#1 REASON TO HAVE A TRAILER HITCH (Even if you never tow anything)

I agree. If the receiver is going to get hit anyway, having the hitch lowers the amount of damage. At least it did in this case.

I wasn't even mad at the guy because I knew that I probably had no damage before I went to look at the back of the truck. Once I saw there was no damage to my truck and saw the hole in his car, I just smiled and said "shit happens" We exchanged info, shook hands and left.

 

You should've said "I just bought that ball and now it's scratched asshole!"

 

LOL !!!

That might keep the homophobic people off your ass....but it might make others drive a little closer and follow you home.

 

So anyone with a small car that rear ends a truck and the bumper of the car goes under the truck bumper - and the grill of the car hits the truck first - it's illegal???

Would dat den be a sin den father ???

 

LOL !!! Nah....I scratch my balls all the time

 

I do not think this applies to us. You neglected to include VC 28070 which defines passenger vehicles as:

VC28070. As used in this article, "passenger vehicle" means "passenger vehicle" as defined in Section 34710.



Looking up VC34710 reveals:

VC34710. As used in this division, "passenger vehicle" means any motor vehicle defined in Section 465, except any of the following motor vehicles:
(a) Motorcycles.
(b) Housecars.
(c) Specially constructed vehicles.
(d) Motor vehicles equipped with four-wheel drive.
(e) Motor vehicles constructed on a truck chassis.
(f) Motor vehicles operated for hire, compensation, or profit
(g) Makes of motor vehicles of a model year manufactured or sold in California in quantities of less than 2,000 units for each such model year.
(h) Motor vehicles designed and constructed by the manufacturer of such vehicles, for off-highway use, as determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles.



.

 

Yeah I'm being safer by having a drop on my hitch. That way it will catch any car that tries to sneak under my truck.

Try fitting a car under this.​

​

 

Leaving the hitch in the receiver can be a major PITA if you live somewhere that sees salt...

I once owned a van that had a reciever hitch in it that I needed to swap out. I bought it with a hitch in the reciever and I have no idea how long it was in there. My friend and I were fighting with it when some power company guys saw us and they offered to help with a backhoe: It was rusted into the receiver so solidly that it just dragged the van by the hitch.

I took it to another friend's place and we had to take a torch to it and hit it with cold water about 4 times while jumping on a chain attached to his truck before it would finally budge.

 

Not only in Cali but other states too

 

I had this problem on my 2001 Dodge Dakota. That shit was rusted up solid. I never did try to remove it. I got proactive with my Tacoma and wrapped the hitch with a thin layer of rubber tape. I'll probably take it off and Plastidip it instead.

 

I leave mine in mostly as a step up into the bed. Never thought about it being illegal. Guess I need to check.

 

Got Hooked

 

Yup...

 

Anyone else have shin dents from said hitch besides me?

 

Read my previous post...

4x4 or vehicles built on a truck chassis are not defined as passenger vehicles and therefore the bumper rules cited do not apply (in California).

 

HOUSE BILL No. 5610

May 9, 2012, Introduced by Rep. Darany and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled

"Michigan vehicle code,"

by amending section 721 (MCL 257.721), as amended by 2000 PA 154.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 721. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5),

a PERSON SHALL NOT OPERATE A passenger vehicle or a pickup truck

shall not be driven upon a highway drawing or having attached to

the passenger vehicle or pickup truck more than 1 vehicle or

trailer.

(2) The drawbar or other connection between 2 vehicles, 1 of

which is towing or drawing the other on a highway, shall not exceed

15 feet in length from 1 vehicle to the other. If the connection

consists of a chain, rope, or cable, there shall be displayed upon


the connection a red flag or other signal or cloth not less than 12

inches both in length and width.

(3) A vehicle or trailer towed or drawn by a vehicle shall be

attached to the vehicle with forms of coupling devices in a manner

so that when the combination is operated in a linear alignment on a

level, smooth, paved surface, the movement of the towed or drawn

vehicle or trailer does not deviate more than 3 inches to either

side of the path of the towing vehicle that tows or draws it. The

vehicle or trailer shall also be connected to the towing vehicle by

suitable safety chains or devices, 1 on each side of the coupling

and at the extreme outer edge of the vehicle or trailer. Each chain

or device and connection used shall be of sufficient strength to

haul the vehicle or trailer when loaded. In the case of an

implement of husbandry with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross

combination weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, the safety

chains or devices required under this subsection shall conform to

the federal motor carrier safety regulations requirements contained

in 49 C.F.R. 393.70(d)(5).49 CFR 393.70(D)(5).

(4) A pickup truck with a fifth wheel assembly shall not tow a

semitrailer unless the fifth wheel assembly conforms to the

standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963

PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22.480.25.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a pickup truck with a

towing rating equal to, or greater than, the weight being towed,

equipped with a fifth wheel assembly that conforms with the

standards prescribed in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963

PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.22 480.25, towing attached with a


semitrailer designed for recreational living purposes may tow an

additional trailer or semitrailer under the following conditions:

(a) The additional trailer or semitrailer shall be attached

pursuant to AS PRESCRIBED IN subsection (3). The safety chains

described in subsection (3) shall be securely attached at the

extreme outer edge of the attached trailer or semitrailer with a

locking mechanism. The towing vehicle hitch shall be of substantial

material and shall be attached in a proper and skillful manner to

the frame of the towing vehicle.

(b) The total length of the pickup truck, semitrailer designed

for recreational living purposes, and additional trailer or

semitrailer, and load, shall not exceed 65 feet on any highways in

this state.

(c) The gross weight of the additional trailer or semitrailer

towed or drawn shall not exceed the empty weight of the pickup

truck or the empty weight of the semitrailer.

(6) For the purposes of this section, a pickup truck towing a

semitrailer and additional trailer shall be IS considered a

passenger vehicle and shall comply with the speed limit

requirements of section 627(5).

(7) A PERSON SHALL NOT OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY

WITH TEMPORARY TOWING DEVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A

BALL AND HITCH, ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS

BEING USED FOR TOWING PURPOSES.

(8) (7) A person who violates this section is responsible for

a civil infraction.

Truly these POS elected officials having better to do.....

 

True, all trucks are classified as commercial vehicles in CA though SUVs are considered passenger vehicles, though all of my friends who've been ticketed are driving trucks, not SUVs. So not sure how that all works out, but the tickets get written anyway, I'm curious though if they were contested in court how the chips would fall as trucks are seemingly exempt. Or maybe there's another VC that I'm missing.

 

From Planes, Trains, and Automobiles with John Candy/Steve Martin..

 

That right there increases the chance of tweaking your frame. I had some young kid slightly bump my truck with no damage. If the car that rear ends you is going fast enough, it has the potential to push the lower end of your hitch forward causing a bend in your frame where your hitch bolts to.

 

Agreed on both counts; officers will ticket you anyways because there are no repercussions for them when they cite you for something that is not illegal and most people would not contest it.

I can only offer anecdotal evidence from an encounter I had with my old truck. They tried to tell me my old S10's bumpers were illegal but I pulled out my copy of the VC from my glove box and read the pertinent code. We went back and forth with them trying to cite me and me looking it up on the spot until finally they gave up on equipment violations and cited me for blocking the crosswalk (past the last house in a cul de sac).