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Old 07-18-2011, 01:08 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by moosetags View Post
What a crappy thing to happen. My condolences.

We are always concerned about our Hensley hitch bar. It is either locked into the receiver on the truck or chained to the hitch on the ground.

There are some real dirt bags in this world.

Brian
Brian,
We take our HA bar completely off and stow it when we are unhooked.
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Old 07-18-2011, 01:59 PM   #22
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It is illeagal in California to drive with the hitch/ball connected to the TV without the TT attached. It is my understanding that you probably won't get pulled over for this, but if you are pulled over for someting else you would probably get a ticket for this also.
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Old 07-18-2011, 02:36 PM   #23
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Here in Iowa I understand they just passed a new law for driving around with a hitch on the TV; $100.00 fine.

What pray tell is the reasoning behind such a law? I've been towing since 1960 and have never given it a thought, or had a problem nor have I ever heard of a problem.
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Old 07-18-2011, 03:05 PM   #24
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Life Long Locks

I bookmarked this from someone else's recommendation. Sorry for the loss.
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Old 07-18-2011, 04:02 PM   #25
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Originally Posted by Scott J-24
It is illeagal in California to drive with the hitch/ball connected to the TV without the TT attached.
I searched the California Vehicle Code (CVC), could not find any law on this. Yes, anything which impairs reading or "recognition .... by an electronic device" of the license plate may bring a violation of CVC 5201.

But I dont think many drawbars, unless configured in the "raise" mode would interfere with view of the plate. Definitely the typical bumper-mounted balls found on older pickups could be found in violation.

I am interested in learning what specific CVC prohibits leaving the drawbar installed.....
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Old 07-18-2011, 04:25 PM   #26
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I have never heard of it being illegal in calif for driving with the hitch ball installed. If you look around during a commute day, 2/3rds of all trucks have them. Hmmm.. even mine right now as I think of it.

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Old 07-18-2011, 05:58 PM   #27
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Here in Iowa I understand they just passed a new law for driving around with a hitch on the TV; $100.00 fine.

What pray tell is the reasoning behind such a law? I've been towing since 1960 and have never given it a thought, or had a problem nor have I ever heard of a problem.
Run into our haha stinger at 15mph and you'll get an idea.

If you leave them in 24/7/365 around here, after two Winters you'd never get 'em out.
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Old 07-18-2011, 06:10 PM   #28
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I know that this has probably been a subject in the past, but I got tired of looking through the threads,lol. So has anyone had their hitch stolen while camping?
Yesterday we were in Cherokee NC. We decided to stop and try our luck and check out the new casino, old but re-done. Went in around 6, out at 8:15. We were in there about 2 hrs and when we returned to our truck John noticed our hitch was missing. . he went inside and talked to someone while I waited by the truck to make sure nothing else disappeared. The security guard showed up, took our statement and a bunch of pictures and proceeded to tell us that it would be at least a week before we would know the outcome of the surveylance video and that we would have to get our insurance company to supeona the casino before any results would be shared because its a privacy issue, whatever! I want to know who took my hitch! Needless to say, we left there and went to the police station to find out that they are closed on the weekend, really???? By this time we were both getting frustrated. We finally found a number that worked out of the 5 they have on the front door and he said someone would call us..... They deputy finally called and took our statement, it is now 10:00 and we have a hr and half drive back through the mountains to get to the campground. On the way we racked our brains trying to figure when this could have happened if it didnt happen there. We only went 2 other places since being at the campground, foodlion and arcade. So the insurance company was real nice and agreed to buy us a new one. The casino called today and said the hitch wasnt there when we pulled in so now we only have the other 2 to check. If it was at the campground, and it is one of our favorites, I dont think I will be going back there. Its kida scary to think people are out there lurking around while we are sleeping. We had 2 of our small grandkids with us. I told John that one day I am going to write a book about all the crazy things that happen to us, guess now is as good a time as any,lol! Anyone have any similiar experiences? Just curious.
We bought a locking hitch pin for about $15 and use it whenever we go out with our AS.
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Old 07-18-2011, 06:14 PM   #29
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Originally Posted by steverino View Post
I searched the California Vehicle Code (CVC), could not find any law on this. Yes, anything which impairs reading or "recognition .... by an electronic device" of the license plate may bring a violation of CVC 5201.

But I dont think many drawbars, unless configured in the "raise" mode would interfere with view of the plate. Definitely the typical bumper-mounted balls found on older pickups could be found in violation.

I am interested in learning what specific CVC prohibits leaving the drawbar installed.....
I have not searched the CVC so you may be right. I based my post on a conversation with one of the hosts at San Mateo campground in San Clemente CA. He got pulled over by a local PD officer for another violation and received a warning for driving with his receiver hitch attached without a trailer. When he asked the officer about it, he was told that in a rear end crash the two vehicles can get locked together when the bumper of the rear car goes over the hitch ball. This causes a traffic hazzerd per the officer. This made sence to me so I accepted it at face value. Now, you may ask, do I drive with my hitch installed? Yes I do... and so does my DW. Sure hope you are correct 'cause I don't want a ticket!
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Old 07-18-2011, 06:16 PM   #30
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AirSlide its funny you should mention those funny little tools. When I got my new flat bed I purchased a MASTER BALL LOCK. I think they are 50 or 60 bucks retail. The first evening I had it,I thought WONDER IF I CAN PICK THAT??? Locks are a passing curorisity. This big Shiney lock was OPEN in about 15 seconds and I really dont practice. I keep those funny little tools with me in case of a CAMPGROUND Emergency,fortuneatly I have never had to use them.
So locks are to keep 99% of the people honest,and the other 1% are theives and ya aint gonna stop em anyway.
Oh 1 other thing ITS LAW in my household.REMOVE THE HITCH from the Receiver before the wife Cracks her shins on it IF YA KNOW WHATS GOOD FER YA!
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Old 07-18-2011, 06:32 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott J-24
received a warning for driving with his receiver hitch attached without a trailer. When he asked the officer about it, he was told that in a rear end crash the two vehicles can get locked together when the bumper of the rear car goes over the hitch ball. This causes a traffic hazzerd per the officer.
Yea, I suspect warnings are what you get when the officer cant identify the "law" ya broke. That's when you say "Thank you sir" and move on down the road...

;-)
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Old 07-18-2011, 07:23 PM   #32
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Thanks for this thread and commiserations to the OP who lost his hitch.

I've always removed and stowed the torsion bars, sway bars and (big and chunky) hitch assembly away out of sight, despite the inconvenience factor. It's not the monetary value that concerns me but having to find a new hitch if you're out in the boondocks somewhere and some creep steals it. It's also about people not cracking their shins on it in the dark!

I also slip a padlock on each of the X-chocks, primarily to stop someone pinching the chocks themselves.

I never drive the tow vehicle with the hitch assembly fitted (but with no trailer) because I saw the mess that a hitch ball made of the front of my brother's Mini when he hit the back of a vehicle fitted with one. I guess it's a safety thing for me.

Goodness! I've just read that back and I sound SO virtuous! Where can I get a good halo buffing kit?
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Old 07-18-2011, 07:49 PM   #33
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I never drive the tow vehicle with the hitch assembly fitted (but with no trailer) because I saw the mess that a hitch ball made of the front of my brother's Mini when he hit the back of a vehicle fitted with one. I guess it's a safety thing for me.
Which is why I never drive my truck without it. The day I removed it from our Suburban (we were supposed to trade it in the next day), I got rear-ended at a stop sign. For most drivers of dubious proficiency, that big honkin' thing on the back is a "keep away" sign. Except for the moron that rear-ended me in the drive through at McDonald's. He got a big trailer hitch-shaped hole in his front bumper for his trouble.
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Old 07-18-2011, 07:50 PM   #34
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Which is why I never drive my truck without it. The day I removed it from our Suburban (we were supposed to trade it in the next day), I got rear-ended at a stop sign. For most drivers of dubious proficiency, that big honkin' thing on the back is a "keep away" sign. Except for the moron that rear-ended me in the drive through at McDonald's. He got a big trailer hitch-shaped hole in his front bumper for his trouble.
I guess that's the alternative view!
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Old 07-18-2011, 09:54 PM   #35
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Old 07-18-2011, 10:28 PM   #36
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I pull the big ugly brown hitch off our truck when I'm not actually towing the Argosy because it's wide enough to get the attention of the backup sensors, so anytime I put the transmission in Reverse it shrieks at me as if I'm about to back over something. From the look of it I guess it's an older EZ Lift, or some knock-off brand. It distributes weight well enough and the friction sway works as well as friction sway can, so I'll probably keep it at least this season since it's paid for.
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Old 07-19-2011, 06:57 AM   #37
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A friend rented an SOB and the owner had welded a receiver to the a frame to store the ball mount! Solves the storage and security problem.
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Old 07-19-2011, 07:24 AM   #38
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I seem to recall it's illegal in Florida to drive around with your ball showing, if not toeing, remove it.

Still the case?
We got pulled over in Cocoa Beach last month for having an "obstructed license plate". We had just bought this kit:
Walmart.com: Reese Towpower 5/8" Professional Receiver Lock and Coupler Lock: Automotive
to lock both the stinger onto the hitch receiver and the hitch onto the trailer. The cops wrote us a warning and I promptly removed the stinger (hitch receiver) but it kind of dampened our fun after that.
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Old 07-19-2011, 10:30 AM   #39
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Which is why I never drive my truck without it. The day I removed it from our Suburban (we were supposed to trade it in the next day), I got rear-ended at a stop sign. For most drivers of dubious proficiency, that big honkin' thing on the back is a "keep away" sign. Except for the moron that rear-ended me in the drive through at McDonald's. He got a big trailer hitch-shaped hole in his front bumper for his trouble.
I have a Hensley so I take the stinger out and install my old weight dist. hitch in the receiver. It was the first item I moved to the new truck and it got a nice coat of flat black undercoat paint in the process. That hitch has been tapped multiple times in traffic, I don't even get out the truck to look anymore. As far as hitting you shin, well if you are walking around the bed of my truck and looking so intently into the bed that you don't see the hitch you were up to no good anyway.
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Old 07-19-2011, 02:32 PM   #40
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Don't say you haven't been warned.....
I'm not sure whether that reminds me more of a Halloween costume, or something that came packed in a plain brown wrapper from a store that also rents questionable videos and sells a lot of strangely shaped air mattresses.
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