Protecting your rear end

[chuck s]

Anyone tried the Rhino thingie? With all the slop in the Ford receiver I'm guessing it rattles like crazy.

-- Chuck

 

[Bobnoxious]

Superbumper absorbs energy, via the neoprene pucks & pin slot movement. I'm unaware of any other design that provides this feature.

 

[Tocapet]

I have one of these. It can absorb the impact of a rear-end collision and save your neck/back.

https://superbumper.com/#

 

[chuck s]

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

 

[Helo driver]

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.

 

[Icemanjones]

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]

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.

 

[Icemanjones]

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.

 

[Icemanjones]

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]

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.

 

[Icemanjones]

I would definitely put on some red and white reflective stickers on which ever item I choose. I really like that predator emblem and think it would be wicked about 50-75% bigger. Like a demonic stop sign lol

 

[Trainmaster]

https://sparebumper.com/

 

[JExpedition07]

There are many stylish options

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

would it be out of line to floor it in reverse until that truck is in its own spot?

I did this when I was a teenager after someone parked in my spot. I very slowly inched up until my bumper was touching theirs and I pushed their car up to the next house. I don't think they ever noticed it even moved as no one ever came knocking on my door. Douche thing of me to do, but I was young and stupid.

 

[bobmbx]

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.

Brilliance of legislators on display right there. Supposedly, someone who can’t see a large vehicle right front of them will spot a red tennis ball two feet off the ground.

“Harvey, are you blind? Didn’t you see that red tennis ball?”

 

[B-McD]

Bob - You are so right! And I get the privilege of paying some of the highest taxes in the country for this stuff. If it wasn't for the grandkids I'd be long gone.

 

[Dorzak]

I would definitely put on some red and white reflective stickers on which ever item I choose. I really like that predator emblem and think it would be wicked about 50-75% bigger. Like a demonic stop sign lol

i have a folding step with a red reflector when folded up. This one in fact https://www.carr.com/product/hd-hitch-steps/

 

[charles davis]

Anyone tried the Rhino thingie? With all the slop in the Ford receiver I'm guessing it rattles like crazy.

-- Chuck

I have the GoRhino step bumper and I really like it, it is really solid. It comes with a clamp to tighten it and keep it from rattling but that said, that clamp is just okay, not great. I use a hitch tightener to secure it, the same thing when I put my hitch bike rack on. Works great, keeps it secure and no rattling.

 

[kjjohnson]

I wish I took a picture but just saw yesterday someone attached a vise to their receiver.

 

[richs fishes]

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?

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.

There are tons of stupid and unenforceable laws out there. Doesn't stop them from putting it in the books. Then when some guy gets pulled over for DWI or reckless driving etc, they hit him with a million tickets for each of those silly little things on top of the big thing.

I know certain states say its illegal to have anything hanging from your rear view mirror. Technically in NY you cant have anything affixed to your windshield other than the registration and inspection sticker. That technically means the EZ pass that everyone keeps mounted to their windshield can get you a ticket as could the oil change reminder sticker. A passenger with their feet on the dash is illegal in some places as well. More often than not you wont get pulled over specifically for these things but piss off the wrong cop and you can definitely get a ticket for it.

Brilliance of legislators on display right there. Supposedly, someone who can’t see a large vehicle right front of them will spot a red tennis ball two feet off the ground.

“Harvey, are you blind? Didn’t you see that red tennis ball?”

Not sure I hate the idea of making it really easy to see. Its like hanging a red flag on that 2x4 sticking out of your truck. Sometimes your vision can play funny tricks on you especially when it comes to depth perception and situations that are slightly different this one time vs the million other times you've encountered it on the road (like the back end of a vehicle not really being the closest thing to you when driving behind it).