Why can't they just stay off your ass?

Works great for moving bales of hay too.

 

I really liked those until I saw the price?!

 

Got to get some Chinese company to copy the design and start selling it for $40.

 

pfff who needs a hitch when you have a hilux

didn't even bend the frame

 

So I live in the DC metro area and was sick of tailgaters. I put one of these on my highlander and got rear ended by some stupid teenager at a light. I was dead stopped and he was going 40, didn’t even hit the brakes in his Dodge Dart with brand new temp tags and went square into that thing. Totaled his car, hood into windshield all airbags deployed, he was gushing blood. My car had a small scrape on the bumper and the clear coat on that hitch step got scuffed. He hit me so hard, the visors flew down, the radio flipped open, and my moonroof closed. But there was no frame damage and he got absolutely obliterated. I still remember the look when the cop came and he looked at the hitch and just gave me a nod and we both smirked. When I went to the auto body, he said that thing saved me thousands easily.

 

Having a hitch step worked great in the Taco 2015 I used to have. Guy hit me about 30ish mph never stopped. I saw him coming in the rear view mirror, tried moved out of the way but it was to late. Only damage was the towing harness bracket that got bent back. I was able to straighten it out. Frame was ok, bumper did not move either.

 

I didn’t take pictures at the time. A cop was right there and saw the whole thing. Him and I were more concerned with calming this kid down. He kept screaming “my dads going to kill me, he just got me that car, where’s my phone!?”

 

What’s “one of these” that you put on your highlander?

 

SmittyBilt BEAVER STEP FOR 2 HITCH - SB27046B

https://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-27046B-Beaver-2-Inch-Hitch/dp/B004K23KQ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_24keywords=hitch+bumper+step&qid=1558570301&s=gateway&sr=8-24

This right here exactly. Built like a tank and is heavy AF. Not even a dent on it taking that impact.

After that incident, my boss started calling it the “triangle of death”

 

Yes I agree you. More damage can definitely be there and not visible unless the undercarriage is carefully inspected.

 

I love this thread. Very informative and clear.

 

Well Captain Ahab, if yer going after the great white whale with that thing, its on the wrong end of your harpoon and you are going to need a bigger truck!

 

What? No. It takes force to crumple something. Most of the force is dispersed in crumple zones until it runs out of crumple.

Also, you're a person. I'm more worried about permanent back and neck pain from what would have been an injury free fender bender, completely paid out by their insurance, than my frame.

 

Xactly...

 

The hitch receiver end is flush with the bumper and at least in the 2nd gens, the hitch was bolted up to both frame and bumper. The way I see it a straight hit in the back (thats what she said) would hit the hitch regardless. A step bumper as it happened to me, since its weaker than the hitch would crumble and absorb some of the energy that would have been received directly by the hitch instead if the step bumper wasn’t there. At least thats my opinion, but I think the biggest factor is what type of vehicle hits you.

 

wow.....300 yards......thats a long way.......you must have 300mm lenses in your eyeballs

 

Reminded me of this....
(Edit: Not my truck)

 

holy shit dude!

 

I have had one 2 years, never once hit my shins.