Protecting your rear end

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chuck s

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Just ordered this (impulse buy ;) ). I see no point in the version with a tow ball as I use a WDH with my travel trailer and have one set for the height of UHaul trailers.

-- Chuck

EDITED 11/20/19

Mine came today. This does not work on my 2017 Expedition.

It sticks out so far from the receiver the audible back up alarm inside the truck sounds immediately when engaging Reverse. The receiver pin is only 2" from the rear face of the receiver. Needs to be 2-1/2", otherwise the bumper sticks out far enough to trigger the rear sensors.

Two phone conversations with the vendor indicates it won't work.

-- Chuck
 
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Helo driver

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Better check local and state laws on this. Here in Illinois you can’t leave the ball mount in the receiver if you’re not towing. Buddy who’s a police officer said it has a lot to do with energy absorption in an accident and is also driven by insurance companies because it creates more damage to the other vehicle.
 
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Icemanjones

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Um yeah not so much. If that were the case all aftermarket bumpers front and rear would also be illegal for not being "energy absorbing devices". And most trucks and large suvs have bumpers that are not energy absorbing either. Also no bike racks, spare tire racks, baskets or wheelchair carriers. Ypu could have literally anything else in there. You see how that law is unenforcable?
 

B-McD

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Helo is correct - IL law states you can leave it in so long as it doesn't extend more than 4 inches from the bumper. I use a chrome step in the receiver for a bit of protection.
 
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Icemanjones

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Thats what I mean. If it is meant to reduce damage they only say hitch ball. I mean if there is no ball is it still illegal? It seems like a pointless law but hey Illinois is good at that, and this is coming from California.
 
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Icemanjones

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Thats what I mean. If it is meant to reduce damage they only say hitch ball. I mean if there is no ball is it still illegal? It seems like a pointless law but hey Illinois is good at that, and this is coming from California.
 

B-McD

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Iceman - I get what you're saying. We have some crazy laws here. Likely why we lead the country in exodus out of state. I am pasting in what I found online. Looks like you can have it on there, just have to make it highly visible. I'm betting there have been ZERO tickets issued against this law.

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding
5 Section 12-614 as follows:

6 (625 ILCS 5/12-614 new)
7 Sec. 12-614. Motor vehicle hitches.
8 (a) As used in this Section,
9 "Ball mount" means the portion of a two-part motor vehicle
10 hitch that slides into the recessed portion of a hitch receiver
11 and that contains the connecting ball.
12 "Hitch receiver" means the portion of any two-part motor
13 vehicle hitch that is secured to the frame or undercarriage of
14 a motor vehicle.
15 "Motor vehicle hitch" means a one or two-part assembly that
16 is attached to a motor vehicle for the purpose of towing a
17 trailer behind the motor vehicle.
18 (b) If any portion of a motor vehicle hitch extends 4
19 inches or more beyond the motor vehicle's rear bumper, then the
20 ball mount must be removed from the hitch receiver when the
21 motor vehicle is not being used for towing. If any portion of a
22 motor vehicle hitch extends 4 inches or more beyond the rear
23 bumper of the motor vehicle and the hitch is composed of a




HB3669 - 2 - LRB096 04018 AJT 14056 b

1 single assembly that cannot be easily removed from the motor
2 vehicle, then the ball of the hitch must be covered with a
3 bright red or orange cover that would alert drivers of other
4 motor vehicles to the presence of the motor vehicle hitch.
 
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