Now that the summer is here many vehicles sport the trailer hitch as an everyday attachment. Whether it’s yard materials, campers, boats, topsoil, moving kids to and from college and university dorms, summer is the time for “towingâ€Â. There are rules and regulations about towing, weights, licences, etc. that everyone pulling a trailer must know about but this message is simple; when you are done towing please remove the trailer hitch from the receiver.
Time and time again collisions of a minor nature end up with a great deal of damage simply because the trailer hitch has penetrated the bumper or radiator of the other vehicle. Some hitches protrude out a significant distance from the rear of the vehicle which can make even parking behind them treacherous.
Most vehicles have “hidden receivers†which means that when the hitch is removed there is nothing sticking out that will damage other vehicles when there is minor contact.
Do everyone a favour, you, me and everyone’s insurance rates and remove the hitch when not actively towing.