TheSamba.com :: View topic - Formerly Rigid Hitch! Rear-ended, hitch folded, any advice?

Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:48 am

This morning we were the last car in a no-injury 4-car fenderbender chain reaction, and lucked out in that we didn't hit anyone in front of us. Our ancient hitch? Not so lucky.

Bendy the hitch! The fiberglass bumper seems okay, but we're getting a full check/estimate because I'm not certain if there's other damage. Any experiences, advice, or thoughts? We'll listen.

Edited to make the subject line make a little more sense.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:09 am

consider yourself lucky! It's much easier to fix/replace the hitch than those bumpers. Makes me want to make sure my hitch sticks out further than my bumper.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:59 am

We're SUPER lucky, steelhead. I still can't believe no one was injured on site. And we didn't hit anyone in the front, although by that time the force was lessening. The woman in the Toyota that was 3rd in the queue... her car isn't great. (us as 1st, driver behind us 2nd, Toyota owner with most damage esp. in trunk 3rd, guy who hit her 4th)

The guy who hit her really started the chain reaction, I don't think our van would have been the same had he struck us directly. He didn't have proof of insurance on hand and to be honest I'm pretty nervous about that, but the two cops on site got everyone's info.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:40 pm

Make sure the Tow hooks ( loops) did not get bent, a new hitch might not line up properly if they did. IF they are bent and a shop straightens them out for you, beware of the weld that connects them to the frame. The weld is the weakpoint on these tow loops and might be cracked.

Glad to hear everone and the WEsty is ok!

Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:09 pm

Thanks boostd! Good point. I'm going to have everything get a good once over, and will bring that up as a concern. I don't think there's more at risk but would be really bummed if deeper damage occurred.

And I'm just bummed period.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:03 pm

:bay_blue: Me I would bend the hitch back, they can't pull that much anyway . Take the insurance and get something you really want! Like maybe a real rear bumper! :lol:

Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:16 pm

Don't give me any ideas or reasons to visit the post pics of the REAR of your van thread ;-)

Honestly, the thing that torques me most is now I can't say it hasn't been in an accident. Even though I strongly suspect it aokay fine.