most hitch tongues are now made a tad smaller to fit dozens of different manufacturers hitch receptacles. I stuck a nickel (5cents) at the bottom of the tongue and shoved it in. If that is too thick, use a dime or penny or if you are a high roller, a quarter. No big deal. Low cost and won't wear out like a piece of wood with the trailer hooked up.

 

Leave the hitch in! If you get in a hit-and-run rear end, you may still find the culprit. That’s what happened to my brother in San Francisco, they were on the bay bridge and got hit in the rear and the guy took off. They were able to follow the jerk’s leaking anti-freeze and ATF trail from the harpooned radiator and oil cooler a few blocks away to the guys disabled car and the police cited him for hit-and-run

 

duct tape ftw!

 

I might try that for lifting the ball. I have an extension on the hitch when we have the camper on, and the hitch seems to drop some when its installed.

 

I love theory’s. I have been hit twice in the ball (hitch people) and had no damage while the others were fucked. I also enjoy shining my self by that’s a different website.

 

It's just made to stop the rattle. I first put a few weld spots and ground them down to fit but it still clanked over bumps. Annoying as shit!

 

Tape stops the noise, not the movement. Hitch quieters are inexpensive and solve the noise plus the movement up and down and forward and back you can actually feel at times in the cab especially when stopping or accelerating from a stop.

mine works great on my 03' Tacoma

 

I'd just shove a piece of scrap wood, tap it with a hammer, then break it off flush

 

I understand the LEOs in Mass. will ticket you for running a tow ball with nothing in tow.

 

I've got a hitch like the one in this pic.

I can hardly lift it! HEAVY! '=_