Drawbar

[Hoss the Hermit]

Just curious - how many people leave the drawbar in their receiver most/all the time? Why or why not? I almost always remove mine, three reasons -
1. Every time I leave it in, I walk around behind my truck and slam my shin.
2. Somebody might rip it off.
3. My wife has enough trouble backing up without hitting anything when she knows how long the truck is, don't want to give her the extra foot. (of hitch)

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Drawbar

I take mine out for reasons 1 & 2.
Also have a insert with light in it that I put in.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Drawbar

Put mine on with a locking pin 7 years ago and its never been out. I have a quick-change ball on it that I've swapped back and forth a few times to pull other peoples trailers for them.

Mine doesn't stick out much , and the wife hardly ever drives it so thats not a problem!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Drawbar

I leave it in and locked so I always know where it is. And after 68 years of walking into trailer hitches, my shins have been numb for decades.

 

[greg_upnorth]

Re: Drawbar

i take mine out for two reasons: prevent theft, and prevent rust on the ball.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Drawbar

I have 2 different balls and 2 different drawbars. I take mine out because if I leave it in too long, it rusts and is almost impossible to get out without 12 pound psychology or the fine adjusting tool.

 

[rheagler]

Re: Drawbar

I take mine out and replace it with a plastic plug. Just for the reason that I think the back of the car or truck looks better without the drawbar and with the hole filled in. Also I don't care too much for the bruised shins or grease on the pants at shin level. But that's just me.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Drawbar

I used to leave mine in occasionally. I've been rear ended twice in two different tow vehicles with it in and it's amusing to see the front ends of the cars that did hit me. I have to remove it now because my truck won't fit in the garage with it installed. I back my truck in the garage and have to touch the wall with my rear bumper and set the parking brake so it doesn't roll a hair in park. With it touching the wall, I only have about 3/4 inch clearance from the front bumper to the garage door. One time I forgot I still had the draw bar in and punched a hole through the wall. Luckily it didn't go all the way through the inside wall into my living room.