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07-18-2011, 10:05 AM
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#1
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Wise Elder
2010 30' Classic
Vintage Kin Owner
South of the river
, Minnesota
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,169
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Illegal to have shank and ball in place except when towing?
On another thread someone mentioned that a few states disallow leaving the ball and shank in the receiver except when towing. I suppose Hensley/PP stingers might be affected as well.
Does anyone have a list of states that do this?
Is it really being enforced?
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07-18-2011, 10:19 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
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I have heard this regarding New York, but extensive hunting on the Internet seemed to indicate that it is not true.
If it is correct some one needs to find the statute that says so. I was unable to.
I spent considerable time trying to find this in regard to NY as I was working for a transport co. at the time and normally leave the head locked in place. It would not be good to have it flopping around in an open truck bed and for some even lifting it there would not be advisable.
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
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07-18-2011, 10:20 AM
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#3
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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Weld it in place.
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07-18-2011, 10:21 AM
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#4
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Contributing Member
2018 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Austin (Hays County)
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammer
On another thread someone mentioned that a few states disallow leaving the ball and shank in the receiver except when towing. I suppose Hensley/PP stingers might be affected as well.
Does anyone have a list of states that do this?
Is it really being enforced?
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My AirSafe hitch weighs about 70# and has the mud flaps permanently attached. It lives on my truck full time. I have driven with it in place in at least 25 states and I never have been stopped.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2018 Interstate GT, "Sabre-Dog V"
WBCCI #9632
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07-18-2011, 10:45 AM
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#5
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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How I solved the haha whacked my shin problem.
Have driven a lot with it in place and never been hassled.
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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07-18-2011, 10:46 AM
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#6
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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Receiver hitches are illegal in Europe, if I have been informed correctly.
Is it possible this whole thing about it being illegal to have a hitch left on the truck is another urban myth?
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07-18-2011, 10:55 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,403
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It's illegal to have your bumper on unless you're bumping.
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07-18-2011, 11:24 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2009 27' FB International
_
, North Carolina
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 151
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I've been driving with a hitch on my vehicles for about 12 years and I have never been stopped for it while I have lived in va, fl, tx, ca, and nc. If you count my family we have a total of around 40 years worth of driving with hitches on our vehicles and we've never been given a ticket.
I have had two incidents where my hitch has saved my vehicle from damage in a fender bender. Can't say the the two cars who bumped me fared well since both of their radiators were damaged when they rear ended my truck at about 5-10 mph. That's worth any ticket I'll ever get.
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07-18-2011, 11:32 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2011 25' FB Flying Cloud
Anywhere &
, Everywhere
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,090
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I've driven with a bare hitch installed in 49 States in the last 11 years and have not been stopped. And this is the first time I've ever heard this mentioned.
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07-18-2011, 11:34 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2006 22' International CCD
1957 26' Overlander
Plymouth
, Minnesota
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 551
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Splitrock
It's illegal to have your bumper on unless you're bumping.
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Ill have to keep that in mind. thank you for letting me know that. Now I have a reason to bump more often
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07-18-2011, 11:34 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
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I have never had a problem in 49 states and most of Canada. Only heard the story in regard to NY.
Rather than use a ball cover I will often cover the ball with a piece of tin foil so it is less likely that some one will walk into it with out seeing it.
Have only been tapped from behind lightly once in the 560,000 miles i have driven the present truck
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
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07-18-2011, 11:51 AM
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#12
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Splitrock
It's illegal to have your bumper on unless you're bumping.
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What's the rules on pistons?
hey, as far as being bumped from behind, I'll put my drop hitch up against their radiator every time.
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07-18-2011, 11:56 AM
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#13
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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I have never heard of it before. And my hitches have punched out more than one radiator. Last one the at fault insurance company tried to make it a contributory negligence case because of the hitch...they lost.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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07-18-2011, 12:06 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1978 28' Ambassador
Morada
, California
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,584
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In California it's illegal to have anything blocking a clear view of the license plate (from the rear, unless towing) - whether it's a part of the vehicle, the hitch, coat of mud, faded plastic cover, etc., etc...
I guess technically, if your hitch shank, etc., is blocking the clear view, you could be sited for an infraction - I don't think this would normally happen unless you are sited for some other reason and the officer decides to take the hard line, like for example, if he's given some unusual 'grief' by the driver...
I've heard of the DOT CHP inspectors listing this kind of infraction during a stop, but I believe it's usually a 'fixit' ticket, requiring another visit to with a CHP officer to show you've removed the object...
Keep you're cool out there - don't give em' a reason to throw the book at you if you're stopped for some other infraction...
__________________
Ray & Pat; Morada, CA
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07-18-2011, 12:09 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
1968 24' Tradewind
Rural
, Delaware
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,476
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This is the first I've heard of such a law. The only time I take mine off is if I go somewhere where I think parking may be a challenge. Otherwise, I like the fender bender deterrence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickDavis
Rather than use a ball cover I will often cover the ball with a piece of tin foil so it is less likely that some one will walk into it with out seeing it.
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Great idea. A friend of mine does this but leaves it on when he hooks up. Claims it lubes the ball. I'm waiting for someone to make a glow-in-the-dark ball cover (for the sake of my shins).
__________________
2005 Bambi
1968 Trade Wind
2007 Ford F250 4x4 Crew
WDCU
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07-18-2011, 12:18 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
1968 24' Tradewind
Rural
, Delaware
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,476
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mexray
In California it's illegal to have anything blocking a clear view of the license plate (from the rear, unless towing) - whether it's a part of the vehicle, the hitch, coat of mud, faded plastic cover, etc., etc...
Keep you're cool out there - don't give em' a reason to throw the book at you if you're stopped for some other infraction...
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That's true in Delaware as well, but rarely enforced. I frequently use a fold-up rack that fits in the receiver hitch that covers the plate when the up position. No problems ... so far. I did get stopped and warned in Miami Beach, FL for having a license plate cover that partially covered the state. I pulled over and removed it.
__________________
2005 Bambi
1968 Trade Wind
2007 Ford F250 4x4 Crew
WDCU
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07-18-2011, 12:21 PM
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#17
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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I was a City of Tallahassee Police Motorcycle Officer in the late 60's/early 70's, and it was not illegal in Florida then. I almost always have had a ball in the receiver for many years, and have never been stopped for it anywhere.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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07-18-2011, 12:42 PM
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#18
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Registered User
1998 34' Excella 1000
1995 36' Classic 36
Spencerville
, Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 257
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I have never heard of having a "sensible size and marked with reflective tape" hitches EVER being an issue anywhere in the continental 48. I have, however, heard that having one of those little "hanging doo-dads" can get you in pulled over and frisked.
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07-18-2011, 03:24 PM
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#19
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one of those
2011 27 FB International
'03 F250 PSD
, Airstream summers, Catalac winters
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,091
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it would be a pretty dumb law. For starters, there is no legal requirement that a tow hitch even BE removable in the first place.
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07-18-2011, 03:38 PM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
Francisco
, Indiana
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 109
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We were on vacation in NY last year stopped at a C-store for something. Guy came in and said their gonna make that illegal. I ask him what he was talking about, no clue. He said leaving your hitch in the truck. I ask if it was the law now, he said no but it was up before the legislature.
Left mine no problems.
Hickory
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