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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why do you want to remove it? Even if you never tow anything it’s still nice to have it there in case you get a hitch mount bike carrier or cargo tray.

It helps with resale value, also, usually worth a few hundred more dollars.

Also, the hitch is a substantial piece of metal, and can help dissipate/absorb impact energy in a crash,[b] which makes you ever-so-slightly safer.[/b]

Keep it. There’s literally no reason to get rid of it. [/quote]

Wrong, it is NOT safer. "The trailer hitch (and ball joint, if attached) act as fixed, non-impact absorbing hardware that transfers the energy of a rear-end collision more intensely to the vehicle occupants, resulting in a 22% increase in whiplash- with women and children being most adversely affected."  Google this online and you will find articles about it.  Given most people buying SUVs rarely if ever use them, there is a compelling argument to have it removed if you have no need for it.

https://www.mylegalneeds.com/faqs/how-trailer-hitches-impact-rear-end-collision-injuries.cfm

[/quote]

I wouldn’t rely on a random personal injury lawfirm website for advice about crash safety engineering. They’re citing some study from two decades ago with no details and a dead link. Almost every manufacturer offers an OEM hitch option for their vehicles. They wouldn’t do that if there was some significant degradation in safety. And companies like Curt would find it cost prohibitive to stay in business due to liability issues. There are also several types of hitch designs, including bolting to the bolting to frame rails, bolting to the unibody or adding a more robust support bar to the bumper assembly itself.

If you choose to remove the hitch assembly you likely can just reinsert the bolts. If they’re too long take one to a local hardware store and buy shorter ones. Bear in mind in some models that a tow bar replaces rear tow/tie down hooks so make sure whether this is the case. [/quote]

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