Orangetang Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 (edited) The topic says it all, but yesterday my hitch saved my ass, literally. A Neon hit me in a school zone, I don't thinks she even hit her brakes, no skid mark anywhere, just a pool of green coolant left on the road. I'm not sure how extensive the damage is to the her car, but the hitch went all the way up hood, just shy of the windshield, making a giant V grove along the way. Her headlights were probably close to hitting my rear tires. There is no damage at all to my vehicle except that the plastic ring around the hitch that holds the plastic "reece" cap in place, broke. The cap is still fine if you can believe that. I think that if there was no hitch on there, the trunk door and bumper would have been damaged and maybe the impact would have been more violent, but maybe not. For the $200 or whatever the hitch cost, it is still less than the deductable had there been any damage. My 2 cents Edited May 8, 2009 by Orangetang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I've been rear ended twice. Hitch saved my truck both times, and screwed up the other car. Funny thing, they were both POS ricer cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinip Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 (edited) ...my hitch did not save my truck...but i surely made some architectural carving in the BMW X5's radiator and bumber... that rammed into me...that kind of consolate me... Edited May 8, 2009 by Pinip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangetang Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 That sucks. I guess anything with a front end that starts higher than the hitch will still hurt. Kingman, the neon had tribal seat covers, so I'll go with semi-ricer in my case What kind of cool tube plug should I buy to replace mine? Something rubber I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 How about one of those "Remove to tow Chev's" or ford or dodge. Pick the domestic that you dislike the most Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XPLORx4 Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Next time just drive around with the drop and ball attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 take a good look where the hitch mounts to the frame and make sure there are no cracks or bends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUELER Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 class III hitch installed here.... ya im waiting for a sedan to rear end me so i can see this !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangetang Posted May 9, 2009 Author Share Posted May 9, 2009 I did look underneath. Everything looks solid, and I even torqued on the bolts to see if any of them sheared or would turn, but they are solid. This might have been a knee jerk reaction to something I saw at work... While travelling in convoy (too closely, and another company) a tractor trailer rear ended another one... The radiator and intercooler where damaged on the tractor but the other truck was OK, so they decided to tow the broken down tractor to a safe area. In doing so they pulled the entire front suspension, axle and bumper assembly out from under the tractor (the bolts sheared), and the tractor collapsed onto the oilpan and transmission. Not a pretty sight, not an easy situation. Want pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinip Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 I did look underneath. Everything looks solid, and I even torqued on the bolts to see if any of them sheared or would turn, but they are solid. This might have been a knee jerk reaction to something I saw at work... While travelling in convoy (too closely, and another company) a tractor trailer rear ended another one... The radiator and intercooler where damaged on the tractor but the other truck was OK, so they decided to tow the broken down tractor to a safe area. In doing so they pulled the entire front suspension, axle and bumper assembly out from under the tractor (the bolts sheared), and the tractor collapsed onto the oilpan and transmission. Not a pretty sight, not an easy situation. Want pics? yess !! why not ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 good, it would suck if it did crack a little bit and then tear open some time down the road when the insurance company won't repair it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orangetang Posted May 9, 2009 Author Share Posted May 9, 2009 good, it would suck if it did crack a little bit and then tear open some time down the road when the insurance company won't repair it True... It looks okay, but who can really tell 100%? I'll just go with it. She pretty much just lifted me up rather than a blunt blow from behind. Here are the seperated from frame pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fukinitupagain Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 That happened to my dad in his truck. Some old man rearended him & the hitch went through the radiator. The guy was able to run his car though (an old Towncar) & since there wasn't any damage to my dad's truck they simply parted ways. Good to hear the hitch saved the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02silverpathy Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 (edited) Next time just drive around with the drop and ball attached. Funny I was thinking the same thing! That is another massive amount of metal! Great pics by the way, thanks for sharing. Edited May 9, 2009 by 02silverpathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Rim Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Glad everyone was alright! Love those pictures. Hopefully you weren't responsible for cleanup on that job. Hitch saved my bacon twice in my old Samurai, once killing a Ford Tempo, and the other cracking the bumper quite nicely on a Chev Corsica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Next time just drive around with the drop and ball attached. Don't in PA, you will actually get fined for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 MY wd21 sent an 06 blazer to the wrecking yard when it hit me on the rear passenger corner. the whole fender was tucked behind his crooked wheel... there was hardly any damage to my rig prolly thanks to the tire carrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I have a 5 ton dump truck pintle hitch on my van. I'm waiting for someone to give it a love tap, heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigred07 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 How about one of those "Remove to tow Chev's" or ford or dodge. Pick the domestic that you dislike the most hells yeah, i've never seen one that says that though, where can i get one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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