So I am in the market for a hitch and at this point I’m trying to figure out which one is safer in the event of a rear collision. Draw Tite vs Hidden Hitch.

The Draw Tite extends almost as far as the bumper although the receiver mounting point is about 2” below the main cross bar of the hitch. Off Road you will give sacrifice some departure angle. The Hidden Hitch does not stick out past the bumper and is all on the same horizontal line as the hitch itself (it does not drop down 2”.) Off Road, I’m sure this is a better option b/c you will not sacrifice as much departure angle.

So here’s the question. In the event of a rear end crash which hitch is better? Has anyone had any issues with frame damage b/c you had a hitch on your car/truck when you got rear ended? Just to be clear, I’m not talking about the receiver or a bumper step or anything else you would keep in the hitch. Just the hitch itself and this is not just a fender bender, probably 15 - 20mph or more.

I would think that the hidden hitch would do better in a collision b/c it would allow the bumper to absorb the impact before the hitch was contacted. Sine the Draw Tite extends out to the bumper in my opinion it will not allow the bumper to absorb the impact. Also, since it hangs lower I think it’s even more likely to get hit first (you hit your brakes to stop short, your front end dips, the rear along with the bumper goes up and the car behind you will hit a lower point on your bumper or the hitch itself. So if the main impact is being split between the hitch and bumper (or the hitch first) it could end up doing damage to the frame when it might not happen with a less exposed hitch.

Does anyone agree or am I over thinking this? Are you going to get the same result either way? I’m sure with a strong enough impact it really won’t mater what you have. It’s that in-between impact that worries me.

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'04 Liberty Limited - 245/70/16 Firestone Destination AT's, Mopar tow hooks, Draw-Tite Class IV hitch, Skid Row Engine & Transmission Skids, Mopar T-Case & Gas Tank Skids, Extended Breather Tubes, Red Top Optima, Sylvania Silver Star head lights, Hella 500FF bumper mounted driving lights

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Joe
L.O.S.T. #000391
2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport with hooks, skids, trac-lok rear.

you're over thinking it

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2003 Liberty Freedom Edition
1988 Suzuki Samurai

I would almost rather have my trailer hitch take it than the bumper, bumper is just a chunk of cheap plastic.... nothing to slow you down!
I was rearended by a PT Cruiser, had a u haul hitch with the trailer hitch in it, he was doing about 35 when he hit , shoved me 8/10 feet locked up, they towed him away, I brushed the dirt off the spare tire and drove away

But you are over thinking it , both will do the same thing, as far as off road , when I come off of steps my hitch hits, and keeps the bumper from dragging

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

And Hidden Hitch is part of the same company... http://www.cequentgroup.com/

I believe Cequent aquired Reese and Draw-tite around 2002 or 2003 and made the integrations (cuts) which led to the end of the Drawtite front hint in 2004. I had located all of the timing on the Cequent News tab a long time ago, but it all might still be there.

Either way any hitch will most likely cause more damage to the other guy rather than you (i.e 2 inch ball hitch punctures their radiator or when they stop hard and nose slide under you the hitch may protect your underside a little more than if you had no hitch)

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Brian, Blue KJ in PA
LOST#99, Mid-Atlantic LOST
Blue 2003 KJ Sport

RL Super Skinks

I got rearended in my Isuzu Trooper by a girl in an Acura Integra when I had my hitch ball in. Poor girl was in tears..."I'M SO SORRY, I'M SO SORRY!!"

Trooper's hitch had some blue paint on it, and it was stuck in her hood. I had no damage.

I have the Reese... I was rear ended by a Cadillac at a drive through, I got out my KJ super pissed. Then I saw her grill and bumper, Ouch! major damage.. I looked at my KJ, and.... Nothing...I may have scrapped some rust off of the tow hook that was in receiver and before leaving I was the one that said sorry.

It also makes a good skid plate.. I didn't hit the tire at all

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2000 Cherokee Trail Hawk
3.5" R.E Superflex Lift, R.E Quick Disconnects, R.E Rear Driveshaft, SYE, OME Steering Stabilizer, ARB Diff Covers, JW Speaker Black Heated Headlights, Mickey Thompson 16x8 wheels, 245/75r16 Toyo Open Country AT's, 15 lb Powertank

2003 KJ Sport (BLACK) 230,000+Miles (Decommissioned)

I got rear ended months back and the spare tire took the hit, at the same time damaging the supports inside the tailgate. The hitch never got touched depends on what hits you..A car w/ a low bumper may tag the hitch and bumper, A truck hits the tire, either way it's a no win but at least you may get a little protection to the fuel tank w/ the hitch ..

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LOST NORTHEAST # 026933
2005 KJ SPORT

OME MD lift/ Nitrocharger Shocks/struts
FIRESTONE DESTINATION AT 235/75/16
N.Y. GIANTS FAN!!!!

Go DEVILS!!!

I certainly hope as a true Gentleman you comforted the poor dear after all it was you Gentlemanly Duty

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LEAD FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY
2002 Sport 4x4 3.7 L w/auto
Amsoil from bumper to bumper, Amsoil Air Filter
PIAA head light bulbs, Fog Light switched out to SilverStar 9005's
MagnaFlo Muffler, New Radiator, Rebuilt A/C system,Rebuilt Rear Diff, LBJ's twice
Dunlop 245/70-16 Rover AT

Buy which ever hitch you like most. I'd prefer the one with a longer reciever so hooking up a trailer doesn't envolve the spare tire getting in the way. Because lets face it.. If you get hit hard enough to be thinking about bending the frame - The liberty will be toast (and hopefully you walk away)

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02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

OK thanks everyone! I’m going to go with the Draw Tite. I think I’m going to get the class IV just to have the extra beef back there as a recovery point. I have two tow hooks up front but with the ridiculously low reverse gearing the transmission has (2004) I’m sure any grunt pulling I’ll be doing will be done from the rear (when there is an option to do either.) Also, while I will give up a little bit of a departure angle I think I’d prefer hit the hitch which can take it rather than my stock bumper which could get damaged. Any time I get hung up back there I can always find a log or some rocks to build a make shift ramp under the rear tires anyway. In terms of towing I really won’t be doing much of that at all. Mostly the hitch is going to be used to hold a bike rack and snowboard rack. The only towing I’m may ever do is a 4,500lb boat trailer and only taking it 1.2 miles from the boat ramp to a friends driveway at the beginning and end of the summer.

After I get the hitch I’ll be selling my rear tow hook so keep your eye open in the for sale section if you’re looking for one.

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'04 Liberty Limited - 245/70/16 Firestone Destination AT's, Mopar tow hooks, Draw-Tite Class IV hitch, Skid Row Engine & Transmission Skids, Mopar T-Case & Gas Tank Skids, Extended Breather Tubes, Red Top Optima, Sylvania Silver Star head lights, Hella 500FF bumper mounted driving lights

The receiver is possibly the best "Armor" you can have, simply because the dealer forgot to design a REAL bumpre for the KJ.

I have seen posts in the past about the POSIBILITY of damage caused by leaving the hitch IN the receiver. It is also illegal in some states to leave it in if you are not towing or about to tow, possibly because of that reason.

I take mine out when not in use, keeps it non rusted and the JEEP cover looks better anyway.

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'07 Ltd 3.7L, Black, OME HD's, OME shocks, Mopar Skids, AEV Bridgers w/ TPMS, Kumho KL78's, ARB Bumper, KC 130 Watters, Warn M8000 Winch, Rock Lizard Gecko Roof Basket KC 150 watters, Cobra 75WSX, 3 ft FireFly, RL Super Step Skinks

me as well.. Leaving it on can also really hurt your shins when you are unloading stuff from the back. All it takes is that evil look from the significant other and you'll know to always remove the receiver when you don't need it.

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02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

I never said she was cute

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Joe
L.O.S.T. #000391
2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport with hooks, skids, trac-lok rear.

I'll agree with your statement and add the clarification that I would choose the HIdden before a Valley or another universaL fit type or no-name type hitch.

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Brian, Blue KJ in PA
LOST#99, Mid-Atlantic LOST
Blue 2003 KJ Sport

RL Super Skinks