Do you leave your trailer hitch / Ball in?

Illegal in Indiana.

 

I like to leave mine in for the soul purpose of protecting my bumper. Having been raised in FL I know how people like to creep at the lights and intersections.
I've got my shin and knee more times than I can remember so I learned to swing wide when going round the back...
It's more fun watching others catch it tho.

 

Stays on!!!!! keeps the parallel parkers from hitting my bumper

 

I remove mine and store in bed drawers.

Cons:
1. People steal them.
2. Can turn a simple accident into a bent frame.
3. Catch a shin when I have my tailgate down.
4. Rusts and can seize in (which reduces #1)
5. Have to remove to put in receiver shackle.
6. The trailer hitch rattle.

Pros:
1. Something to step on to make climbing into truck marginally easier.

Just remembered another con:
1. The pain from slipping off the narrow hitch ball (see pros #1) and smacking my knee on it.

 

I always take mine out unless using it regularly. I've had too many receivers get all rusted up by leaving it in. Of course those were Dodges and Fords and I hear Toyotas never rust...

 

What's the difference in the poll between "No" and "Never"?

Seems kinda redundant.

 

I have left mine in. Never a problem; at least so far. 10 years between two trucks.

I have a locking nut & good grade bolt. Be a pain to try & take off.

 

I bought a Stainless reciever and a lock, no rust issues

 

This is my F350. This is what a few years on Utah's overly salted roads looks like. I'm not risking this on my '17 Tacoma by leaving the hitch in. Maybe not be an issue in other states...

 

Not a 3rd gen, here is mine. Wire brushed and painted my receiver to stop the rust. Got a steel cover/insert from Amazon (~$5), and a left over emblem. Locking pin with rubber to hopefully keep it from rusting closed.

 

We do not question the polls around here.

 

That's bad rust.

 

Almost forgot this story- a good reason to keep your receiver in. my brother's early taco was rear ended while he was driving into San Francisco, and the offender took off. Well you know what kind of damage to expect when a tube bumper gets hit (almost none), but the guy running away didn't fare so well- the cops met my brother at the end of the ATF and coolant trail that led him off the freeway to where the guys' car had died after its radiator had been lanced by my brothers bumper hitch!

 

Pros:
2. The idiot who can't parallel park or who does 'braille' parking.

I only keep the ball in on my classic car which I do take out in public sometimes. I've come out to find a car parked behind me with a nice round divot in their front plate, but my painted valence untouched. BONUS! Otherwise I take them out, clean the grease off the ball & put them inside the vehicle. Wash & wax the receiver after any towing in a futile attempt to avert rust, helps but eventually paint is required. Just because you use it - it doesn't have to look like you use it.

 

Don't do it and can't stand it when people do.

 

If you don't mind ,what wheels and tires you have? Thanks

 

Method NV 0-offset
BFG KO2 285/75-16

 

I hope this isn't too off topic. Anyone using a Weathertech BUMPSTEP?

 

Had it protect the vehicle. I just learned to not bash my shin on it.