Trucks, Bumpers and Trailer Hitches

[Snowbird Home Watch]

The government has done a million studies and spent a million dollars determining the strength, height, design and materials of bumpers. So how about trucks? Do they have different rules or are the cops just ignoring them.

I'll bet lots of cars have been pushed into (and under) modified trucks or have hit them in an accident. The damage caused by these accidents must be excessive and enormous and the resulting insurance premiums must be large.

How come truck bumpers are higher than standard height. What good are car bumpers if cars slide right under them?

Is it legal for trucks to permanently mount trailer hitches, extending well past the impact zone of a bumpers. These are like bayonets, waiting to impale and do excessive damage to anyone getting near them. Are these truckers just too lazy to remove the hitch ball and slider?

WW

[kingsandman]

I"ve got the feeling somebody rear ended a truck recently.

[prairieflower]

I"ve got the feeling somebody rear ended a truck recently.

[damngrumpy]

Actually its not that big a deal to remove the hitch and it saves getting it stolen. I remove mine as soon as I'm finished using it. As for oversided trucks, I don't like them but my grandkids do and although they are silly in my view, they're alright if you like that sort of thing, and most are within the legal limit at least that's what I understand

[prairieflower]

We have a business that requires us to haul items daily in or on one of our 3 trailers so our hitch stays on. I do find that way too many people drive way too close and when the traffic stops there is not enough time for them to stop.

More people need to stay back, hitch or no hitch ready to "impale" them.

[MissL]

We have a business that requires us to haul items daily in or on one of our 3 trailers so our hitch stays on. I do find that way too many people drive way too close and when the traffic stops there is not enough time for them to stop.

More people need to stay back, hitch or no hitch ready to "impale" them.

We used to drive a truck with a large hitch and yes people follow way to close whether there is a hitch or not you need to keep your distance. I have no pity for someone following too close and getting their car torn apart when they hit the hitch!

[damngrumpy]

You two are right, people follow way to close and they are cutting in and out as well, then its someone elses fault when they get into trouble hitting the vehical ahead of them

[John500]

Actually you can add to this the headlights as well. When they drive behind a normal vehicle you are lit up totally. Not even to mention those trucks that are raised and just about shine you of the road.

[ol goat]

I haul a trailer around on a regular basis and leave the hitch in place all the time too. And I dont worry about it being stolen as it's got a lock on it.
I have a chevy 4x4 (at stock height ) and in the 3 years i've had it, I have been hit in the rear end 4 times.
The first time in parking lot here in town was hit and run .. some hit the bumper and bent the corner in. The repair I had to pay for as the deductable was about the same price as the bumper repair. No trailer hitch was in place but it would have saved my bumper if it had been.
Second time was also in parking lot. I was at Dilworth mall, parked and sitting in the truck (with the truck totaly in the proper parking space) when I was rear ended. This time I had the hitch on, and no damage to mine but the guy punched out the lower valance of his car. He was abit choked about it but it was his fault for being in such a rush even in a parking lot. When ICBC got involved by him, they assesed the fault totaly on him.
ICBC did ask why the hitch was there and I told them the same thing that i have to move my trailer on regular basis and they had nothing to say about it other than the other guy fault totaly.
The other 2 times were in stop and go traffic in Vancouver when I was hit and both times I come away without damage beacuse of the hitch.
People are too much in a hurry and if they would stay back then they wont have a problem

[Snowbird Home Watch]

No, I did not hit a truck with a hitch or high bumper... just an observation.

I can't believe that ICBC does not crack down on these lazy or inconsidrate jerks who feel it is justified to have a spear sticking out of the back of their vehicle. Hey, accidents happen and people hit others from the back.... hardly a good reason for laughing or blaming someone. This is serious and is costing ALL of us money in additional premiums.

I feel that a bumper to bumper accident would normally cause a certain and minimal amount of damage. A bumper to a "spike" accident should NOT be considered equal blame.

These people are just plain lazy, inconsiderate or stupid. It takes about 30 seconds to remove a hitch. Hell, most of the bumper hitches seen at a local Tim Hortons drive-thru were rusted and probably haven't been used since last summer. Just plain lazyness and someone at ICBC should pressure the cops to ticket them. Out.

ww

[prairieflower]

No, I did not hit a truck with a hitch or high bumper... just an observation.

I can't believe that ICBC does not crack down on these lazy or inconsidrate jerks who feel it is justified to have a spear sticking out of the back of their vehicle. Hey, accidents happen and people hit others from the back.... hardly a good reason for laughing or blaming someone. This is serious and is costing ALL of us money in additional premiums.

I feel that a bumper to bumper accident would normally cause a certain and minimal amount of damage. A bumper to a "spike" accident should NOT be considered equal blame.

These people are just plain lazy, inconsiderate or stupid. It takes about 30 seconds to remove a hitch. Hell, most of the bumper hitches seen at a local Tim Hortons drive-thru were rusted and probably haven't been used since last summer. Just plain lazyness and someone at ICBC should pressure the cops to ticket them. Out.

ww

Before you label those of us who chose not to remove our hitches "lazy, inconsiderate or stupid", get to know the person. Neither my boyfriend, who is a successful business owner or myself, his faithful assistant are any of those.

It is simply much easier to leave the hitch in place when we may be moving one or more of our trailers 2 - 3 times a day 7 days a week.

Please remember until you know someone and why they may do something for a certain reason, don't label all the same.

ps, having our hitch there all the time.... saves ICBC thousands by someone who may hit us...they will simply hit the hitch

[kingsandman]

No, I did not hit a truck with a hitch or high bumper... just an observation.

I can't believe that ICBC does not crack down on these lazy or inconsidrate jerks who feel it is justified to have a spear sticking out of the back of their vehicle. Hey, accidents happen and people hit others from the back.... hardly a good reason for laughing or blaming someone. This is serious and is costing ALL of us money in additional premiums.

I feel that a bumper to bumper accident would normally cause a certain and minimal amount of damage.

A bumper to a "spike" accident should NOT be considered equal blame.

These people are just plain lazy, inconsiderate or stupid. It takes about 30 seconds to remove a hitch. Hell, most of the bumper hitches seen at a local Tim Hortons drive-thru were rusted and probably haven't been used since last summer. Just plain lazyness and someone at ICBC should pressure the cops to ticket them. Out.

ww

No, it should't be equal. Not if some idiot REARENDS the truck with the hitch.

[Snowbird Home Watch]

Perhaps you like the term selfish, inconsiderate and wreckless.

Bumpers are designed to protect everyone.... just not your silly *bleep*. Putting a spike on the back of a vehicle is simply asking for excess damage. But it appears as long as YOU are ok, you don't care alot about the poor guy that might be pushed into you or however he hits you.

YOU are reasonably responsible for the increase in insurance rates that everyone pays for.

Get off you butt and take 30 seconds to remove the skike!

And by the way, I am not dissing everyone who owns a truck with a hitch, just the ones who only use it once a month or less. Look at the rusty balls and tell me that that hitch should still be attached.

Don't be so offended by lables... I think if you take it too personally, you might be feeling just a little guilty. And no, I don't really have to know you to be able to classify you...although you are right, it might be offensive... sorry

[Fancy]

I don't know whether it makes sense for just some to be able to leave hitches on. Who's to know if the rusty ones get used more than once in a while. Leave more room between vehicles - I do.

[Krystal Kid]

Here's a portable, crash tested, energy absorbing spare bumper that keeps the "bullet" vehicle from under-riding the target vehicle and protects the occupants and the target vehicle. More information can be found here: http://www.superbumper.com

Since 94% of all rear end collisions occur on straight roads and most are direct hits even an ugly old ball mount will help. But hitting the ball mount transfers all of the crash energy directly to the receiver hitch, frame and eventually the occupants. Because 75% of all rear end collisions are less than 10 mph, this spare bumper keeps the damage down on both vehicles, reduces whiplash, shields the gas tank and reduces the damage to both frame railed and unibody vehicles.