Trailer Hitch Removal

[DocBarton57]

Hi. I have an suv with a bolt on trailer hitch. I would like to remove it since we have moved here and no longer need it. I am unable to crawl under it and remove it myself. Does anyone have recommendations on a place that can remove it for me? Thanks in advance!

[villagetinker]

Wildwood tire, on 44, close to 301.

[tophcfa]

Hi. I have an suv with a bolt on trailer hitch. I would like to remove it since we have moved here and no longer need it. I am unable to crawl under it and remove it myself. Does anyone have recommendations on a place that can remove it for me? Thanks in advance!

I might be interested, but the removal process could be anywhere between really easy and extremely difficult. How long has the hitch been on the vehicle and has it been exposed to multiple northern winters of road salt and the salt brine material they spray on the roads? I foresee a job that could take nothing more than crawling under the vehicle with the appropriate size socket wrench, or possibly the need for a blow touch and a breaker bar wrench, if not more?

[villagetinker]

I might be interested, but the removal process could be anywhere between really easy and extremely difficult. How long has the hitch been on the vehicle and has it been exposed to multiple northern winters of road salt and the salt brine material they spray on the roads? I foresee a job that could take nothing more than crawling under the vehicle with the appropriate size socket wrench, or possibly the need for a blow touch and a breaker bar wrench, if not more?

You are quite correct and is the main reason I did not offer to do the work myself (I have rebuild 8 cars from the ground up) but at my age this type of work is becoming very difficult.

[jimhoward]

How about just pulling out the ball and ball mount to protect you shins and leaving the hitch in case you ever need it again?

[tophcfa]

How about just pulling out the ball and ball mount to protect you shins and leaving the hitch in case you ever need it again?

In some places it’s illegal to drive with the bar and ball in the trailer hitch when not towing. They tend to cause significantly more damage in certain accidents, which drives up insurance premiums for everyone.

[Topspinmo]

IMO I’d just leave it not hurting anything especially if wiring it’s spliced in? As mentioned just unpin and remove ball.

[Topspinmo]

In some places it’s illegal to drive with the bar and ball in the trailer hitch when not towing. They tend to cause significantly more damage in certain accidents, which drives up insurance premiums for everyone.

Quote

Which states in the US make it illegal to drive with a tow hitch ball installed when you are not pulling a trailer?
Unlike other states, driving with a trailer hitch in California is against the law, just like running a stop sign or driving while using a cell phone is illegal. Contact an accident lawyer for more information. This is a primary.Mar 8, 2022

Now who would have guessed California? :popcorn:

[MarshBendLover]

I have driven in Mexico and Canada, but luckily for me I have never needed to drive outside the US into Kalifornia, but if for some reason I ever find myself lost and missed the warning signs that I am leaving the jurisdiction of the common sense US, I will hang a "uey".

[Ecuadog]

Hi. I have an suv with a bolt on trailer hitch. I would like to remove it since we have moved here and no longer need it. I am unable to crawl under it and remove it myself. Does anyone have recommendations on a place that can remove it for me? Thanks in advance!

Fruitland Park Trailers... click here (https://www.yourfruitlandparktrailers.com/service/).

[Guzzel]

From etrailer.com:

"As of the time of this article's publication (9/10/2024), there is no law in place on a state or federal level that prohibits you from leaving a hitch receiver or ball mount on the back of your vehicle, even when it is not in use."

Entire article here: Just a moment... (https://www.etrailer.com/faq-towing-law-misconceptions.aspx#:~:text=As%20of%20the%20time%2 0of,it%20is%20not%20in%20use).

[Jimmay]

Hi. I have an suv with a bolt on trailer hitch. I would like to remove it since we have moved here and no longer need it. I am unable to crawl under it and remove it myself. Does anyone have recommendations on a place that can remove it for me? Thanks in advance!

My question would be why remove it? It causes no harm, if needed in the future you have it and why have the expense of removing it?

[smurphy]

Any place that installs hitches should be able to uninstall one.

[airstreamingypsy]

I say leave it, many people shopping for an SUV will appreciate the hitch already being on the car, when you go to sell.

[lpkruege1]

Hi. I have an suv with a bolt on trailer hitch. I would like to remove it since we have moved here and no longer need it. I am unable to crawl under it and remove it myself. Does anyone have recommendations on a place that can remove it for me? Thanks in advance!

Next time you go to your dealership for an oil change, ask them when you schedule it if they can remove it for you and what the cost would be.

[loreejl]

None of these replies seem to answer your request for a recommendation. I would recommend Pep Boys at Mulberry. Otherwise, I have removed several for my neighbors/friends and do not charge at all. If it is a standard installation, and not damaged I can probably remove it for you. Contact me at sterlingcnslts@aol.com if interested.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Quote

Which states in the US make it illegal to drive with a tow hitch ball installed when you are not pulling a trailer?
Unlike other states, driving with a trailer hitch in California is against the law, just like running a stop sign or driving while using a cell phone is illegal. Contact an accident lawyer for more information. This is a primary.Mar 8, 2022

Now who would have guessed California? :popcorn:
Having spent a significant amount of time reading the 3-inch thick, onion-skin papered tome known as the CVC - California Vehicle Code, there are certainly laws to cover just about ANYthing. One cannot drive 1/8 mile without violating *Some* thing in that book. However, I am completely unfamiliar with any section prohibiting having a tow hitch/ball in place when not towing. Wheels extending outside fender flares, etc., sure. But tow ball, no. If one has the CVC section to quote the authority, I'd be interested in reading it. The previously mentioned section regarding bumpers is vague and would depend on specific judicial interpretation. It is not written in a manner directly prohibiting driving with one's trailer hitch installed but without a trailer attached.

That 3-inch book has so much in it, no one can enforce them all. Usually the big ones (speeding, stop signs, red lights, etc) are regularly enforced, and then every enforcer has a few favorites they keep in mind - like caboosing through intersections or DUIs. Caboosing is when 2 to 4 cars pull out into an intersection, and then make the left turn after the light turns red. They "caboose" thorough the intersection when they no longer possess the right of way.

There are A LOT of sections (like the aforementioned fender flare one) that my father used to call CSLFA. Chicken $hit Laws For A$$holes. These are the obscure tickets one gets when one cannot remain polite and keep one's mouth closed during a traffic stop. If there is a trailer hitch section, you can bet cash money it falls into the CSLFA category for 99% of the traffic enforcers out there.

[tophcfa]

From etrailer.com:

"As of the time of this article's publication (9/10/2024), there is no law in place on a state or federal level that prohibits you from leaving a hitch receiver or ball mount on the back of your vehicle, even when it is not in use."

Entire article here: Just a moment... (https://www.etrailer.com/faq-towing-law-misconceptions.aspx#:~:text=As%20of%20the%20time%2 0of,it%20is%20not%20in%20use).

Massachusetts had a law making it illegal to drive with a hitch bar and ball attached when not towing, but the law was repealed a couple years ago. I got pulled over a few years ago in Mass for doing just that, but was only given a warning since I am friends with the Chief of Police in our small rural town. There are also some Canadian Provinces where it is illegal.

[tophcfa]

It’s nice to have this hitch attachment, with a swivel clevis to attach a tow rope, on my golf cart. Over the years, I’ve pulled several electric carts out of harms way when they ran out of juice.

[HORNET]

Fruitland Park Auto !