The Most Common Receiver Hitch Mistake – You’re Probably Doing it Right Now – Driving With Your Ball Mount!
Why It’s Not A Good Idea
When passenger cars hit your higher riding pickup truck or SUV they dive because of their soft suspensions. This downward motion on your ball mount (especially the drop type) acts like a can opener putting downward pressure on the rear of the receiver hitch and upward pressure on front of the receiver and that action bends your frame!
The Jeep Grand Cherokee below was hit by a small Ford Focus. You can see the ball mount bent downward on the rear of the receiver hitch but the front of the receiver hitch moved upward raising the roof. Although the vehicle sustained little damage it was totaled because the frame / uni-body was bent.
It takes about an 8 mph impact to bend a uni-body frame and a 12 mph impact to bend a frame railed vehicle…but the further the drop on the ball mount the easier it is to bend the frame.
The two most frequent vehicle accidents are getting hit while parked and the rear end collision. Our products are made to utilize the strength of your receiver hitch and will protect your family, vehicle and insurance better then the ugly old ball mount.
Jeff is CEO of Mohr Mfg is an expert in rear end collisions. His company makes portable, energy absorbing, spare safety bumpers or “hitch steps” that install in seconds and protect your vehicle from rear-end collision damage, reduce whiplash injuries, shield your gas tank from under-ride and eliminate parking lot and parallel parking dents and dings. For additional information: http://www.superbumper.com