Almost caught me a fish today! (Hit-n-Run)
11-06-2017, 09:24 PM
#21
Senior Member
Not sure that that's true. I searched PA Title 75 (Vehicles). There is no mention in it that having a ball hitch in while not towing is illegal. I'm going to ask a buddy who's a cop and does roadside truck inspections about this to confirm it. However, as it's not in Title 75, I doubt that it's enforceable.
11-06-2017, 09:25 PM
#22
Senior Member
I appreciate the comment but if you research PA vehicle law regarding towing (title 75) there is nothing about having a hitch with a ball installed.
Also if your home state has a different law than the state you're traveling through they usually do not pull you over. I looked through the entire Title and there's nothing requiring removal of tow hitch when not in proper use.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI.../PDF/75/75.PDF
It does state what is illegal... "installing a mechanism which rotates, changes, blocks or otherwise mechanically alters the ability of a license plate to be read by a violation enforcement system"
Would it be illegal for me to use a ski or bike rack that mounts into a hitch receiver? The answer is yes based on Title 75 in PA. Travel at your own risk.
Also if your home state has a different law than the state you're traveling through they usually do not pull you over. I looked through the entire Title and there's nothing requiring removal of tow hitch when not in proper use.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI.../PDF/75/75.PDF
It does state what is illegal... "installing a mechanism which rotates, changes, blocks or otherwise mechanically alters the ability of a license plate to be read by a violation enforcement system"
Would it be illegal for me to use a ski or bike rack that mounts into a hitch receiver? The answer is yes based on Title 75 in PA. Travel at your own risk.
11-06-2017, 09:46 PM
#23
I've heard the same but I don't give a crap...my hitch and ball is always in.
11-06-2017, 09:50 PM
#24
Anything projecting beyond the rear bumper should be illegal, at least on technicality—the rear bumper doesn't just exist to protect your truck from other vehicles, it also exists to protect people and vehicles from your truck. The same is probably true of the front bumper, but at least around here (Montana), it's common practice to replace a stock front bumper with something that's more capable of knocking down the venison before it hits the bodywork; I've even seen minivans with stout-looking grill guards.
With that said, hitch-mount cargo carriers, bike racks, etc., don't seem to bother most LEOs.
With that said, hitch-mount cargo carriers, bike racks, etc., don't seem to bother most LEOs.
...Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
11-06-2017, 09:53 PM
#25
Thanks for cluing me in! I really didn't care if he was right so I took his word for it (FWIW, I know he takes the ball out when he's not towing with his truck). I know it prevents a lot of tailgating, so I was going to do it anyway - making it safer for MY family (people who tailgate obviously don't care about my safety, so I really shouldn't care about theirs). I'm not really worried about pedestrians, since I don't back up into traffic and have not modified the front of my truck.
-John
-John
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BubbaKen (11-07-2017)
11-06-2017, 09:55 PM
#26
Glad I live in Texas. We don't have nonsense laws about leaving ball mounts in the hitch. Serves for towing, light protection from idiots, and as a step to reach over the tailgate. If y'all hit yalls shin on it, time to quit being clumsy. Should serve as a wake up call.
As for the OP, glad you made it out ok. Knowing me, I would have chased that bastard down just for the principle of it.
As for the OP, glad you made it out ok. Knowing me, I would have chased that bastard down just for the principle of it.
11-07-2017, 05:44 AM
#27
Senior Member
Since being rear-ended, I tend to keep my hitch ball installed. I don't believe there is any local law against this. Now I'm wondering though... maybe I should replace my hitch ball with a long spear. It wouldn't obstruct the license plate.
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welder1 (11-07-2017)
11-07-2017, 06:22 AM
#28
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I guess the big picture escapes me. What makes anyone think having your ballmount in, prevents tailgating? If a maroon is stupid enough to tailgate, do you really think he would even notice? 
I know I don't look to see if a mount in, of course, I don't tailgate either.
I know I don't look to see if a mount in, of course, I don't tailgate either.
Last edited by johnday in BFE; 11-07-2017 at 07:19 AM.
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SCrewYou (11-07-2017)
11-07-2017, 07:29 AM
#29
Large Member
i've noticed no reduction in tailgating whether i have a hitch in or not, as you said people who are stupid enough to tailgate arent even going to notice.
11-07-2017, 09:52 AM
#30
It was like night and day.
-John
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johnday in BFE (11-07-2017)